Three people were charged this week in connection with the toppling of the “Silent Sam” Confederate monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an act of protest that supporters say demolished a symbol of white supremacy.

The individuals, who were not named but who were said to have no affiliation with the university, face misdemeanor charges of rioting and defacing a public monument, Randy Young, a spokesman for the university’s police force, said in a statement on Friday. Mr. Young said none of the three had been arrested yet.

On Monday night, demonstrators brought down the 105-year-old Confederate monument, prompting sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and university leaders. The next day, university leaders warned that they would rely on “the full breadth of state and university processes to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

The new charges come as university officials warn of potential demonstrations planned for Saturday on campus. In a statement on Friday, the university said it was preparing for a possible rally surrounding the monument and urged students to stay away.