I am at the John Marshall Courthouse in Richmond Virginia. Today is the first day that evictions will resume in the city since they were paused because of the pandemic. It's day 34 of actions in the city.

About 100 people are here for demonstration and court support. Eviction is a difficult process and landlords do not have a tenets best interest. I am sitting next to @nedoliver who wrote about this subject last year. https://www.virginiamercury.com/2019/05/12/a-leaky-roof-a-tenants-complaint-and-a-landlords-response-youre-just-another-dumbass-n-i-got-to-go-to-court-with/

Also joining us today are the Sherriff's Deputies. I just 8 of them in front of the door. They have the job to provide security inside the courthouse.

Right now speakers are voicing against not just evictions but the concepts of rent with predatory landlords and communities affected by poverty. Groups include Virginia Student Power Network, New Virginia Majority, and Leaders of the New South. Speaking now is Omari!

This protest is marching across the street to City Hall.

Now walking west on East Broad, near the Capitol grounds and the Governor's Mansion

The march stops at a fence on Governor Street. About 100 feet from the Governor's Mansion.

Despite the proximity to Governor Northam. Tensions aren't that high. 2 officers from Capitol Police are at ease on the other side of the fence. Protesters are taping signs to the fence and chanting.

It's a short one, protesters are already marching back to the Courthouse

This is the same location I've been for the Reopen Virginia protests. It seems like the nearby construction workers are more interested in watching this than the Reopen protests.

Protesters are no outside of City Hall. Chants of "Landlords Are Leaches" and "This Is Our Building" It appears the city locked the door before any of the protesters could get inside.

This protest is going around the otherside for another entrance

Marchers now going back to the John Marshall Courthouse, but I am about to wrap up and go to the Stonewall Jackson statue is currently being removed

I'll give you more details when I arrive in about 20 minutes.

As I got on my bike protesters attempted to enter the Courthouse. Protesters look like they are affected by peepper spray. One person affected says he was just holding the door open.

Protesters are banging on the window. It seems like police have at least one person detained.

I heard police on scene and windows smashed

lots of police on the scene and I am dipping out

I left the courthouse and passed the Mario Pipes.

I just arrived at the Stonewall Jackson statue. Crews are currently in the process of removing it. The man in the cherry picker got a standing ovation from the crowd.

It is currently the Richmond Sheriff's department who is working the security right now. Normally it would be the Richmond Police.

I would like to give more updates on the arrest at John Marshall Courthouse, but I am going to wait and find out if the person was issued a summons, or taken to the jail. I don't want to spread anything I can't confirm.

Reminder that the statues bring bad people, bad people will stay away in the statue's absence. https://twitter.com/GoadGatsby/status/1277349205951070208?s=19

The ropes from the crane are now being fastened on the Jackson statue.

4 drones are flying right now, so hopefully there will be lots of footage. There is also hundreds of people within Ashe and Monument intersection.

Rain drops are now falling, it also rained in Pittsboro when they took down their Confederate statue.

A man with a Trump flag arrived. Sherriff's Deputies removed him while he was crying. Faces of protesters redacted.

Protesters may or may not have burned his Trump flag.

I am bring told it wasn't a Trump flag, it was one like this.

The angle grinder has just been used and cherry picker is down. I expect the crane will left off in a few minutes.

They are still working with the angle grinder around the statue horse's ankles. Shows what I know. There are over 1000 people on hand to witness this.

Crew still working on it, but a big storm is on the way

It's pouring but there is still about 1,000 onlookers

lift off

The Stonewall Jackson statue in Richmond Virginia has been removed.

This isn't over. There are still other statues and activists facing charges.