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UPDATE: Richmond Police have declared an “unlawful assembly” at the Robert E. Lee statue. Follow this thread for updates.
Police have filled the grass area around the statue. They’re shining lights back at those who film, and one officer warned us to be careful when we arrived.
Police trucks are blocking the traffic circle at Allen and Monument. There are at least 100 officers surrounding the statue, where people were sleeping in the grass less than an hour ago. Less than a dozen protesters remain outside the perimeter.
Police are surrounding the statue of Robert E. Lee. We were filmed by one officer when we arrived.
One in the crowd is saying to officers “We have no way to leave. We cannot get home safely if y’all are blocking the street.”
Here’s a photo of the main group of protesters who remain near the statue. More than 100 police officers continue to surround the monument and block the street.
One officer responded to the protesters asking how they should get home. “Call an Uber,” he said.
A good majority of demonstrators have left the area. About 5 besides us remain, and a couple are filming police officers.
“It’s not unlawful, there’s two people and media,” one protester says to officers. Police are repeating orders to disperse nonetheless. Unlawful assemblies require three or more
The police line around the Robert E. Lee statue at 3:35 a.m. There are maybe three protesters still out, plus a couple people filming. Some of the officers are laughing amongst themselves.
Police continue to guard the Lee statue nearly an hour after announcing the area had been cleared. People are shouting at officers from their homes, and a garbage truck just emptied cans from inside the circle.
The “Radical Library” tent from my last thread has been slashed. Police cut down tents left behind protesters when they arrived, a bystander tells me.
Police are shining bright searchlights at those who continue to film them. We’re standing away from the perimeter and on the sidewalk.
Two people dap up in the police lights crossing Monument Avenue.
Police ordered an oncoming driver to turn around and go the other way. RPD suvs are still blocking the traffic circle around the statue. The driver was then forced to make an illegal U-turn, to which officers called out “Ain’t that smart”
Officers from @RichmondPolice continue to guard the Robert E. Lee statue. Now there are roughly 20 people around the barricades, mostly keeping their distance.
Yellow-vested men behind the police line are throwing away signs left behind by protesters on the statue’s base.
These two guys are removing a couch that was left behind by people gathered earlier today. It looks like the may have also disassembled the shelves in the community library.
Police and maintenance workers have removed the community library near the Robert E. Lee statue set up by demonstrators days ago.
Officers from Virginia State Police remain in the perimeter of the statue. They’ve moved their line back closer to the monument’s base. Around 15 demonstrators are still here.
Remaining VSP officers have formed a denser group in the west side of the statue’s park area. Not sure what they’re doing, but the armored trucks and SUVs have left. Good morning
Virginia State Police officers are leaving the statue after throwing away signs and destroying tents left by demonstrators. The group that stayed throughout the night is already back in the circle.
