By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
On April 16, 2025, students and community members gathered on the campus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to protest what they described as unlivable housing conditions, including mold, flooding, pests, and a lack of hot water in some dorms.
Organized by a student group known as the Panthers, the rally quickly grew in size and intensity, culminating in the arrests of five individuals now referred to as the “Durham 5.”
Among those detained were four students and one faculty member: Moriah Flowers, José Estrella, Makaila Tinsley, and Daniel “Cole” Atwood, an adjunct professor of history. The fifth arrestee, a student who was waving a Pan-African flag, has not been publicly named but was identified by organizers as a Panther member.
The demonstration, which started peacefully on Brant Street, was set against the backdrop of growing student dissatisfaction with campus housing and administrative inaction. Protesters cited poor living conditions, rent burdens as high as $2,000 per month for off-campus housing, and the lack of a serious response from the university.
Many students shared personal stories, including Jordan Knapper, a political science major who said his honors dorm had been without hot water since January. Organizers also objected to what they saw as an attempt by the university to co-opt or silence their movement.
Hours before the protest, NCCU hosted a separate event titled “Eagle Voices: Real Talk Pulse Check” to discuss housing issues — complete with free Chick-fil-A sandwiches — but Panthers argued this was a distraction, not a solution.
Despite warnings from NCCU and campus police about permitting requirements and sound-amplification rules, the Panthers proceeded. Police from multiple agencies, including Durham Police and UNC-Chapel Hill officers, were deployed to the scene. Tension spiked when police attempted to confiscate a megaphone from a student speaker.
What followed was a series of physical confrontations between officers and protesters that resulted in five arrests. Videos from students showed chaotic scenes, including Atwood being handcuffed and restrained, and student organizers being forcibly taken to the ground.
Protesters continued chanting without the megaphone, carrying signs that read “Students Unite & Fight” as they marched across campus. Additional arrests occurred near the New Student Center, as the crowd swelled with supporters and bystanders from the nearby university-run housing forum.
In the days following the protest, the university maintained that it is working toward improving conditions, citing efforts to secure a $100 million investment for campus upgrades.
Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon, who was in Raleigh lobbying state lawmakers during the protest, said the administration had been pursuing funding since July 2024. In a statement, she emphasized that the university heard the students’ concerns and remained committed to working collaboratively toward solutions. However, students and advocacy groups weren’t convinced that enough was being done.
Legal proceedings began on May 14, with the defendants facing various charges. Moriah Flowers is charged with resisting a public officer; José Estrella faces three misdemeanors, including trespassing and failing to obey a dispersal order; Daniel Atwood is charged with resisting a public officer; and Makaila Tinsley faces two misdemeanors and a felony for allegedly assaulting an officer.
The students are represented by civil rights organizations, including the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) and Emancipate NC, who argue that the arrests were unconstitutional and seek full dismissal of charges.
In a major legal victory for the defendants and transparency advocates, Durham County Superior Court Judge Michael J. O’Foghludha ruled on June 11 that all police body camera footage from the protest must be released publicly and without restriction. Attorneys argued that the footage is vital to correcting false or incomplete media narratives and demonstrating the peaceful nature of the protest.
The ruling came after NCCU, represented by the North Carolina Department of Justice, attempted to limit what footage could be released, claiming the public had no right to see it in full. The court rejected that argument, agreeing with the defense that the footage serves the public interest and supports the protesters’ First Amendment claims.
“This is a significant win for transparency, accountability, and our clients’ right to tell their side of the story,” said Dominique Erney of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.
Emancipate NC attorney Dawn Blagrove echoed that sentiment, calling the ruling a victory against “the suppression of the people’s voice.”
The situation at NCCU echoes broader tensions across the University of North Carolina system. At UNC-Chapel Hill, a wave of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024 resulted in the arrest of 39 people. However, in June 2025, Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman dropped all remaining charges against those protesters, citing constitutional concerns.
Back at NCCU, students and faculty continue to call for dialogue, transparency, and lasting change. Political science student Devin Freeman urged the administration to sit down with student groups — not just the Student Government Association, but also unaffiliated organizations like the Panthers — to find common ground. The NAACP, student advocates, and legal representatives are demanding not only the release of the Durham 5 but also structural reform to ensure students have safe, affordable housing and the right to protest without fear of police violence.
The Durham 5 case remains ongoing. Whether this protest marks the beginning of real change or becomes just another flashpoint in a cycle of unrest will depend on the actions taken in the weeks and months to come.
