I’m here in Monroe Park with @zklosko and a group of protesters starting their march, check back in this thread and Zachary’s for updates on tonight’s #RVAProtests for #BlackLivesMatter .

It’s a sizeable crowd of protesters in tonight’s march at Monroe Park, I’d say around 60 or 70.

Here’s a new chant mixed in with the old ones: “Defund police, defend black lives.”

A car with speakers strapped to the roof is blasting music as the protesters move down West Franklin chanting and clapping.

As the group marched past the YMCA on West Franklin the woman speaking through the speakers on the car said, “these people fought for their right to exercise, we’re fighting for our lives.”

The speaker is claiming RPD has been collaborating with Ring, the door front security system, to spy on the citizens of RVA. She has made this announcement to introduce a new demand: written agreements from RPD and Ring to no longer spy on protesters and residents.

Some protesters and bikers have taken traffic cones from a road work station near the Capitol building. In the past I’ve seen them be used as barricades for traffic and an effective way to contain the spread of tear gas.

“White silence is violence, media silence is violence” was just chanted by the crowd right outside Richmond’s City Hall on East Marshall Street. “Fuck CNN.”

According to a different speaker, this group plans to stage an occupation of the East Marshall Street in front of Richmond’s City Hall building. The speaker encouraged the crowd to text their friends to bring tents, blankets and get comfortable.

Protesters have seated themselves on the asphalt as cars and bikes block off the intersection of East Marshall and North 9th streets.

Five tents have been set up near the steps of Richmond’s city hall.

Intersection of Marshall and 10th streets have been blocked off by bikers and traffic cones. The pit bull in the bottom right has been roaming through the crowd and marching with the protesters since tonight’s demonstrations began in Monroe park.

“Abolition is a black radical tradition,” a speaker has the crowd chanting. “Y’all think we’re out here for Black Lives Matter, we been knew that. This is a black liberation movement.”

More tents are being pitched with some protesters unfurling sleeping bags and mats on the grass and asphalt.

We know the confederacy will tumble,” one speaker said, “it’s not a matter of if, it’s a when. I know it will be this generation to do it.”

“Cops and borders... we don’t need ‘em. What we need... is total freedom,” is being chanted.

“Be comfortable with being the adversary,” another speaker said, “in a country where cowboys and cops are the heroes, I’m ok with being the villain.”

The protesters have occupied this area in an attempt to reclaim the square for the people. The organizers have taken to dubbing this area “Reclamation Square.”

Going to be heading to Marcus-David Peters Circle as the sun sets. Stay tuned in this thread for updates on BLM protests in #Richmond.

Just got to the Lee monument, renamed Marcus-David Peters Circle. Stay tuned in this thread for more updates as the sun goes down. Stay safe RVA.

^^renamed by protesters.

People around the Lee monument are continuing to congregate within the monument circle. Protesters have asked persons planning on occupying the space to group up on one side of the monument.

“We are dear resting tonight, if you see someone getting arrested, we are de arresting tonight,” one guy in the group is screaming. Lots of people are yelling to stay togetehr no matter what.

Seeing blue police lights flashing from down Monument Avenue and Allen street.

Protesters have gathered on one side of the Lee statue to avoid thinning out the group and to force the police to “come get them.”

The air at the monument is tense. Unconfirmed reports of police on all four sides of the monument circle are going through the group. I’m not seeing any blue lights flashing from one of the ends but there’s definitely police eyes on the monument.

The monument circle of General Lee was slated to be closed to the public overnight at sunset but lots of the public have remained. Protesters have formed a defensive line on the ground at the north side of the monument.

Started pouring raining, retreated to my car to grab a jacket and umbrella, no police action as of yet. Stay tuned.

Back at the base of the Lee monument in Marcus-David Peters Circle, most of the speculators on the outside of the barricade ran to their cars and houses but the majority of the protesters seem to have stayed.

North and West sides of the roundabout have police cars stationed with lights flashing about a block or two away.

Might not be “cars” plural, I’m only seeing one car on either side.

Rain has begun once again, still no activity from the protesters or police.

Can confirm two police SUVs at the south end of the monument with their lights off. Someone came up to me and confirmed that there is in fact at least one police car on each side of the monument circle, about a block away.

The two police SUVs at the end of the street on the south side of the monument.

The protesters are planning on occupying the monument circle for about another hour, they’ve received reports that police are focusing more on city hall than the monument. They’re rallying the crowd to regroup tomorrow and announcing that the flier will be out soon.

A medic has taken the “stage” to caution the protesters to be prepared to be arrested tomorrow for protesting the Marcus-David Peters Circle closure. “No thumb or face recognition in your phone, no underwire bras, no thongs, no jewelry- these police will violate you.”

To clarify: the protesters at the Lee monument were not sending protesters to City Hall, they were letting the crowd know to not go home just yet.

I am heading to City Hall now to see what’s up. Stay tuned for more updates in a bit.

I’m here at Richmond’s City Hall, recently renamed by protesters “Reclamation Square,” getting some interviews done and taking in the sights of people ready to spend the night in tents on the street and sidewalks.

Protesters have set up even more tents to camp out in front of city hall. I was just handed the ”Reclamation Square Principled of Unity”:

Police have made an appearance in full riot gear on the 400 block of North 10th Street.

Some protesters have begun flashing lights and lasers at the cops on riot gear.

“Can we have a show of hands of people that want to disburse?” a speaker said in reference to the threat of police violence against these protesters in front of city hall. Not a single hand went up.

Heavy heavy police presence at city hall. Excuse the muffled sound of my voice, currently covered with a bandana.

Why are there so many here

One of the officers with a megaphone just said this has been deemed an unlawful assembly. Loud objections were shouted back by the protesters.

At 22%, gonna try conserving battery but will try taking as many photos and videos to share later. I’ll update when I can.

So far only two flash bangs have been deployed. It’s just a standoff now between Virginia State Police and the protesters who occupied city hall over six hours ago.

Before the police got here the organizers set up a projector screen to watch a movie but those plans were interrupted by the sudden police presence. Someone just screamed, “who brings flash bombs to a fucking sleepover?”

The police have been intermittently shooting rubber bullets at protesters at the front line. Protesters have deflected some of these rounds with umbrellas, wooden shields and two guys have comically large pizza boxes shielding them.

Police delayed tear gas, pepper spray and flash bangs to disperse the crowd in front of city hall. The group was pushed back to the intersection of 8th and Marshall.

They’ve deployed so much gas you can’t even see the block ahead.

These rounds were just fired. They’re small spherical pellets filled with a fine powder.

Virginia State Police are holding the line at the block of City Hall.

Police have not moved from the city hall block, recently renamed by protesters as “Reclamation Square.”

Thinking about wrapping up tonight’s coverage, I don’t think VSP are going to be making any more moves now that protesters have disbursed from City Hall. Please stay safe everyone and thank you for tuning in. Check @theCT for updates and an upcoming story.