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i can only assume this is going to be an informative, productive meeting with our city officials 😒 
assistant city manager mike murphy up there instead of outgoing city manager maurice jones. jones’ last day will be july 31 — cville will have no official city manager on august 12. (an interim replacement will be named next week)
this flyer will never not make me roll my eyes
follow along at home, if you’re so inclined
asst city manager mike murphy now talking about changes to the event permitting process since last year. i’m having flashbacks to hours of discussion about whether or not candlelight vigils would still be allowed 🙄🙄
murphy talking now about final settlement in the militia lawsuit — the final defendants (redneck revolt & jason kessler) settled today. he clarified that these groups either signed consent decrees or got default judgments... but it’s still possible they might return.
“over 80% of our police department have received additional training in large event management”
is the remaining 20% the ones you’re gonna keep home because they might kill us?
is the remaining 20% the ones you’re gonna keep home because they might kill us?
murphy laments that none of the legislative solutions they sought (such as banning guns at demonstrations) made it through the general assembly.
our brand new police chief has the mic now. she said they can’t share details. some changes include more road closures/vehicle & parking restrictions — they’ll tell us more about this later. when? who knows!
“i appreciate that there is a mental health component to this.”
“we are looking into how we move into a more healthy relationship with the community”
look, the police cannot give us advice about mental health. the police cannot have a “healthy relationship” with us.
“we are looking into how we move into a more healthy relationship with the community”
look, the police cannot give us advice about mental health. the police cannot have a “healthy relationship” with us.
“the virginia state police will be very present” that weekend & the week leading up to it. “you will see lots of state troopers.”
yeah we saw them last year, too. saw ‘em do nothing.
yeah we saw them last year, too. saw ‘em do nothing.
still waiting on that after-incident report, VSP. as shitty as it was, at least the city produced one. where’s y’all’s? still looking to release it in spring 2019?
“associate vice president of safety & security” is a new position at uva. she started in may. wonder what happened to prompt it’s creation? 🤔
job priority #1: don’t let a gigantic horde of nazis march on grounds
job priority #1: don’t let a gigantic horde of nazis march on grounds
“our police department has been heavily engaged in a lot of trainings & intiatives.”
sorry if i don’t seem impressed.
sorry if i don’t seem impressed.
“i think we’ve all been working very well together!”
albemarle county PD representative gives everybody a big verbal pat on the back.
“we’re all looking to move past august 10, 11, and 12.”
albemarle county PD representative gives everybody a big verbal pat on the back.
“we’re all looking to move past august 10, 11, and 12.”
they’ve done some training on “constitutional law” and “crowd management”
that’s an ominous pairing.
that’s an ominous pairing.
our fire chief up now tells us how hard he worked last year... buddy i wouldn’t brag about that.
“we are preparing for worst case scenarios.”
“preparing for civil unrest is part of our risk profile.”
“we are preparing for worst case scenarios.”
“preparing for civil unrest is part of our risk profile.”
after hearing from each panelist, they’re gonna start taking audience questions until we run out of time at 8.
jeff fogel up first. his issue with this event is “the failure of law enforcement to acknowledge” how badly things went last year.
jeff points out that none of the police departments represented up there have issued a report on the failures of last summer.
jeff points out that none of the police departments represented up there have issued a report on the failures of last summer.
the reverend sharply cuts jeff off, insisting he ask a question. jeff rephrases - when are these agencies going to issue after action reports so this community can start building trust with them again?
chief brackney says no one denies mistakes were made. that isn’t enough. that isn’t the same as examining WHAT WENT WRONG and planning to do better!
“all i can tell you is we’re here. we’re right in front of you willing to take whatever hard questions.” no, no you obviously are not willing.
“help us prepare. show us where the gaps are.”
“help us prepare. show us where the gaps are.”
“should i batten down the hatches? should i not live my life?” a local woman wants to know how much the city expects in terms of white supremacist presence here in town this weekend.
the fire chief tells her they plan to issue guidance later (when?) on “specific actions people can take” to stay safe.
“don’t be downtown” he says, very plainly.
“the safest thing you can do is not be downtown.”
“don’t be downtown” he says, very plainly.
“the safest thing you can do is not be downtown.”
“if you choose to [be downtown] because you are passionate about exercising your constitutional rights, understand that you are assuming a certain degree of risk”
translation: stay home or accept the consequences.
translation: stay home or accept the consequences.
“i do not trust the fascists. i do not trust the nazis. i do not trust the kkk. i do trust the antifa.”
public comment is good in charlottesville 🔥🖤
public comment is good in charlottesville 🔥🖤
“we have been committed to internal reviews” then let’s see them, virginia state police. let’s see that after action report.
“what’s going to be different this year?”
“they’re gonna be equipped, resourced, and positioned to where they can react appropriately.”
the fuck does that mean? outfitted like the cops in newnan?
“they’re gonna be equipped, resourced, and positioned to where they can react appropriately.”
the fuck does that mean? outfitted like the cops in newnan?
“you’re right, not everyone trusts law enforcement.” chief brackney says you can tell a friend who does like cops if you have something to tell a cop 🤔🤔
brackney says she understands our hesitance — several of the panelists didn’t even LIVE HERE last summer. they don’t and can’t understand what this city went through. this commenter is showing them pictures she took last year on A12.
while the commenter approaches the panelists with her phone, communications director brian wheeler fills the downtime by telling us there is an agenda item for next week’s council meeting about banned items for this year’s demonstrations.
ms katrina up now outlining some truly terrible experiences she personally had with cops at the july 8 klan rally and on A12 last summer.
“are they gonna be able to intervene?”
“are they gonna be able to intervene?”
ms katrina also wants to know why this meeting is being held while so many members of this community who should be here are away on the #CvillePilgrimage, including susan bro, heather heyer’s mother.
“are you going to do anything about it?” when violent white supremacists show up. “when, not if.”
“or are you just going to stand there again?”
“or are you just going to stand there again?”
asst city mgr murphy: “the city ordinance is designed to ban everything that was weaponized last year.” (except guns obviously 🙃)
sure because people who want to kill us care about the permitting guidelines!
sure because people who want to kill us care about the permitting guidelines!
“lawbreakers do not care about our ordinances.” ok chief brackney, ok, i’m listening.
“i don’t care when any judge makes any decision about kessler — somebody is coming here.” yeah that’s what we’ve been saying.
“i don’t care when any judge makes any decision about kessler — somebody is coming here.” yeah that’s what we’ve been saying.
a quaker woman tells the panel, “if the kkk comes here, i will be there.”
“that’s not an option. that to me is a moral mandate.”
the VSP rep says “yes ma’am, we got it.” but re-emphasizes that their advice is that we stay home.
“that’s not an option. that to me is a moral mandate.”
the VSP rep says “yes ma’am, we got it.” but re-emphasizes that their advice is that we stay home.
he keeps saying state police will be “resourced, equipped, and postured to respond”
“expect interaction with police”
“we’re gonna be out and about doing what we do”
translation: expect brutality from virginia state troopers next month.
“expect interaction with police”
“we’re gonna be out and about doing what we do”
translation: expect brutality from virginia state troopers next month.
our officials are not prepared. our comrades are. this is so very clear tonight.
we keep us safe. we will not stay home.
we keep us safe. we will not stay home.
“i really want to trust you.” her voice breaks, she’s trying not to cry.
she is a downtown business owner who wants to make her shop a safe space but is afraid to communicate that for fear of becoming a target.
she is a downtown business owner who wants to make her shop a safe space but is afraid to communicate that for fear of becoming a target.
livestream of the meeting continues here
other livestreams about the anniversary happening right now... jason kessler! obviously i can’t watch this right now, but if you’re interested:
“you get no pushback from me” says chief brackney to a community member who asks her what kind of training officers are getting to improve their behavior year round, outside large scale events. she cites the arrests of protestors last month after corey long’s trial.
no pushback... but no response either. they seem confused by the question. we do not trust our police. they cannot deescalate.
all this training... here’s a video of cops using an ambulance to transport a peaceful protestor to jail. on a jaywalking charge. last month.
next commenter is asking what preparation has been done for the week following the 12th — cantwell’s criminal trial is the week of the 13th. he is worried cantwell’s supporters will be in town. (i’m not, he doesn’t have any)
“we’ve spoken with the judicial system to see if that is really the best time to have that trial” - chief brackney wants to have the trial postponed.
interesting to point out that chief brackney is equally, if not more, concerned about counter protestors surrounding cantwell’s trial.
“charlottesville is being looked at internationally. you need to get it together.”
“stop this facade that you can protect us. you can’t.”
“stop this facade that you can protect us. you can’t.”
this commenter points out that she works weekends. are they telling her not to go to work? she asks if that is fair advice.
mike murphy: “we’re not going to advise anybody not to go to work.”
but you said to stay home? so stay home unless it’s in the service of capital? ✔️
but you said to stay home? so stay home unless it’s in the service of capital? ✔️
next up: a business owner!
BUT HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES?!????!!!!
sit the fuck down my dude.
BUT HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES?!????!!!!
sit the fuck down my dude.
people are being terrorized by.... “what’s being put out in the press.”
no dude, people are being terrorized by violent white supremacists. close, though.
no dude, people are being terrorized by violent white supremacists. close, though.
HE IS ASKING FOR MONETARY COMPENSATION FROM THE CITY FOR LOST BUSINESS THAT WEEKEND.
now he’s worried about how the cops got dehydrated last year.
next commenter: how will uva handle any events on grounds of any happen again? how will the university handle student activists who stood up to the nazis & will do so again?
oh this woman IS new — she keeps saying “campus.” we don’t say that here 😂
apparently the lawn was formerly considered a public space. it has been reclassified as a “facility.” this changes things, i guess??
she says unlawful assemblies “will not be tolerated” on UVA grounds
“we are not motivated by subject matter. we are motivated by behavior” she says she believes in “constitutional policing” 🙄
translation: they’re gonna crack down on everyone, including and especially student activists.
translation: they’re gonna crack down on everyone, including and especially student activists.
she also asks why the money from unity concert wasn’t used to pay for the medical bills of people injured on the 11th and 12th. no one has an answer for that.
“why can’t the descendants of the slaves who built this university be allowed on campus?”
“i don’t know the answer to that question.”
LIGHT ‘EM UP JEFF
“i don’t know the answer to that question.”
LIGHT ‘EM UP JEFF
“yes ma’am, they would make an arrest relative to that this year.”
“yes ma’am, we plan to stop the violence.”
VSP in response to a woman’s questions about whether police would make arrests or intervene this time.
“yes ma’am, we plan to stop the violence.”
VSP in response to a woman’s questions about whether police would make arrests or intervene this time.
she asks them to name some things they did wrong last year. chief brackney responds by saying she can name some things they can “do better.”
chief brackney: “there were huge communication gaps. interagency communication gaps.”
yeah girl, we all read the heaphy report. tell us something new.
yeah girl, we all read the heaphy report. tell us something new.
“the officers are VERY CLEAR about what their directions are.” and those are...?? 🤷♀️
questioner asks if chief brackney would discipline officers who disobey her direct orders not to tear gas activists. (this is re: pleasants gassing activists at the klan rally against former chief al thomas’ orders. there was no investigation or discipline)
commenter says racists got white glove service, police escorts in and out last year. she would love to see people of color treated the same way.
for reference, gary pleasants was not only not disciplined for gassing activists, he was briefly made acting police chief after thomas left
he also recently retired, having never been held accountable for his violence against this community.
brackney getting a little tense trying to explain the nature of the “unified command” that will be in place that week. mr small business should just sit down. this is just “i want to talk to your manager” behavior.
harold folley from LAJC asking how police plan to ID white supremacists in our community. if they plan to make arrests.
“there was a gap last year” in their ability to identify “folks coming in willing to disrupt.”
the CPD is forming an “intelligence” department. “there is that ability now to do things” “that they didn’t necessarily have the ability to do.”
vague!
the CPD is forming an “intelligence” department. “there is that ability now to do things” “that they didn’t necessarily have the ability to do.”
vague!
she vaguely warns that people will come in “groups of 4 or 5” to undermine “court rulings” and “permitting requirements.”
harold asks if the friendship court low income housing community, which is downtown, will be safe. points out that the african american community isn’t always comfortable with law enforcement.
(no response from the panel on this)
(no response from the panel on this)
“you’re telling me that corey long and all of us have no right to protect children?”
WE KEEP US SAFE. WE KEEP US SAFE.
WE KEEP US SAFE. WE KEEP US SAFE.
she also asks why jason kessler has not been arrested. members of our community get locked up for nothing but this man still walks free.
no answer from the panel. they seem very ready to move on to the next questioner... she comes back to the mic to demand her answers. 🔥
chief brackney: “the kkk has transformed. they took off their hoods a long time ago. they put on business suits and uniforms”
this is met by a chorus of calls from the gallery of “POLICE UNIFORMS!”
this is met by a chorus of calls from the gallery of “POLICE UNIFORMS!”
oh jesus christ our gang unit is called the GRACE task force? 🤢
the woman is demanding to know why the kkk is not classified as a gang.
mary carey says the policing last year was centered around protecting BUSINESSES, not the community specifically the low wealth community downtown. she says they will protect themselves but they will also be the first ones to be arrested.
“we have good people who are gonna protect their neighborhoods and we don’t wanna see them get arrested” mary carey asks them what their plans are to keep us safe.
(WE KEEP US SAFE)
(WE KEEP US SAFE)
oh girl, not being able to get the acronym out is a bad look. get my community’s name outta your mouth. she stumbled hard over LGBTQIA.
questioner asking about the words they’ve used tonight, specially “posturing” (that one struck me oddly, too)
no answer to any part of her question. comms director & event MC brian wheeler giving closing remarks.
no answer to any part of her question. comms director & event MC brian wheeler giving closing remarks.
he’s referring us to the “resilient cville” website 🙄
charlottesville.org/departments-an…
charlottesville.org/departments-an…
well that was... not very informative. my general impression is this: they are not ready. the extent of their plan is hoping we’ll all stay home & the police are prepared to meet us with force if we show up.
