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