The first member of the N.C. State community faced trial for her arrest during the Moral Monday protests.

Barbara Zelter, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, was one of the 12 arrestees who attended a court hearing on Friday.  

Zelter was arrested April 29 and charged with violating building rules, failure to disperse and trespassing 

“It doesn’t scare me,” Zelter said. “I think we citizens have rights, and when we participate in civil disobedience we understand that there are consequences.”

The trial resulted in a continuance, which will take place on Dec. 4. 

The two witnesses who were questioned were former North Carolina Senator Ellie Kinnaird and Chief of the N.C. General Assembly Police Jeff Weaver. No defendants took the stand.

The N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts appointed Judge Joyce Hamilton to oversee all the Moral Monday trials. Hamilton, who came out of retirement to oversee the more than 900 Moral Monday cases, is scheduled to serve only two days per month.

“With her schedule it’s going to take many years to complete all of the trials involving the defendants,” Zelter said.

According to Zelter, the majority of court time Friday consisted of Weaver attempting to rationalize his sense of impending danger. In addition, the prosecution took a substantial amount to attempt to link NAACP demonstration with the protests of Ben Carroll and Dante Strobino.  

Zelter said that Carroll and Strobino attended the event on April 29 as supporters who pushed for education justice for students. The Raleigh Police Department had labeled them as threats to public safety, which caused concern.

“They have been cast as anarchists and dangerous people, which they’re not,” Zelter said. “Apparently the Raleigh Police Department has labeled these people as dangerous, and the prosecution is trying to make a connection where none exists.”

Also during the trial, Scott Holmes, the defense lawyer, called Kinnaird to the stand and questioned her regarding whether the April 29 demonstration interrupted North Carolina legislators from entering the building and conducting business. 

Kinnaird said that there were no problems entering the chambers, nor did the protest deter her from her duties.

Zelter said the most difficult part of being called back for trial is that it becomes difficult for people to take days off their jobs.

“This is the hard part because most people can’t keep taking days off work to attend court and they have to give up a lot of their personal time for this long court process,” Zelter said. 

Zelter said the reaction from students has been overwhelmingly supportive. She said she is encouraged that students feel that participating in the Moral Monday protests is a good idea.

Lauryn Collier, president of the N.C. State NAACP chapter, said she thinks that some of the charges were exaggerated and the some of the actions taken by the police were unreasonable.

“As citizens we should be able to express our opinions and concerns and not have to worry about our reputations being harmed — especially if you are a faculty member,” Collier said. 

Zelter said she is grateful for her freedom to protest because many staff members cannot protest due to career purposes. She said it gives her the opportunity to represent people who are unable to express the same opinions she has.