A beloved tradition was back on Saturday night in Durham after immigration raid concerns pushed it back weeks earlier.
Durham residents gathered at CCB Plaza to watch the annual tree lighting for the holidays.
It was a stark contrast from two weeks earlier, when Durham residents held a protest on November 21 against immigration sweeps by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Immigration agents rolled through North Carolina in November, first targeting Charlotte and then moved through the Triangle.
Organizers with Downtown Durham Inc. said they felt it was necessary to postpone the tree lighting to Saturday out of concern that people wouldn’t feel safe and to let protesters have their own space.
“To include those who may still not feel comfortable or safe coming out,” said Nicole Thompson, CEO of Downtown Durham Inc. “We want them to know that we are here and we understand and recognize that they are here with us, even if they can’t be here physically.”