Armed Second Amendment activists with the "Boogaloo" movement and @BLM757 approached the Capitol building in Richmond, Virginia this afternoon and were confronted by police over a new state gun law preventing firearms on the premises, effective July 1.
"I hope you have some other way to defend yourself or avoid the situation" a VA Capitol officer suggested to @BLM757 activists. "If you don't like the laws enacted, talk to your elected leaders.
One describes being shot at by Trump supporters explaining why he needs the 2A.
A boogaloo activist told a Capitol Police officer that the United States was started by "people like us."
Both sides agreed to back off from one another, and the Boogaloos & BLM stepped a block back from the area where guns are forbidden as of July 1.
One boogaloo member noted that it was just last year that 20,000+ Second Amendment activists gathered in Richmond chanting "We will not comply" but that they are indeed complying as new local ordinances and state laws affect gun rights in the area.
Still, a local ordinance in Richmond makes it a misdemeanor to carry a firearm anywhere in the city at a demonstration that has or would require a permit.
The activists posed with their guns next to the sign banning them where they stood.
That ordinance went unenforced.
Activist "Pops" (who carried four firearms today) asked the people in attendance about their magazine sizes.
20+ round mags are illegal in Richmond, but the boogaloos showed off that they defied that as well.
Pops also pointed out that the anti-gun ordinances in Richmond passed "all of a sudden" following social justice demonstrations this summer, he believes, to repress their gun rights.
He concluded by lighting a blunt, which he said is "legalish" and told me it's CBD, with a wink.
Here's my full @N2Sreports raw video summary of today's confrontation between Virginia Capitol Police and armed Boogaloo & BLM757 activists over the new gun ordinance banning firearms around the state capitol.
As always, all footage available to license.
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Just now: Attendees of Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally at the Ellipse resort to climbing over the “scale proof” fences surrounding the event after exit gates were closed, apparently due to pro-Palestine protesters on the other side.
2) "Push it down!"
During some of the confusion as police wouldn't allow people to leave the Harris Ellipse speech, some pushed over a small plastic fence that divided them from other people also trying to exit.
It didn't make a difference.
3) "You say it's open but where's it open?" crowds frustrated attempted to confront police as they had difficulty leaving the Harris rally.
"No! No! No!" a cop said as a man jumped, leaving a woman with him behind, who would have had to find a not-closed gate.
Meanwhile, police attempted to confine the pro-Palestine protests outside.
VIDEO THREAD: "Queers love Palestine! HRC loves the war machine!"
Protesters rallied against the Human Rights Campaign dinner tonight featuring Tim Walz in DC to condemn their relationship with weapons manufacturers, which they say enable genocide.
"We're not interupting!" they chanted. "Pink washing is disgusting!"
2) Protesters put red paint on their hands to symbolize what they say is the Human Rights Campaign's support for the killing of Palestinians.
"HRC is using our name to pinkwash an administration committing genocide, burning children under rubble but those children are not human enough for the Human Rights campaign, shame!"
3) "We are here, we are queer! Zionists not welcome here!"
Protesters banged on the windows overlooking the escalator and lobby that HRC guests went through to get to the gala with Tim Walz.
Police stepped in, forcing them away from the glass.
This is my 4K footage of how the violence outside the United States Capitol began today.
You can see the first mace deployed (over the heads of officers, toward the activists) which angers the pro-Palestine crowd, who begins throwing water bottles as officers continue using mace.
A little over a minute into the clip is a flash grenade, one of only a couple I saw used today.
My understanding is this occurred after Netanyahu arrived but before he spoke to Congress.
2) As police engaged the crowd, a man scolded police and was maced as well.
The crowd continued marching, taking a wider route around the Capitol and avoiding most confrontations during the march itself.
3) "Smack Netanyahu in the head with that billy club!"
Activists continued a wide march around the United States Capitol from the West side to the East side clockwise.
Some pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu activists stood along the path and were mostly ignored. Police blocked off streets heading close to the Capitol complex.
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters gathered Tuesday night in front of the Watergate Hotel (the second night in a row) for a noise demonstration against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is staying inside.
"From DC to Palestine, Netanyahu's out of time!" chanted protesters using red and green smoke bombs. "Shut, shut, shut it down, no Zionism in this town!"
2) "Allahu Akbar! Hamas!" yelled one man through the fencer outside the Watergate at Israel supporters counter-protesting them from inside.
"Jewish motherf***ers!" he yelled. "We're gonna kill all of you!"
"We're gonna burn you!"
It should be noted that it was one lone individual, not the wider protest, using this specific rhetoric.
3) One man dawning an Israeli flag confronted the pro-Palestine protesters directly outside the Watergate.
"You're a coward, you should join the IDF and kill kids yourself, because you're a p***y," he was told.
The man says he's from Jerusalem, but he donates, rather than being in the IDF.
VIDEO THREAD: Police clashed with pro-Palestine protesters Friday night in New York City as President Biden visited Stonewall for an "LGBTQ+ Gala" and protesters demanded "No war criminals at pride!"
All video in thread by @olgafe_images for @N2Sreports
2) NYPD's Strategic Response Group forcefully pushed back pro-Palestine activists and made several arrests throughout the evening both attempting to keep protesters away from the event featuring President Biden and off of the streets.
3) Pro-Palestine protesters trying to reach the Biden event ran through the James A. Farley Building, but encountered both police and Israel supporters when they exited.