For a month straight, protests against racism and police use of force rocked Richmond.
These are some of the key dates, including documented instances police used tear gas and pepper spray. For purposes of this timeline, events are associated with the date the protests began, even if events carry over into the early morning hours of the next day.
May 29 - First night of protests. Hundreds of demonstrators march through the city. Some protestors vandalize businesses along Broad Street, and a city bus is set on fire.
Crowd gathering now in Monroe Park downtown pic.twitter.com/l64Wihja5c
— Mallory Noe-Payne (@MalloryNoePayne) May 30, 2020
May 30 - Second night of protests. Demonstrators tagged the Daughters of Confederacy headquarters in Richmond, and lit the building on fire. Police deployed chemicals against protestors.
May 31 - First night of 8 p.m. curfew in the city. Police arrested more than 200 people, often rounding them up in groups. Police deployed chemicals against protestors and press.
Taking a break. I’ve been tear gassed.
— Roberto Roldan (@ByRobertoR) June 1, 2020
June 1 - After dozens were arrested the night before, and on the second night of curfew, police launched chemicals at a group of protestors standing around the Lee Monument. This was before curfew even began.
Cops gassed peaceful protest at lee statue pic.twitter.com/qzuYju5K92
— Laura Vozzella (@LVozzella) June 1, 2020
June 2 - Protesters challenge mayor and police chief at city hall, Mayor Stoney marches with protesters. He promises action on several of their demands including the creation of a 'Marcus Alert' and Civilian Review Board.
In the middle of the pack is Richmond mayor @LevarStoney with state delegate @delegatebagby pic.twitter.com/aG5ktudOVl
— Mallory Noe-Payne (@MalloryNoePayne) June 2, 2020
June 4 - In response to protests, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announces the statue of Robert E. Lee will come down.
June 6 - For several nights, protestors demonstrate without incident. They pull down their first Confederate monument - Williams Wickham in Monroe Park.
June 9 - Christopher Columbus monument pulled down.
June 10 - Jefferson Davis monument pulled down.
Richmond’s Jefferson Davis monument is missing JD this morning.
— Mallory Noe-Payne (@MalloryNoePayne) June 11, 2020
Two years ago a commission recommended he be taken down, they wrote “Of all the statues this is the most unabashedly Lost Cause in its design and sentiment.”
The City didn’t act on their recommendations pic.twitter.com/ITF0QPSoX9
June 13 - Large '5,000 Man March' takes place during the day. Richmond Police vehicle drives through protesters at night.
Video here: pic.twitter.com/BGuOqLI46K
— Justice looks like abolition. (@BreRVA) June 14, 2020
June 14 - Protestors and police stand offoutside Richmond police headquarters. Police deploy chemical agents against protestors.
June 15 - For a second night, protestors and police stand off outside Richmond police headquarters. Police deploy chemical agentsagainst protestors.
Police are using explosives and smoke on demonstrators. I have a lot of videos and it is very hectic here. pic.twitter.com/USVbojIqEC
— Andrew Ringle (@aeringle) June 16, 2020
June 16 - Richmond Police Chief resigns during the day. At night protestors enter the Mayor's apartment building, and pull down another Confederate monument on VCU's campus.
June 19 - People gather for Juneteenth celebrations at the Lee Monument.
Juneteenth 2020 in Richmond, Virginia at the Robert E. Monument. pic.twitter.com/v1dzvNB3Ow
— Mallory Noe-Payne (@MalloryNoePayne) June 20, 2020
June 20 - Police arrest and then release a man found with a handgun on top of a building overlooking the Lee Monument. He's an airport police officer.
June 21 - Police deploy chemical agents against protestors, including at a reporter for VCU's paper The Commonwealth Times. The student paper has hadreporters on the ground almost every night.
June 22 - Police deploy chemical agents against protestors.
At 12:42 a.m., an Unlawful Assembly was declared at Richmond City Hall on Marshall Street. Please leave the area immediately. Failure to disperse will result in arrest. pic.twitter.com/3NmAsRBli9
— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) June 23, 2020
June 26 - Richmond police officer hit by paintball. Police deploy chemical agents against protestors.
This is video recorded by a @VSPPIO Trooper’s body-worn camera of an RPD officer who went down when shot by a paintball gun last night. He was the first officer injured that night during the protest at/near the Lee Monument. He will recover. pic.twitter.com/vOmszN2k5m
— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) June 27, 2020
July 1 - Protestors took their fight to the courthouse, demonstrating against the resumption of evictions in the city. Sheriff's deputies deployed chemical agents and made several arrests. At the same time the city began removing statues on Monument Avenue, beginning with Stonewall Jackson.
Arrests just happened at the entrance of the John Marshall courthouse. Pepper spray used. pic.twitter.com/ITh0kxfMOV
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) July 1, 2020