NC woman accused of striking Andrew Brown Jr. protesters appears in court, police weigh hate crime charges

A North Carolina woman accused of striking at least two protesters with her vehicle in Elizabeth City, where demonstrations have continued since the fatal deputy-involved shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., appeared in court Thursday, as police continue to investigate whether her actions justify a hate crime.

O’Quinn asked to be appointed a public defender during a procedural hearing Thursday, WAVY reported, but did not respond to reporters asking her questions while walking out of the courthouse. She remains free after posting $40,000 bail, and a judge set her probable cause hearing for July 12.   Video shared by WTKR shows that O’Quinn, seen wearing a red shirt and mask, remained silent while walking outside the Pasquotank County courthouse. A woman can be heard from off-camera yelling, "We protect our Black queens around here, you trashy a-- woman."  As protesters gathered outside, O'Quinn was escorted by deputies after the hearing into a neighboring public safety building, WTKR reported. She was then escorted from that building to her vehicle to leave.