Commissioner calls for end to politically motivated bus bench installations

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington bus bench controversy has taken another turn after a bench originally linked to the Wilmington Democratic Socialists of America was repainted with a political message apparently tied to the Cape Fear Proud Boys.

The latest development follows weeks of debate over homemade benches placed at Wave Transit bus stops throughout Wilmington. The Wilmington Democratic Socialists of America installed as many as 30 benches across the city to draw attention to what the group says is a lack of seating for transit riders.

Now, a bench that had been placed at a bus stop across from the YMCA on Market Street has been repainted to read, “Socialism is Slavery.” A photo posted online showed the bench at a bus stop in front of the Willow Apartment Homes off Randall Parkway. The message has been attributed to the Cape Fear Proud Boys.

Residents living near the bus stop said they were unaware the repainted bench had ever been there.

“No, I haven’t, I haven’t seen anything either,” resident Cara Cooper said. “I don’t know much about it. I mean, I’m always up for a bench being placed at bus stops for people. I don’t really know about the vandalization and stuff like that, but obviously never great when that happens.”

Wave Transit Executive Director Mark Hairr said he did not see a bench at the Willow Apartment Homes bus stop on Sunday.

The incident has also drawn criticism from local officials.

“I don’t want the DSA or the Proud Boys being involved in this business,” New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise said. “I don’t think that it’s appropriate for them to be putting political propaganda out in our community, particularly on our public streets. We cannot stand for this. It’s not okay. Both of these organizations are extremists. We don’t need them building benches in our community.”

It remains unclear what happened to the repainted bench. It is unknown whether it was removed after the photo was taken, whether it remained at the stop for a period of time, or whether it was placed there only briefly for the photograph.

The circumstances surrounding the bench’s placement and removal remain under investigation, and additional details have not yet been released.