Protests against the killing of African American men and women by police continued all weekend, from one end of Virginia to the other.
Governor Ralph Northam declared a statewide state of emergency Sunday afternoon, allowing for more state resources to respond to protests that become violent. Northam's declaration also extends a curfew in the City of Richmond through Wednesday morning.
In Richmond, thousands of people took to the streets for passionate but peaceful protests Sunday afternoon. On Monument Avenue Sunday, traveling musician Val McCarthy, played his trumpet. He thinks the protests can bring about changes in police practices, but he's less certain about a bigger societal change. "It’s not going to change the fact that I’m an endangered species," he said.
After two nights of violence, the city has set an 8:00 p.m. curfew and put the National Guard on standby to respond if needed.
In Roanoke, officials have not declared a curfew, but said a state of emergency declared Saturday gives city officials that authority. In a Sunday afternoon news conference, Mayor Sherman Lea said he felt the pain expressed by protesters and supported their right to peacefully assemble. But he added that the conduct of a few people was not in line with a peaceful protest. The city's police chief said he's willing to talk with community members about their concerns and potential changes,
In Roanoke Saturday, a rally of several hundred people began at Washington Park. Speaking at the rally, Roanoke educator and organizer Bernadette Brown likened racism to COVID-19. "You know how scared you are to go outside right now because you don't know if the virus might be transmitted? How scared you are that you might lose your job because you don't know how you are going to take care of your family? Well guess what. That's how racism feels every day."
People then marched to the city's police department. Smaller groups of protesters continued into the night and resulted in some tense standoffs with police.
