Heavy police presence just arrived on VCU’s Monroe Campus, where hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters have set up a makeshift encampment.
A bus with VCU police and multiple Richmond police squad cars are at the scene. Cops appear to be staging and have not yet issued any commands.
Officers have moved into position and disassembled the makeshift barricade.
Officers move in. Pepper spray has been deployed and protesters threw bottles and other projectiles at officers.
At least one arrest has been made, per @luca_a_powell. Emergency sirens have been activated.
Police and protesters have reassembled. VSP has arrived. VCU police are declaring an unlawful assembly as I type. They’re threatening to use chemical agents.
“You don’t have to do this,” protesters are shouting. “You’re on the wrong side of history.”
Round 2. A lot more tear gas.
More arrests
Arrests, part 3. At least six that I’ve seen, but hearing of more. Hard to breathe or count through the tear gas.
Police began dissembling tents and forming another line to take on protesters, many of whom have not left the scene.
As police corner protesters, some officers push the press back.
Police appear to be negotiating with some of the protest organizers now. Things are at a standstill for the moment. Still hundreds of protesters on scene.
A trash truck has arrived and law enforcement has begun disassembling the camp as chants continue and the crowd grows.
There are far more people here now than there were when this started. Can’t imagine that was the intention.
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