Without warning, Richmond Police fired tear gas at protesters at the Robert E. Lee statue at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Here, protesters run from clouds of tear gas on Monument Avenue. Photo by Jon Mirador
Protests started on Monday afternoon in Monroe Park and moved toward the Capitol building before the citywide curfew began. Once protesters reached Monument Avenue, at least one protester attempted to pull the Robert E. Lee statue down with rope, when blue lights appeared. Without warning, Richmond Police shot tear gas canisters into the crowd, causing them to scatter.
Protesters gather near the Virginia Washington Monument on Grace Street on Monday afternoon. A man holds a flyer reading “Lord, I thirst for thee!,” promoting a local ministry. Photo by Jon MiradorMany vehicles followed the crowd and honked throughout the march. The name of black men and women killed by police are written on this car in red paint. Here, protesters march in front of it at Franklin and Harrison streets on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jon MiradorProtesters march down Main Street in front of Gladding Residence Center on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jon MiradorProtesters gathered in Stuart Circle, which surrounds the memorial of Confederate leader J.E.B. Stuart, on Monday afternoon. Many signs read “black lives matter,” and one reads “a system cannot fail those it was never designed to protect.” Photo by Jon Mirador
In front of the J.E.B. Stuart memorial on Monday, one protesters sign reads “Not all lives matter until Black Lives Matter.” Photo by Jon MiradorOne protester holds up his sign on Monday afternoon in front of the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue. Photo by Jon MiradorWhile gathered in front of the Robert E. Lee statue on Monday afternoon, one sign reads “I can’t breathe, end police brutality.” Photo by Jon MiradorProtesters were met by Richmond Police at the Robert E. Lee statue shortly before Monday’s curfew at 8 p.m. Photo by Jon Mirador
Without warning, Richmond Police fired tear gas at protesters at the Robert E. Lee statue at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Here, protesters run from clouds of tear gas on Monument Avenue. Photo by Jon MiradorProtesters scattered after Richmond Police dispersed tear gas around 7:30 p.m., 30 minutes before curfew on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jon MiradorPolice used tear gas on protesters near the Robert E. Lee monument around 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
The first night of protests began peacefully on Friday
A Black Lives Matter protest began peacefully Friday night in Monroe Park, but became violent with numerous people in the crowd looting local businesses, smashing windows of cars and buildings, and starting fires in Richmond and near VCU campus. Here are some photos of the protest, riots and the aftermath:
Protesters gathered at the gates of the State Capitol building. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
Protesters moved down West Broad Street as smoke from a canister filled the air. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
Police formed a line facing protesters on Friday night during the Black Lives Matter protest. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
Fires erupted in different areas in downtown Richmond as protesters brought traffic to a standstill. A dumpster and VCU tent were set ablaze at West Grace and Harrison streets. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
A GRTC Pulse bus was vandalized and blocked traffic at the intersection of Broad and Belvidere streets. Later, protesters set the bus on fire. Photo by Eduardo Acevedo
As protesters moved through Richmond, a large banner read “Police are the enemy.” Photo by Alexandra Zernik
Protesters wore masks and face coverings during the Black Lives Matter protest on Friday. Photo by Alexandra Zernik
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Top: Protesters piled trash and rubble onto the sidewalk and set it on fire, as skaters and bikers flew through the flames. Bottom: The smoldering remains of the Pulse bus. Videos by Eduardo Acevedo.
Windows were smashed and approximately $200,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the Monument shoe store on West Broad Street. Photo by Zachary Klosko.
RamTech, VCU’s technology store, was broken into during Friday’s Black Lives Matter protest. Shelves of the store were nearly empty on Saturday morning. Photo by Zachary Klosko.
