At about 7pm more than 300 protesters gathered in the Peace and Justice Plaza and then marched to the statue, asking for it to be removed.
“Silent Sam” was toppled at around 9.30pm, which was followed by big cheers from the crowd.
People were chanting “stand up, fight back” and “hey, hey, ho, ho, this racist statue has got to go”.
One person was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and for concealing one’s face during a public rally.
The protest was billed as being “in solidarity with Maya Little who faces criminal trial for covering Silent Sam in paint and her own blood”.
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Ms Little is a doctoral student and is facing criminal charges after defacing the monument.
In addition to the criminal charges, she is also facing honour court proceedings, which she claimed could lead to her expulsion.
The student has been one of the lead organisers in a series of protests calling for the removal of the statue following the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counter-protester was killed last August.
Ms Little said: “It’s time to build monuments to honour those who have been murdered by white supremacy.
“It’s time to tear down Silent Sam. It’s time to tear down UNC’s institutional white supremacy.”
More to follow…