A North Carolina anti-ICE protester was met with swift justice after allegedly dumping a drink on the head of a cop keeping the peace at a demonstration.
Emily Cervantes Ramos, 18, was tackled to the ground and hauled away in handcuffs just moments after she appeared to whack a police officer in the head in Kannapolis on Friday afternoon.
She was one of about 75 people who turned out to demonstrate against immigration operations being carried out by ICE in nearby Charlotte. Most of the protesters were students from nearby A.L. Brown High School, who walked out of class to join, WCNC Charlotte reported.
It remains unclear whether Ramos was a student herself, but the protests began mostly peacefully — police only arriving as a standard safety measure.
But footage from the scene captured tensions flaring as demonstrators shouted insults at a police officer they claimed had been taking photos of them.
“You’re not even an officer, you’re just a no-life ass bitch,” one person shouted through the noise.
The officer just stood by silently — until Ramos appeared to run up from behind and roughly slam a full plastic cup over his head.
She then split, with the officer following in hot pursuit and the crowd close behind.
“Ohhh!” protesters screamed as the chase ensued.
Ramos was quickly tackled to the ground and officers surrounded the scene as she was handcuffed.
“She didn’t even do anything,” a bystander can be heard saying as the crowd’s noisy heckling continued.
Ramos was charged with assault on a government official and resisting police officers.
Nobody else was arrested at the protest.
Soon after her arrest, a GoFundMe emerged to raise funds for Ramos’ family — and made no mention of her alleged drink-smashing.
“An officer intervened aggressively, snatching a bullhorn from a young girl and dragging her to the ground,” archived screenshots of the GoFundMe read.
‘It was one of the most distressing things many of us have ever witnessed, and it should never have happened to someone peacefully exercising their rights,” the page added.
The fundraiser has since been taken down.
The Kannapolis Police Department stood by the arrest when pressed by reporters.
“We believe in every individual’s First Amendment rights, but if any person’s actions become illegal in situations such as these, we have no choice but to take appropriate action in order to protect the people and property of our city,” Police Chief Terry Spry told WCNC.
