RALEIGH – Today, Sheriff’s Deputies in Alamance County pepper sprayed peaceful citizens, many of whom were people of color, with tear gas as they marched to the polls. Police arrested at least 10 peaceful gatherers. The Sheriff responsible was previously reprimanded by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012 for a committing numerous constitutional violations and an “egregious pattern of racial profiling” in his department.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin has released the following statement:

“The actions of these officers represents completely unwarranted police hostility and voter suppression. This group of North Carolinians was fully within their First Amendment rights to hold their protest and march to the polls. Our democracy is built on the idea of one voice, one vote; no one should be denied their constitutional right to cast their ballot, much less fear for their safety while they do so. It is egregious that local law enforcement would conduct themselves this way. North Carolinians are no strangers to voter suppression and intimidation — we know it when we see it. The North Carolina Democratic Party calls for swift and clear consequences for the offending officers.”