Illegal Assembly Declared for a 4th Night in Row

Police have posted a timeline of the events last night. At 11:06 PM, RPD announced over a bullhorn that protesters were trespassing at Lee Monument and needed to leave. At 11:28 p.m., an unlawful assembly was declared after police say protesters started throwing rocks at law enforcement. At 11:30 p.m., Virginia State Police said the grounds were cleared and no use of force was used.

This video on Twitter was posted at 12:20 AM so the police statement that no force was used to clear the ground is technically correct but in this case, force was used for no apparent threat.

After being forced from the Lee Monument grounds protestors marched to Monroe Park. There were unsuccessful attempts to pull down Maury Monument. Police report that windows were broken at Whole Foods.

Later around 2 AM a group marched through the Fan. Police report that windows were broken at District 5. Around 3:15 AM several arrests were made. Charges include, Interfering with an Aircraft by pointing a laser (Class 6 felony); second for Assaulting Law Enforcement Officer who was struck in the face with a shield (Class 6 felony); third for Obstructing Justice (Class 1 misdemeanor)

Starbucks at N Robinson Street had a window broken and a flare thrown in but there has been no direct link to last night’s protests and this incident.