You have entered a Militarized Police Zone....

Photo taken by Steven King, West Grace Street Police Precinct, June 15 2020

Dear Richmond,
Your streets weep the gas of tyrants and your soul mourns for the youth.   The language of the oppressed is overshadowed by the screams of the oppressor- by the tyrants of a force that is designed to systematically serve and protect the people of the highest order, the people of power.  "Go home" they yell, "be peaceful" they yell, "Leave our statues alone" they yell.  They yell and yell and if only they would listen- maybe just maybe they could understand.

Understand the screams of people who have been silenced for too long.  The determination of a new generation who has no interest in staying home or allowing our country to continue to plummet father and farther away from humanity.  The hope of a community as neighbor marches with neighbor, we work to protect each other in an effort to build a new community where everyone is granted the freedom to live without fear.

Our city is divided by hate and the protest is marching on the side of love.  And yet, the Richmond & Virginia State Police Forces enrage and provoke them, gas them, assault them and detains them.  You have ran them over with your SUV's and knocked them down with your flash bangs and banter.

Snapshot:  On May 25th George Floyd's murder is captured on cell phone video and seen across the world.  Minneapolis responds first, and then more city's join the cry for change.  Richmond was engaging by time the weekend hit. Sunday May 31st the first peaceful rally commenced and a curfew was set on Richmond that was also when the national guard rolled in.  Tanks now lined our grieving streets.  Instead of creating a space for healing, Richmond, you created a space for War.  Monday night, many Richmonders took to the streets peacefully and non-violently.  In what has since been liberated by the people. and newly re-named "Marcus-David Peters Circle".  Forty five minutes before curfew, the first assault against the citizens of Richmond hit.  Children, teenagers, mothers, grandmothers, college kids, all were there and were terrified as many of them encountered their first ever experience with Tear Gas.

Then in subsequent days and evenings following, protestors were hit by police cars, tear gassed and pepper sprayed many more times, arrested (200 arrested the first night) and RPD increased their warfare to include rubber bullets, flash bangs and just this week we saw our first sound canon.  We have had many battles against our militarized police force.  During one occasion protestors were asking for a hostage protestor back- that is correct, RPD took a protestor hostage and used them to barter her release on the agreement that all protestors will go home

Photo taken by Steven King, City Hall, June 23, 2020

This picture was taken at 1:07am during an organized sit-in at City Hall.  Since zero demands have been met in Richmond, protestors were hoping to get Mayor Stoney's attention.  The protestors planned to stay there through the night and non violently use their 1st amendment rights.  At the time this picture was taken, protestors had set up a projector to screen a movie.  They were unaware of the attack they were about to endure.  Police advanced on citizens and used everything at their disposal to assault these movie goers. 

Black Lives Matter!!!  I do not understand who our police or mayor are serving, it is certainly not the people.  This is our account of what has been happening in this beautiful city for the last 27 days.  It has been things we have witnessed ourselves.  It is important everyone finds their part in this movement for none of us are free until ALL of us are free!

Stay safe out there,
R&S

No Justice, No Peace

Photo taken by Steven King, Monument Avenue Richmond VA

Dear Richmond,

Your roots are racist, your statues are racist, and sadly many of your people are racist.  AND yet I call you my home.  Your roots are also built on the backs of the slaves that built this country and your people are also Black and Brown and White and Asian and Indian and so many other diverse races and ethnicities.  You are beautiful Richmond, but as we stand right now you are NOT FREE.  

The picture above shows the true soul and beauty of this city.  The statue is a terrible symbol but as a canvas for voice and a back drop of change you are beautiful.  As a city we grieve for the terrible violence at the hands of police towards our black and brown neighbors.  We however rejoice in the heart of a city willing to take back its streets and the bravery of the young. 

Change cannot and does not happen ONLY in the voting booths or in the court rooms, people have to use their voice to be heard and this week Richmond did that. The statues are coming down and that is directly due to the constant pressure that the young activists have put on our city governement for the last 10 days.  But we are not done yet.  Taking statues down does not end systemic racism and therefore the young brave activists of this city and many brave citizens of this city continue to take to the streets.  

Marcus David Peters was killed in 2018 by a Richmond police officer while experiencing a mental health crisis.  He was not clothed, not a threat, and just needed help.  Fear killed him, anger killed him, the police killed him.  Racism is alive in Richmond and this horrifying incident happened 2 years ago.  Why Richmond?  Why did it take two years, countless black and brown lives nation wide, and 10 days of protesting to get this conversation heard?  We HAVE to be part of the solution regardless of the color of our skin.  

Mayor Stoney has now committed to implementing the Marcus Alert which will require a mental health professional to accompany police to situations that involve a mental health crisis.  This is a great start but Richmond we must keep an eye on this policy and ensure that it enacts what the people have asked for and change it if it does not work.  No more death of my black and brown neighbors, no more police violence, no more excuses Richmond.  

Photo by Steven King, Monument Ave, Richmond VA

Our city is hurting Richmond, we weep from the pain, from the tear gas, from the hate.  Change is coming but nothing good ever comes for free.  The work must continue and the people must continue to have voice.  I will do my part Richmond, and not just for now but forever.  For if all of us are not free, none of us are free.

<3 In Solidarity,

Rachelle

Day 25- The New Normal

Holocaust Museum, Cary Street, Richmond VA.  Photo taken by Steven King

Dear Richmond,

The days are starting to run together to create one never ending Super-Day as we all are getting used to this "New Normal" and while it is hard, it is not so hard that I believe that we should not do it.  You see the country is starting to get antsy.  This past week has included Georgia and Florida reopening their states and beaches, Protests around the country where individuals are standing in the streets yelling for the country to open back up, and our President pondering during a live news briefing if we should consider injecting bleach as a way to combat the virus.   All of these responses are fear driven that are implemented under a false hope that we, as humans, have control.  

We have become weak.  We got used to our capitalistic lives where we can get what we want when we want it.  We are annoyed that we have to wait in lines, wear masks, social distance.  It has been 2 months- 2 months...that is it!  Walking through Richmond, Steven and I arrived at the Holocaust museum.  What a humbling reminder.

Members of the US are upset about not being able to eat out when at this time in 1942, the Jews were not able to eat at ALL.  A scrap of bread in a week was a treasure because lack of food was one of the many atrocities that they were facing.  We are forced to stay in our homes and they were forced into ghettos.  We cannot get haircuts and they were forcibly shaved bald.  We have to wear masks in public, they would have LOVED masks to help them survive the gas chambers. The perspective that this photo gave me was chilling. 

I do not mean that what we are surviving today is not hard.  It IS hard, our economy is taking a hit, our at risk populations are dying, and there are so many isolated individuals,  I am worried about our countries mental health needs.  AND while it is hard, we can take care of each other by being patient and staying home.  We can learn from the Holocaust survivors that humans are resilient.  We can and will survive this and the best way to do that, is to be part of flattening the curve.  If your neighbor cannot afford to eat and you can afford to feed them, feed them.  If you are healthy and can go grocery shopping for your elderly neighbor- do that.  We can take care of each other and stay home.  

Let's bring community back, lets take care of each other so that our health leaders can have room to fight this fight.  

Stay safe and well,

<3

Day 11- Another pretty face

Jefferson Park, Richmond, VA.  Photo by Steven, King

Dearest Richmond,

Today, you flirt with me.  Unbelievable how pretty you can be in the midst of absolute chaos.  This week was a hard one for our country.  The numbers rise, the death polls rise.  In the last few weeks we have lost two amazing artists- Bill Withers and John Prine.  JP died from Covid-19.  It seems as though noone is immune to Covid's chilling deathly grasp.

This gorgeous view of the city is taken from Jefferson Park in the corner of Church Hill.  While you have a beautiful face today Richmond you do not have a beautiful History.  While you are my home, what you represent to so many is a different story.  "The capital of the confederacy"  What a sad thing to be known as.  You see, no one is all of one thing and it is unfair to speak about the beauty of my home, with out also discussing its dark side.

The thing I love the most about Richmond is the diversity and I know it comes at a price.  I love where I live and at the same time I do not want to be part of the problem.   Gentrification overwhelms our neighborhood as we push our lower socioeconomic neighbors to the borders of this city.  Richmond has deep roots in racial inequity, racism, and even a hate for folks who have different life experiences than our own.

It is not okay, and I do see it as my responsibility to stand up to the things I see as I see them.
The fact that this world is as polarized as we have become makes it a dangerous world to express your personal experiences, thoughts, and differing opinions.  It is a brave act these days to stand up for what is right- especially if the "right thing" is not the trendy opinion at the time.  I think it is actually an even braver (and harder) act to have the courage to listen to someone who has a differing opinion than your own without getting defensive and waiting your turn to just tell them that they are wrong.  WHAT IF we all just listened instead of trying to push our own agendas?

I would love to live in a community where subsidized housing units are integrated within the blocks with single family homes.  This is what diversity really means.  Diverse of experience, age, gender, race, life experience.  Not a community driven by fear.  We spend so much time in this neighborhood putting each other on blast that we are not spending time listening to each other and understanding the experiences of our neighbors.  We must do better.  Just because something is uncomfortable does not mean that you should not say it or lean into it.  

In this time of uncertainty, I am trying to do my part to be the neighbor I would want others to be towards me.  I deeply hope that as we work towards healing as a nation we can heal more than just a physical disease, I hope we can start to heal our whole selves.

<3

Day 4- Spring has sprung

Canal Walk, Richmond Virginia. Picture's taken by Steven King

Dear Richmond,

How pretty are your streets?  Spring is here and you have brought your A game this year.  You have not a care in the world what ales humans as you live your best life.  Your vibrant personality punctures through the darkness that lingers in the corners of humanity.  It is impossible to be in your presence and maintain a bad mood right now.  What a pretty city you are.

The canal walk is beautiful as the weather lingers around 65 degrees.  The crowds are gone so there is a peace on the normally very busy and very loud historical trail through the city.  We wandered around the same walk we had done a thousand times before and with out the hustle bustle that usually litters and dictates our life, we were able to explore the intricate details and soak in the history that is the constant back drop of Richmond.

Photo by Steven King

How many times had we walked by a replica of your box, Henry Brown?  How many times had we missed the opportunity to truly sit in the presence of a story that is both super brave and such a reminder of the will of the human spirit.  Mr. Brown, you shipped your self from slavery in a box, you found your freedom and then moved to England.  You survived captivity, then survived the dangerous journey to Philly and then continued to thrive in a life you designed as your own.  Such a blessing to be given this gentle reminder Richmond.  Especially on a day I was feeling particularly sorry for myself.  Thank you for the opportunity to be humbled and reminded of the abundance and blessings in my life, RVA!

With gratitude and love,

R&S

(and Toby and Stella)

Day 2- Apocolyptic RVA

17th Street Market- Richmond, VA.  Taken week 2 of "social distancing".  Photo taken by Steven King

Dear Richmond,

Your streets are so bare.   Gone are the days of fruitful conversation, dancing in the square, beer trucks, festivals, and farmers markets.  You stay still, as a city lays in rest, waiting.  Waiting for the sickness that haunts the streets of so many of your cousin cities around the country.  We wait for the illness, we wait for the death, we wait for the heartache and the chaos and the unknown.  We wait.  And you, you lie still.  Desolate and patient as the city mourns the loss of the freedom and beauty that this town holds.  Our parks are closing, our streets are empty, and yet you hold a peaceful stillness that lingers the beauty of the past and the presence of a future.  

While your restaurants are closed to public, the food is still cooked.  While the parks are closed, there is still movement in their wake.  The streets may be empty, but the city is still present.  This market was once full of life and waits in rest until that day comes again.  I see not the city of sadness but a city of hope. 

As you rest and we rest, as we all contemplate how a new future can manifest, lets not yet forget the beauty of the past.  Tomorrow will bring a new day and with a new day is a new hope.  Sending love to the masses, always.

With love <3

Day 1 - Welcome to our home

Richmond Hill, Church hill Richmond VA  photo by Steven King

Welcome to the adventures of Steven and Rachelle (and Toby and Stella).  We live in the city and in our own world most of the time.  He sees the world through the lens of his camera, and I see it through the words and soul of this city.  We started this project months ago as he is the homebody and I am always looking for the next adventure.  I quit my job that I loved and prepared to move to CO where I thought I would find where I belonged.  When we started this project, I thought it would be a beautiful way to say good bye to Richmond.  AND THEN, I realized I was falling in love with this city all over again.  Steven, however, would love to stay in the RVA forever- he grew up around here and has always loved the city.  He has traveled the whole country, living in different spots along the way, and ultimately found his heart leading him back home to Richmond.  

When Covid-19 hit and the country collectively started to mourn the loss of the freedoms that we are used to, we realized that we needed a project more than ever.  It is week three of  "social distancing", however it is day 1 of a mandated stay home order from our Governor.   As a country we are all asked to stay home and stay safe in this time of uncertainty.  The beauty is in-between the lines- in between the news clips, briefings, numbers of cases and numbers of deaths. We hope to bring the beauty of our world to your world in this unprecedented time.  

We plan on sharing the beautiful pictures that Steven has taken over the last 8 months around Richmond and our goal will be to write one letter a day throughout this time at home.  Thank you for tuning in and be well everyone!

<3