I am at the graffiti covered Lee statue in Marcus-David Peter Circle in Richmond, Virginia. I got my mask on and I am experiencing the activities here on this Juneteenth weekend. It's been 24 straight days of political action in town.

The speaker system is out and they are playing some funk and soul circa 1970's.

I don't eat meat but I enjoy seeing other people cook, especially when they give it out for free.

it addition to free food, some venders are set up

someone is giving a cover of Heal the World

a shift to more modern dance music has happened

Great improvement in the area, there is now a wheelchair ramp. This means a person in a wheelchair can come to this circle without needing assistance for the first time ever. Thanks who ever installed it.

This is who the circle is now dedicated to. Marcus-David Peters was shot and killed by a police officer during a mental health crisis. Above his picture is a mention of Heather Heyer who was killed by a fascist in Charlottesville.

Today has lots of family themed celebrations but lots of reminders for why this is out here today.

someone brought some tasty beans and rice, really hit the spot

A radical library is being setting up. Looks like the intention is to be up overnight.

There is a march of skateboarders coming from the Texas Beach skate park. I couldn't get down there in time. I guess I will see them arrive soon.

Shreding on Stuart, a difficult spot

Here comes the skater/biker march for Black Lives Matter

Hell Yes

This is the statue of confederate J.E.B. Stuart in Richmond Virginia on Monument Ave. Now taken over by skaters.

One person scaled up the statue

Don't forget the cool cars

skaters are sharking

People ask me where did all the protest fireworks come from. Simple, no Memorial Day fireworks means that the fireworks price hit the negatives like oil. You can't change my mind.

this is a tough place to skate because riders have to hop the curb, avoid the drainage dip, and then land their trick

people are trying to change my mind that fireworks are now free and I am telling you that you CAN'T change my mind

just walking around and talking to people, looks like Stuart Circle will be closed all night

Lit one up on Stuart's ass

Everyone is having a great time showing up for Black Lives Matter

the sun has set here

tags thrown up on the brick road of Monument

I am putting away my phone because people are telling me they are doing the thing that shouldn't be recorded

Police have arrived while people were attempting to pull down the Stuart statue

police are out with rifles threaten to arrest people who do not leave

police are point weapons at the guy trying to de-escalate the police

Riot squad police deployed

standoff with protesters

lots of police lining stuart circle

still lot of police on the scene on Monument and Lombardy in Richmond Virginia

Think the police couldn't wait to use their $50,000 worth of chemical weapons?

police learned how to tweet https://twitter.com/RichmondPolice/status/1274879577299529728?s=19

the stand off continues, still plenty of people with the skate rally on the scene

The person police pointed their guns at has climbed up the Stuart statue to remove the rope as a de-escalation and other demonstrators are recommending to move back one block to the Lee statue/Marcus-David Peters Circle.

More police in yellow jackets

Police pushing forward to take over the circle

Tear gas deployed against protesters

Most protesters are leaving the area and going back to Peter's Circle, myself included

A big boom just came from the Stuart circle, no idea what it was

meanwhile at the Lee statue, the projector is out

A witnesses say they saw police shoot 2 rubber bullets fired and deploy a flashbang grenade (the big boom.)

no reports of arrest coming to me

I wonder if was tear gas earlier or just smoke because I don't smell that odor

police are pushing forward toward Lee, as I tweet this, another less lethal gas round deployed at a persons feet

real choatic situation this car drove up to the police car and now turning around

More less-lethal rounds deployed, I saw one arrest. Police advance a few feet intermittently.

someone collected the flash bang

there's a person in camo/green fatigues who seems to be firing the less-lethal rounds/ rubber bullets

police have put on their gas masks, protesters responded by putting up their hands

Sergeant Bridges is out tonight. He is not liked by the crowd after last Sunday night.

Another flashbang deployed, possible tear gas based people coughing

1600 block of Monument Ave has been turned into a war zone. More flashbangs deployed, less lethal round, police still advancing toward Peters Circle

police still pushing forward

Police are justing peeper spray, running up and going after people

I fucking hate this. The police are turning a neighborhood into a war zone at 10:30 on Father's Day night because they want to flex on a popular movement.

Police still advancing, the have pushed forward about half of this block

fireworks went off in the distance, north end of the intersection that police control