On Monday night, police broke up a pro-Palestinian protest calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond.
Video shows protesters setting up barricades and engaging in violence with police.
Multiple arrests were made within minutes. clock:
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Demonstrators sing as they read 'Liberate Palestine' and 'ceasefire now'
The protest outside the university's campus at VCU's James Cavell Library began in the early morning hours of Monday, April 29, in conjunction with similar protests across the country.
Protesters on campus held placards calling for „Liberate Palestine“ and „ceasefire now,“ among other slogans.
according to According to Norfolk's 8 News, „Team members on the ground exit a bus set up near a protest encampment as VCU police in riot gear form a police line around 8:30 p.m. I witnessed it,“ he said. Shortly after, a VCU alert was issued calling the protest „violent“ and declaring an unlawful assembly. Police then rushed into the protesters and tried to break them up. Some of them were wearing gas masks. ”
„We witnessed hundreds of police officers entering the area and using force to break down the barricades,“ local reporters and officials said. Among them were troopers from the Virginia State Police. ”
Numerous videos have been taken of the chaos, showing police pushing protesters to the ground and using zip ties to tie their hands.
Demonstrators also threw water bottles and other missiles at officers, the video showed.
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Enforcement of Richmond City Ordinances
Our team members said some demonstrators were seen throwing water bottles at officers. Protesters pitched tents early in the evening and set up what they called a „liberated zone.“
Protesters donned masks and formed a line around the camp before police arrived. They are seen using pallets to create barricades.
VCU is a state school, so its property is public. The City of Richmond's City Code states that unless they have a special permit, people „can't camp near or around any public land or structure belonging to or under the control of the City after 11 p.m.; It is prohibited to lie down or sleep.
On Monday, it appeared Richmond law enforcement was going to enforce that code.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also weighed in on the protests across the commonwealth, saying, „Across the commonwealth, students and significant non-student participants have thrown projectiles at law enforcement, violated university policy, and disrupted law enforcement. I've seen people do things like that,“ he said. It disrupts student life and endangers public safety. ”
Early in the morning, the Young King also issued the following final verdict: “After repeated warnings and refusals to disperse, law enforcement must protect Virginians. We will continue to provide full support.”
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