YCSO, GPD talk Friday gathering at Young County courthouse

Young County Sheriff Travis Babcock and Graham Police Chief Brent Bullock spoke to the Rotary Club of Graham on Tuesday about a gathering of veterans and concerned citizens on the Graham downtown square last Friday in response to potential protesters.

A grouping of both armed and unarmed visitors to the square were present Friday around the courthouse along with members of the Young County Sheriff’s Office and Graham Police Department. Sheriff Babcock spoke to the club on Tuesday and said the events were due to intelligence regarding a potential protest.

“The events that happened on Friday morning and lasted all pretty much through the weekend, we had been watching and listening to some intel all during the week and made a decision to come out with the patrol guys (…) and kind of being around in the courthouse in case something did come up,” Young County Travis Babcock said. “Some of the rumors were there was going to be some protesters coming around the square, which we were all good with the protesters. If they want to come and protest peacefully, they (were) okay, but then there were some rumors that the antifa and that group had possibly wanted to come also.”

Babcock said the department was there to make sure the businesses around the courthouse were safe and the courthouse was safe. YCSO set up game cameras around the building to add to their courthouse security and were joined by a large group looking to sit by the monuments on the square.

For more information regarding this story, see the June 20 edition of The Graham Leader.