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I'm at beautiful Marcus-David Peters Circle (10 min to sunset) where a couple dozen folks are hanging out. I see an older white guy in business attire shooting hoops with some young Black neighbors. Families snapping pics. Folks dropping cards in the suggestions box. Good vibes.
Someone shouted "Yo, JLJ!" from a passing car. I couldn't tell who it was but they sounded friendly, so probably not a cop. Anyway - howdy, friend!
Multiple RPD vehicles are blocking off the protected Franklin Street bike lanes at the Belvidere intersection. I'm sure they have a perfectly good reason!
I'm with a few dozen folks at the meet-up spot for tonight's #ReclamationRevival demonstration. Someone is playing Anderson .Paak on their car speakers while we people stream in. Everyone seems happy to see each other after several nights of heavy rain kept us inside.
I'd say there are between 75-100 people gathered now. @realwizkaliaa (whose birthday is today!) is now speaking about the importance of protecting Black lives all across the city, hence meeting up tonight in South side. Big chants of "F*ck 12" and "F*ck ICE" from the crowd.
Joe, a Black man who I've seen speak at previous events, is talking about the history of Black August in the American protest movement, and his own background supporting incarcerated members of the Black Liberation Army. Joe is a great speaker and the crowd is rapt.
The next speaker, introduced as Q, is speaking about the historical context of the Black radical movement. "Liberation is sovereignty... we're talking about complete and utter freedom from the Euro-capitalist system." He notes that the Haitian revolution started in August.
As with every #ReclamationRevival event, discourse tonight is dense and nuanced and defies summarization. I'll try to relate the headlines but apologies for not fully capturing the persuasive and vital conversation occuring. Stream for the full experience: https://twitter.com/edace2936/status/1291903936459411457?s=21
Abolitionist @nomesense is going in on the city for the thousands of dollars spent to brutalize Richmonders and the general insufficiency of #RVACouncil. "We don't need 9 folks to half-ass it around a table and patronize us... Abolish the RPD or get the F*CK out of the way!"
VCU SGA President @niggligg, a powerful and moving speaker and activist, is talking about VCU PD, the foolishness of Change(dot)org petitions, and just generally bringing a lot of blunt truths. I got distracted by a weird aircraft flying overhead. Idk anything about planes.
Next up is my fellow @NLC_Virginia alum and #RVACouncil 6th Ward candidate @Chipman2020. Everything Allan-Charles says is full of wisdom and well-worth listening to. He is speaking about the racist defacement of Maggie Walker grave, as well as City Council's unfunded resolutions.
Speakers are taking a break so that everyone can stretch their legs and have a conversation with someone new. It's kind of like the part in church service where you turn around in the pews and make small talk with the other congregants, but with Joey Bada$$ in the background.
The moment of fellowship is over and @realwizkaliaa is talking about the unmet demands of protesters. A reminder:
I've heard this from a few more knowledgeable friends, and now Kalia has also said as much - the weird plane that passed overhead earlier was not visible on radar and was possibly a military surveillance plane. I have no way of confirming that, but it speaks to our spooky times.
Wrapping up now, @realwizkaliaa states that the Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union is the last remaining Black bank in the city 86 years after Maggie Walker's death. With that, everyone appears to be heading home. This has been an engaging night of learning and solidarity!
