Wilmington, North Carolina, officials have removed more than 30 unauthorized bus stop benches installed by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) activists. The removals followed a period of tension regarding political messaging and the legality of the structures placed throughout the city.
The ADA violations and safety hazards cited by NCDOT
The removal of the benches was driven by significant legal and safety concerns rather than purely ideological disagreements. According to a report from WECT-TV, Wilmington City Attorney Meredith Everhart stated that the benches were not approved by the city or the WAVE transit system and failed to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. because the benches were the wrong type for the designated stops,they posed a risk to accessibility and public safety.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) also weighed in,confirming that the benches posed safety hazards and legal liabilities for the state. The NCDOT spokesperson noted that the unauthorized structures did not meet the specific guidelines required for bus shelters and stops. This highlights a recurring tension in urban planning where grassroots "tactical urbanism" clashes with the strict regulatory frameworks required to maintain public safety and accessibility.
Dane Scalise’s pledge to protect New Hanover County funds
The bench controversy has quickly escalated into a partisan struggle involving New Hanover County Commissioner and Republican House candidate Dane Scalise. Scalise has publicly condemned what he perceives as a collaboration between the city and the DSA, a group whose platform includes replacing capitalism with socialism and abolishing the U.S. Senate, the Electoral College, and the Supreme Court.
On August 1, Scalise utilized social media to emphasize that New Hanover County provides significant funding to the WAVE transit system. He vowed to use his innfluence to prevent any county involvement in potential partnerships with the DSA, signaling that the dispute over physical benches could evolve into a broader fight over municipal budget allocations and transit governance. As the report indicates, Scalise intends to ensure that county resources are not used to support the socialist agenda of the activists.
The Cape Fear Proud Boys' "Socialism is slavery" vandalism
The ideological rift in Wilmington was further widened by an act of political vandalism. On August 1, the far-right group known as the Cape Fear Proud Boys claimed responsibility for defacing one of the DSA benches. The group repainted the structure with the phrase "Socialism is slavery," turning a piece of transit infrastructure into a canvas for extremist messaging.
The Wilmington DSA chapter has remained defiant in the face of both removal and vandalism. The group defended their actions on their website, asserting that the benches were "tangible examples" of socialism in practice. they argued that the installations were meant to ensure "dignity and agency for all," including the right to reliable public transit and a place to sit and rest in public. This standoff underscores how public spaces in North Carolina are increasingly being treated as zero-sum battlegrounds for opposing political identities.
Who will pay for Wilmington's unauthorized infrastructure?
Several critical details remain unaddressed by current reporting. It is currently unknown how much the city or the state will spend to remove the unauthorized structures, or if there will be specific legal or financial penalties levied against the DSA chapter for bypassing local ordinances. Additionally , the report does not clarify if the city intends to implement stricter monitoring of bus stops to prevent future unauthorized installations.
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