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Hundreds of demonstrators are marching on West Broad Street tonight. I’m here with @theCT team to live-tweet for the night. Follow this thread, @edace2936 and @hannaheason_ for updates.
The group has reached Miller and Rhoads. Many are chanting “we’re with Portland.”
Some in the crowd are deploying smoke and fireworks outside the U.S. District Court building on Grace Street.
Protesters are moving fast. Hannah is live-streaming below: https://twitter.com/hannaheason_/status/1287216146270355456?s=21 https://twitter.com/hannaheason_/status/1287216146270355456
More folks out tonight than I’ve seen in a while
As we head toward the police headquarters, some in the group are telling other to “mask up.”
Cops in riot gear outside the HQ are moving up. The police line tape has been torn down by some in the crowd
repost: One in the group fires up a leafblower, as officers line up outside the HQ.
Police are declaring an “unlawful assembly” now. Orders are to disperse, or face arrests/chemical agents.
Still at least 200 protesters out, keeping their distance from the police line. Officers are standing on the roof of the HQ as well.
In the parking lot across from the RPD HQ, hundreds of protesters are chanting and standing ready with umbrella shields. Outside the building, at least 100 officers are equipped with riot shields.
A truck is burning outside the HQ
Several explosions just happened. Police are firing tear gas and most of the crowd dispersed
Outside the Davis Market now, where a woman in a wheelchair says she was hit by chemical agents deployed by police. Some are helping her with water as officers continue to block off entrances to alleys near the HQ.
Protesters have mostly left the area. Officers are still guarding the RPD HQ, where a firetruck just arrived. My colleagues @hannaheason_ and @edace2936 are elsewhere, so check their threads for updates.
These officers just walked up, one saying “ay yo” and later taunting some of the remaining people standing in the private parking lot.
The same officer just appeared to be lecturing @JLJLovesRVA and @theCT team for “yelling.”
I asked the officer for his name and badge number. “You don’t need that,” he said. He said his name is Burrell, and that that was all I needed to know.
A helicopter with a searchlight is circling over hundreds of protesters who continue to march on Main Street.
Officers in an alley near Granby Street with the Big Blue Truck. Protesters just passed on Main.
Can’t tweet quickly enough to keep up. Police just charged at a group of protesters outside District 5. Here’s the video I took before that happened
Had to run away from the charging officers with the rest of @theCT, not sure if any of us caught it on video. The protesters were pushed back on Main Street, and police continue to stage outside the ABC and District 5.
Someone near me is asking for his bike back. It’s apparently just behind this police line.
Part of Cary Street is littered with knocked over trash cans and benches. A police line just extinguished a garbage fire near Fancy Biscuit.
There’s still a lot going on near D5. Police appeared to arrest someone outside the ABC store, while other officers shout and shake pepper spray canisters at those yelling from their homes.
Some of the windows on Main Street have been smashed. Here’s Foo Dog and Sweat Fitness
Windows at Chipotle and Noodle & Co on Grace Street were also smashed. Police and fire responding now.
Noticing now that windows are smashed all over Grace Street, including at VCU’s West Grace Street dorm.
Windows shattered at the Panda Express on Grace Street
More broken windows at VCU’s Grace and Broad dorm. A security guard is still working front desk inside.
