the sun is starting to go down here in richmond. yesterday it was decreed that the area around the robert e lee statue is “closed” from sunset to sunrise. word is the state police are gearing up not far from here.

folks have been hanging out here in what is now called marcus david peters circle for hours. playing basketball, doing photoshoots, handing out free food and water, and just enjoying community space. people aren’t leaving.

the mood is good! https://twitter.com/goadgatsby/status/1275584651755692038?s=21

“today we are fighting a state ordinance,” says an organizer, telling people to consider their willingness to disobey the order.

following a chant of no justice, no peace, an organizer says: “y’all know what ‘no justice’ means - the work is not just done here. make sure you’re out there voting. make sure you’re putting pressure on your elected officials every chance you get.”

this truly has become a community space. people are changing the trash bags in the trash cans that have been put in place. folks are passing out free supplies & snacks, tending to memorials for those we’ve lost. it’s a beautiful space.

the crowd here is just vibin’ in the marcus-david peters circle. no cops yet. chants of “don’t start no shit, there won’t be no shit,” - it’s true, if the cops don’t come start a riot, it’ll just be a nice night of people enjoying a public space.

people are grillin’ & chillin’ but word is that there are police en route.

the majority of the crowd is gathered near one of the few entrances to the circle (the state encircled the space with concrete barriers a few days ago) and appear to be ready to be attacked.

the crowd is standing with their fists up for 8 minutes, 46 seconds.
“when they tell y’all to go home, say WE ARE HOME!” the crowd shouts back “WE ARE HOME!”

“nobody on the other side was hurt. all of our people were hurt,” says a young activist who was tear gassed and arrested last night while peacefully engaging in a sit-in protest outside city hall.

the sign looks amazing

a truck dropped off two picnic tables! there is really beautiful community care going on here.

shout out to the projectionist for making sure everyone has the number for the bail fund!

“also, i would like to say the biggest fuck you of all to the state police,” says a young organizer who has also lead the crowds in chants of “fuck mayor stoney” and “fuck blackwell” (the new police chief)

“they live through me and they live through you,” she says of people who have died in the struggle. “thirty years ago i probably would’ve been killed for what i’m doing now.”

speakers are addressing a seated crowd. he reminds us that cops are staging not far from here, probably giving speeches of their own.
“we over here chillin’, we’re cookin’ chicken!” says one speaker.
“we’re winning right now.”

i’m not quite sure how to properly express the enormous cognitive dissonance of looking simultaneously at people joyfully grilling & serving food and watching a crowd prepare to be assaulted as rumors that riot cops are approaching increase in intensity.

some people are eating burgers and some people are wearing gas masks and goggles. people around the edges are holding shields.

the wheelchair accessible ramp has been flipped up to close off this access point in the concrete barriers

everything’s still pretty chill here. some guy livestreaming on youtube was asked to stop. a guy in a hawaiian shirt carrying a gun was also asked to stop streaming. everybody’s just hanging out. i’ve had a lot of free fruit snacks.

protesters counted down to midnight like it was new year’s eve & gave a big cheer when it hit 12! the crowd is peaceful, cheerful, and many are headed home to bed.

i’m using a very kind stranger’s bathroom at the moment, but i just heard a firework. it was followed by clapping & cheering, so it’s all good.