Which of the following best defines "unlawful assembly" in North Carolina?

The definition of "unlawful assembly" in North Carolina is accurately captured by the scenario where three or more people gather with the intent to commit a crime or disrupt public order. In legal terms, this means that for an assembly to be deemed unlawful, there must be a specific intention among the participants to engage in criminal activity or to cause a public disturbance.

This provision is designed to prevent situations where gatherings might lead to violence or significant disruption of societal order. The emphasis on the number of individuals—specifically, three or more—highlights the state's focus on groups of individuals potentially collaborating to engage in unlawful activities.

Other choices involve gatherings that do not inherently carry the same implications of criminality or public disturbance. For instance, peaceful protests and community service events typically denote lawful activities aimed at expressing views or serving the community, which do not fit the legal definition of unlawful assembly. A social gathering, while it may disrupt public order under certain circumstances, does not specifically indicate the intent to commit a crime or cause significant disturbance, which is a key component of the definition of unlawful assembly.