Mayor Stoney braved an angry audience just a day after Richmond City Police dispersed a peaceful crowd with an aggressive discharge of tear gas and other crowd management chemical irritants.
Around 7:30 the previous night demonstrators were gathered on the grounds of Monument Avenue’s Robert E. Lee Monument. For reasons unclear a Richmond Police officer gave the order to launch tear gas canisters into the center of the crowd. Video of the incident quickly went viral on social media drawing even more outrage towards police and the city’s response. Later in the evening both Mayor Stoney and the Richmond Police Department apologized for the actions and that officers involved would be investigated for their conduct.
The mayor went on to invite those angered and outraged by the incident to join him at city hall.
“I apologize, we violated your rights,”
Mayor Levar Stoney
At noon Stoney emerged from the city hall doors with RPD Chief Will Smith by his side. Hundreds of demonstrators stood on the plaza to vent their anger at the city government. For nearly an hour and half Stoney listened to the voices within the crowd and expressed that he too was angry by the events of the prior night.
“We have made mistakes. We are working hard to fix this. It’s my city too.”
Richmond Police Chief Will Smith
Many in the crowd demanded that he march with them in a demonstration later in the day. Others still angry with him demanded he not show his face at an event where he would be unwelcome.
After concluding the remarks on the steps of City Hall Stoney entered the complex with police preventing any demonstrators from following behind him. Many continued to yell at him as he departed and reminding him that they would “Remember in November!” while they banged their fists loudly on the glass doors.
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Peaceful Demonstration: Protest with marching, street closures and/or car parade.