“Tell me what democracy looks like! THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!” echoed through the streets of downtown Richmond this evening. Estimates of up to 8,000 people gathered in Capitol Square – with the crowd filling the area from the Bell Tower to the General Assembly building for the “No Kings” protest.
Bo from Chesterfield came out to protest for the first time, “This seems to be a good time, there is blatant disregard for the Constitution.”
The crowd made its way from Capitol Square, east on Broad Street to 14th, then down Main Street to Kanawha Plaza. Everyone making their feelings known through signs and chants.
“The number of people who are against what’s currently happening in this country, and it just keeps happening because the people in power just aren’t listening, is awful”, says Ashley from Richmond, also a first time protestor.
Justin from Richmond says what happened in L.A. this week was a big part of what brought him out tonight, “Lack of due process, people just being picked up of the street not even being entered into the judicial system and just being deported.”
Mark from Richmond agrees, “It’s just ridiculous. He violates everything every day, something new comes out. L.A. was such an overreach. He’s picking states and trying to obliterate them.”
A steady rain started about halfway through the protest, but it did not stop people from marching on – determined to be heard. Cars honked to cheer the protestors on, and people on the sidewalks were taking videos on their phones, and thanking protestors. There was a large police presence – in fact, the largest of all of Richmond’s protests so far, but no issues were reported.
One woman said, “I hope everyone can feel the power in this.”
“It’s so community oriented and peaceful, Everyone is just here to hear each other’s voices and to show each other that there are others that feel the same way” says Ashley.
All photos by Zak Young.
