Virginia’s ACLU is demanding accountability from Richmond police after what they say is a pattern of excessive force against anti-racism protestors.
This comes after the third weekend of protests in Virginia’s capital city. Saturday night a Richmond officer slowly drove their car into demonstrators, and Sunday night officers repeatedly used pepper spray on the crowd.
Multiple videos from Saturday night show an officer trying to drive around a group of people blocking the road. But as the protesters shift around the vehicle the officer continues to drive, ramming into several people.
Sunday night, in response, demonstrators marched directly to police headquarters. Local black organizer, and co-host of the podcast Race Capitol, Kalia Harris says it was in direct protest to the brutality of the night before. She says the mood shifted rapidly when officers came out in riot gear.
“It went from that type of almost joyous feel, to you could feel the tension in the air,” described Harris Monday. “And so I was in my car and that was when the first pepper spray round happened.”
She says officers continued to use pepper spray.
“We were working through the night to make sure that protestors were getting deliveries of water and supplies while they were getting gassed and their First Amendment rights were being violated,” she added.
In a letter to Richmond’s Mayor, Police Chief, and Commonwealth’s Attorney the ACLU of Virginia says the unjustified use force violates people’s First Amendment rights. ACLU Legal Director Eden Heilman says it warrants investigation and possibly criminal charges.
“There’s nothing in Virginia law that we’re aware of that forbids the officer who was involved (in driving the car) from being charged with assault and battery,” Heilman said. “We definitely think that this is one of the things that should be considered by the authorities who are investigating.”
Richmond’s Mayor has asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney to investigate the car incident, but he has not made a public statement since the most recent uses of tear gas Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Heilman with the ACLU says it’s time for law enforcement statewide to consider long-term changes. “Both defund and divest from policing and to create a framework for racial justice in our current police practices,” she said.
At least two city council members say they support reducing the police departments’ budget.
The Commonwealth's Attorney and Mayor's office have not yet responded to a request for comment on the ACLU's letter.
In a press release Monday evening Richmond's police chief says three officers were injured during Sunday night's demonstrations and that some of the protestors threw rocks and other objects at officers.
"We fully support peaceful demonstrations, but we will not tolerate the violent assault of police officers," said Richmond Police Chief William Smith.
But a City Councilwoman who was present at the protests paints a different picture. In a statement Stephanie Lynch says "protestors were needlessly assaulted by tear gas and other methods of undue force... I did not witness anything that would have provoked this attack."
Updated 5:35 p.m. Monday June 15th after Richmond police issued a press release. And again at 7:23 p.m. with additional information from Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch.
