On Monday night, police cracked down on a pro-Palestinian protest demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip near Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Footage shows protesters building barricades and clashing with police.
Several arrests were made in a matter of minutes. City Hall:
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Protesters sing ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘truce now’
The protest outside VCU’s James Cavell Library began in the early morning of Monday, April 29, along with several similar protests that have occurred around the country.
Campus protesters held signs calling for a ‘free Palestine’ and a ‘ceasefire now’.
Depending on the According to Norfolk’s 8 News, “Team members on the ground observed VCU police officers in riot gear forming a line of officers unloading buses parked near the protest encampment around 8:30 p.m. Soon after, a VCU alert was issued calling the protest “violent” and an unlawful assembly declared. Police then moved towards the protesters and tried to break the line. “Some of them were also seen wearing gas masks,” he said.
Reporters and staff at the scene said they saw hundreds of officers, including Virginia State Police deputies, move in and use force to break down barricades.
Many videos were captured showing chaotic situations, with police knocking protesters to the ground and tying their hands with rope.
According to the footage, protesters also threw water bottles and other projectiles at officers.
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Richmond City Code Enforcement
According to our team members, some protesters were seen throwing water bottles at officers. Protesters set up tents in the early evening and set up what they called a ‘liberation zone’.
Before police arrived, protesters lined up around the camp wearing masks. They can be seen using pallets to build barricades.
VCU is a public school, which means that the school’s property is public. According to Richmond city code, people “may not camp, lie down, or sleep on any public land or structure belonging to or controlled by the city after 11 p.m.” without a special permit.
On Monday, it appears Richmond law enforcement plans to enforce the rule.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also commented on the protests across the state: “Across the state, we have seen significant numbers of students and non-students throwing projectiles at law enforcement, violating university policies, disrupting and interfering with student life, and endangering public safety.”
In the early morning hours, Young King also delivered his final verdict. “After repeated warnings and refusals to disperse, law enforcement must protect Virginians. My administration will continue to fully support the campus, local and state law enforcement, and university leadership to keep our campus safe.”
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