Demonstrators march Monument Avenue Sunday following violence, chaos in Charlottesville

A group of protesters assembled late Sunday evening at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward, gathering to march toward the Lee statue on Monument Avenue following a weekend of violence in Charlottesville that saw the death of a 32-year-old woman after a car plowed through part of the group, as well as two Virginia State Police troopers, whose helicopter crashed in Albemarle County. The chaos was sparked as the “Unite The Right” assembly was declared unlawful and members of neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups sparred with counter-protesters.

In Richmond, demonstrators took to the streets, chanting “take down these monuments.” The group proceeded down W. Broad Street to Monument Avenue towards the J.E.B. Stuart statue. One man, shirtless and donning a mask, successfully planted a flag in the mouth of Stuart’s horse. City crews removed the flag early Monday morning.

Crowd is marching EB on W. Broad St. crossing Belvidere. #RVA pic.twitter.com/yugPYvviaX

— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) August 14, 2017

Richmond Police along with members of the state’s Capitol Police division, which has jurisdiction over the state property on which the Monument Avenue statues stand, blocked protesters’ attempts to assemble at the Lee statue–reportedly their ultimate destination goal.

Portions of Monument Avenue and W. Broad Street near VCU were shut down by the flood of protesters at various times throughout the night from 8:30 until 11:00.

Demonstrators now marching eastbound on Monument Ave. toward Bowe St. away from Lee Monument. #RVA pic.twitter.com/i5UW6tZNcB

— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) August 14, 2017

The protests turned violent as counter-protesters from various white supremacist groups sparred with one another. Richmond Police say at least one person was arrested, and another is sought for allegedly assaulting a WTVR CBS 6 photojournalist with a pole, apparently upset at members of the media covering the event.

Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham addressed the media late Sunday evening after the crowds had dispersed, saying the department was prepared for this type of event, saying it wasn’t unexpected following Saturday’s chaos in nearby Charlottesville.

Chief Durham briefs media about tonight's demonstration. One arrest. #RVA pic.twitter.com/29SNK2216Z

— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) August 14, 2017

The Monument Avenue Commission, a 13-person group formed by Mayor Levar Stoney’s office to take public input and make recommendations on what to do with the historic Confederate statues on Monument Avenue, is continuing a series of public meetings and will soon make recommendations on adding context to the statues, but outright removal is not currently on the table, in part because Virginia law prevents such actions. A growing number of voices, however, are calling for the eventual removal of the statues.

This is likely not the last protest we’ll see on Monument Avenue from either side. As RVAMag reports, the Virginia Flaggers–the group often seen waving the Confederate battle flag outside of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts–has obtained a permit for a rally at the Lee monument on September 16th.

Right on the heels of the chaos caused by the ‘Unite The Right’ rally in Charlottesville, the Virginia Flaggers have seemingly announced a rally of their own to protect Confederate monuments on September 16, 2017.

On their official blog site they announced, “Our friends at Save Southern Heritage have obtained a permit from the Capitol Police for a rally at the LEE Monument on Monument Avenue in Richmond for Saturday, September 16 at NOON.  We will be supporting their efforts and need a HUGE showing of patriotic Southerners to make a statement to Mayor Stoney, the commission, and the entire city of Richmond.”

We’ll continue to follow this story and pass along more information when it becomes available.