On Monday night time, police broke up pro-Palestinian protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza in Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth College (VCU).
Video reveals protesters creating barricades and getting violent with police.
A number of arrests had been made in a matter of minutes. Watch:
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Protester Sings Learn ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Ceasefire Now’
The protest exterior the college at VCU’s James Cabell Library started earlier within the day on Monday, April 29, along with plenty of different related protests throughout the nation.
Campus protesters carried indicators demanding “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire Now,” amongst different slogans.
In accordance to Norfolk’s 8 Information, their “team members on the ground witnessed VCU Police in riot gear create a police line around 8:30 p.m., exiting from a bus that had been staged near the protest’s encampment. Soon after, a VCU alert was sent out calling the protest ‘violent’ and an unlawful assembly was declared. Police then moved in on the protestors, working to break apart their line. Some of them were seen wearing gas masks.”
Their reporters and employees “on the ground said they saw hundreds of officers moving in, taking down the barricade by force. Virginia State Police deputies were seen among them.”
Many movies had been taken of the chaos the place cops may be seen forcing protestors to the bottom and utilizing zip ties to bind their palms.
Protesters hurled water bottles and different missiles on the officers as nicely, based on the video.
Implementing Richmond Metropolis Code
Based on our workforce members, some protestors had been seen tossing water bottles at officers. Protesters raised tents and established what they referred to as their ‘Liberation Zone’ within the early night.
Earlier than police arrived, protestors donned masks and shaped a line round their encampment. They are often seen utilizing palettes to create their barricade.
VCU is a state college which suggests its property is public. Richmond’s Metropolis Code says that folks can not “camp, lay or sleep on, near or about any public lands or structures belonging to or under control of the city after 11 p.m.” in the event that they don’t have particular permission.
On Monday, it seems Richmond regulation enforcement meant to implement that code.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin weighed in on the protests throughout the commonwealth as nicely, saying, “Across the Commonwealth we’ve seen student and significant non-student participants, throw projectiles at law enforcement, violate the policies of our colleges and universities, obstruct and disrupt student life and endanger public safety.”
Within the early morning hours Youngking additionally gave his closing verdict: “After repeated warnings and refusal to disperse, law enforcement must protect Virginians. My administration will continue to fully support campus, local and state law enforcement and university leadership to keep our campuses safe.”
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