The largest crowd yet showed up for the fifth night of protests in Richmond. Even though an 8 p.m. curfew was still in effect they peacefully marched through the city into the early hours of the morning.
And, for the first time, they were also joined by politicians -- including the Lieutenant Governor, several state lawmakers, and Richmond’s Mayor.
Earlier in the day Tuesday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney got an earful from demonstrators, as he apologized for the night before when Richmond police fired teargas into a crowd of peaceful protestors.
“It was wrong that what happened yesterday. I apologize for that. It should have never happened!” he yelled through a megaphone before the crowd drowned him out.
A chaotic and painful dialogue unfolded as people demanded the immediate firing of the officers involved. The mayor promised disciplinary action, but wouldn’t give specifics. He did later say he had talked to the city’s commonwealth attorney.
He did promise to march.
Thousands turned out Tuesday evening, including Debra Simmons and her seven year old grandson.
“If we don’t fight and stand up then he’s not going to make it. So everyone out here is fighting for him and other little boys like him,” she said.
After multiple nights of tear gassing and reports of violent arrests, Simmons was afraid, but admitted that’s nothing new. “And it’s sad because we face this daily. And unless you are black you don’t understand what we go through. It’s painful, it’s hurtful and it’s unfair.”
Mayor Stoney walked in the middle of the pack, talking to people as he went. One young man told him “you’re the leader, that’s why we’re holding you accountable.”
Stoney responded that’s why he was there “When you’re a leader you’ve got only one choice and you gotta show up.”
For Latisha Carson, a resident who had been at City Hall earlier in the day to listen to the Mayor’s apology, showing up was a step in the direction.
“I think he really heard the people and I think we have more to do,” said Carson. “We have more steps to make, we need a plan of action. We need to hold out police officers accountable for the injustices they are doing to the American citizens.”
But for others the politicians’ presence felt like an empty stunt. Local activists have been pressing the Mayor to address issues in the city’s police force since a young man, Marcus David Peters, was shot and killed by Richmond police two summers ago. Local activist Naomi Isaac says city leadership still hasn’t addressed any of their demands.
“We will be here until (Stoney) actually reaches the demands that we have articulated several times to him,” Isaac said. “We will not be satisfied with another sorry.”
They want more cooperation between law enforcement and mental health profesionals, more data on traffic and terry stops, and an independent civilian review board.
When the protests fade, they say, they’ll still be here pushing for police accountability and ensuring that local and state governments protect black lives.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
