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Richmond police continued to block traffic from entering Lee Circle on Monday and officers posted signs in the area warning that guns are prohibited, one day after a clash at the circle between a “Trump train” of cars and opposing protesters.
City police said after Sunday’s skirmish that they had blocked entrances to the circle along Monument Avenue to most cars and would be monitoring the area. They did not say how long the closure would be in effect, but repeated on Monday that they would notify the community when it is lifted.
Some of those who gather regularly there — protesters call it Marcus-David Peters Circle — said Monday that they were grateful the police had blocked the intersections so that Trump supporters could not drive by again.
“I feel safe,” said Steve Adams, who said he ran from the sound of gunfire during Sunday’s encounter between opposing crowds. “I don’t want to get shot.”
Adams said he thinks the police should stay and keep the street blocked for the next month, given the potential for postelection mayhem.
On Monday afternoon, parked police cars with flashing blue lights blocked the intersections within a one-block radius of Lee Circle in all directions. People were still allowed to gather within the circle beneath the Robert E. Lee monument, where racial justice demonstrators have maintained a presence for several months.
At about 11:15 a.m. Monday, city police officers began posting signs around the circle with this warning in all capital letters: “Firearms prohibited beyond this point.” On some of the signs, the messages faced toward the monument; some faced in other directions.
The signs cited language from a city ordinance banning guns on public property during protests and events that was adopted in September by the Richmond City Council.
“Notices have been posted by the department to inform those who may gather in the area of the Lee Circle that — per city and state code and while the notices are posted and permitted events and events that would require a permit are occurring — firearms are prohibited in that area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
Mayor Levar Stoney had proposed the amendment to the city code to lower the risk of violent confrontations between protesters and police, or protesters and counterprotesters, as demonstrations against police violence and racial inequality unfolded in Richmond and across the country.
At the time the council adopted the measure, Police Chief Gerald Smith said in remarks to council members that “sooner or later, we are going to have different groups with different opinions who square off with each other.”
On Sunday afternoon, a caravan of cars and trucks driven by supporters of President Donald Trump started in Henrico County and tried to drive past Lee Circle, where opposing demonstrators were gathered. Witnesses said some of the demonstrators pulled Trump flags off the passing vehicles and insults were exchanged between the two groups. Some of the demonstrators tried to block traffic.
One man walking in the street in the circle said he jumped onto the hood of a car to avoid being run over. Others reported hearing gunshots, and one man’s car was struck by a bullet while it was parked along Monument Avenue.
Another man, Given Talor, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an interview Sunday night that someone in one of the pickup trucks fired gunshots at him after a man he was with tore a Trump flag off one of the passing vehicles. Talor said he ducked just in time to avoid being shot.
Police said Sunday that they received a report of an unoccupied car being struck once by gunfire. They said Monday that officers were summoned to the circle at 4:11 p.m. for a report of disorderly conduct “among persons in the area of the circle and in the vehicles.”
Authorities received a report of random gunfire at 4:13 p.m. and a call three minutes later about a woman who reported being assaulted with pepper spray.
On Monday, police said no charges had been placed in connection with Sunday’s events.
“Detectives investigating the random gunfire calls have not yet released any determination on the circumstances of the calls,” the police spokesperson said Monday afternoon. “At this time, no one has reported to RPD about being struck by a vehicle.”
Police are asking anyone with information, video or photos of the incidents to call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
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