I’m on the ground in Richmond where armed protesters are gathering outside the Virginia State Capitol. Follow thread for updates or watch livestream here https://www.pscp.tv/w/ctRbqzk0MTM5NHwxZWFLYm5MWW1WbktYqblhmlaeytPFjV4WLKqvTLuHYXSMP-rjZGBLSHMdiAM=?t=1s
I’ve ended my stream as we are moving to the Robert E Lee statue. All in all, there were just as many (if not more) press than all Proud Boys, Boogs, and other militia groups. I witnessed no incidents or arrests, even though all those armed were in fact, breaking the law
Made it to the Robert E. Lee memorial where I witnessed Richmond Police on bikes ride up to a car of black locals to search them “under suspicion of concealed carry”... they confiscated two guns and a knife. A crowd is beginning to form, saying cops targeted them b/c theyre black
Continued... police confiscate firearms
A local man asks the police, “Why do you all keep bothering us... they all ride around with guns and you ain’t do shit!”
A local raises the question of how the city has groups of armed (white) visitors and yet the police still find the time to go after black locals. “The shit they’re doing is legal, but it’s illegal for the people that’s born here!?” – bei Robert E. Lee Monument
“...Motherfuckers driving down the street from other states that are crossing state lines without a concealed weapon permit, riding around my city with a fucking gun, but you care about us that live here? Not the people visiting... visiting to kill us?!”
...continued
A group of VCDL people have decided to have a meeting in the Lowe’s parking lot to decide where their caravans should go next.
Richmond Police have shown up after the majority of VCDL/III%rs/etc left, now telling BLM + press that we need to leave because we’re on private property – bei Lowe's
One of the vehicles in the caravan:
“God bless us”
“Faith, family, freedom”
“We are good trouble”
“2nd Amendment Rights Matter”
“God, we ask you to protect our rights. Amen”
“God bless us”
“Faith, family, freedom”
“We are good trouble”
“2nd Amendment Rights Matter”
“God, we ask you to protect our rights. Amen”
Posting more from earlier. The crowd was fired up that a group of police on bikes decided to harass four black men re: concealed guns when the city has groups of armed far right/violent groups openly carrying in areas where deemed to be illegal per RPD https://twitter.com/richmondpolice/status/1351221074986479621?s=21
I saw only FOUR Proud Boys in Richmond today. They were looking to join forces with other marchers.
Watch as a member of the Proud Boys ask if they can march with another group in Richmond today, only to get shot down multiple times.
The Boogaloo Bois, whose 1st major public appearance took place here a year ago, showed up w/ a small crew. These b bois call themselves the "Last Sons of Liberty" & are led by this guy, "Mike Dunn."
Asked if they'll shoot cops who try to arrest them: "We will defend ourselves."
Asked if they'll shoot cops who try to arrest them: "We will defend ourselves."
"The media continues to say we are far-right... we attribute it to the fact that generally, the people comfortable open carrying are white people... they don't seem to understand that there is a lot of us out here that don't identify w/ the right or the left."
This is very alarming.
"We've had a very high increase in interest... We've received over 14,000 emails since January 6th... I can't get to them all. My team is trying to handle it now."
"We've had a very high increase in interest... We've received over 14,000 emails since January 6th... I can't get to them all. My team is trying to handle it now."
One of the more amusing interactions from today.
Local: Get the fuck out of my city. Fuck outta here you seditious Nazi fucks.
2A guy: Uh no. Actually, I hate Nazis. But thanks. Have a wonderful day!
Local: Get the fuck out of my city. Fuck outta here you seditious Nazi fucks.
2A guy: Uh no. Actually, I hate Nazis. But thanks. Have a wonderful day!
Just to confuse you some more.
"ActBlue finances BLM/ActBlue is financed by George Soros and George Soros is Jewish... they [Jews] honestly don't have no grand conspiracy to take over the world... just a few bankers who happen to be Jewish..."
"ActBlue finances BLM/ActBlue is financed by George Soros and George Soros is Jewish... they [Jews] honestly don't have no grand conspiracy to take over the world... just a few bankers who happen to be Jewish..."
"One book...I'm reading...I'm not gonna tell you the name of the author. Most people just simply hear the name."
Me: I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess it's Hitler. Am I correct?
"Yeah. That's true. But when you look at history, what pushed him to become more radical?"
Me: I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess it's Hitler. Am I correct?
"Yeah. That's true. But when you look at history, what pushed him to become more radical?"