The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter in Wilmington, North Carolina, finds itself at odds with local authorities following the removal of their bus stop benches, which city and state officials have deemed unauthorized.
Since April 2025, the activist group has installed over 30 benches at city bus stops without securing approval from municipal bodies or the transit authority, thereby contravening established city ordinances.
According to a July 6 report by WECT-TV, Wilmington City Attorney Meredith Everhart highlighted that the benches failed to meet several requirements: they lacked city or WAVE sanctioning, were incompatible with ADA standards, bypassed necessary permitting procedures, and featured political messages prohibited in public right-of-ways.
Subsequent emails, as reported by various local media outlets, revealed that the DSA disregarded requests for bench removal. A statement from the group acknowledged the absence of official approval but indicated their decision to forge ahead with the initiative, further launching a campaign to advocate for the benches’ retention.
Images disseminated by the DSA chapter depict the benches adorned with slogans such as “We Must Have Mass Social Housing!” and “Liberation for All,” accompanied by the rainbow and trans flags, along with the phrase “Fruits of Community Labor.”
New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise, a candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in November, announced on August 1 that he initiated the review with the state’s transportation department.
“The city is working with the DSA, an organization whose platform calls for replacing capitalism with socialism as well as abolishing the US Senate, Electoral College, and Supreme Court? Apparently so, I’m afraid. In case you don’t know, New Hanover County contributes a substantial amount of money to Wave every year. We also have numerous appointees to its board of directors. Let me make something very clear: I will do everything I can to ensure that New Hanover County plays no role in this apparent partnership with the DSA,” said Scalise on social media. “Enough is enough. I am tired of waiting for others to act.”
Scalise’s announcement came the same day as the Cape Fear Proud Boys took credit for removing one of the benches and repainting it with an anti-socialist message, writing, “Socialism is slavery.”
On August 6, 20 of the benches were removed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
“We were recently made aware of new bus benches placed on the state right-of-way,” NCDOT spokesperson Veronica Scott wrote via email. “Because these benches are not in compliance with the NCDOT Bus Shelter & Bus Stop Guidelines and are a safety hazard and liability for the state, they are being removed from state property.”
The city of Wilmington followed a day later, removing the remaining benches on Friday, August 7, “While the two parties work toward an agreement about their continued temporary use.”
In a statement posted on their website, the DSA chapter makes their goal in advancing a socialist agenda in the city clear: “The benches exist because we believe socialism means working together to give everyone the means to secure their own agency and dignity. This means a right to housing, medical care, education, fast and reliable public transit and yes, the right to a place to sit and rest in public. The benches are not a secret advertisement for Democratic Socialism; the benches themselves are the product of Democratic Socialism.”