A photo of the alleged perpetrators taken hours before shots were reported at the May Day march
Today’s May Day protests across the United States have seen a series of brawls and clashes in these politically charged times. However, none have been so terrible as what has happened in Richmond. As protestors set down Downtown Richmond, aiming to end the day at monument avenue and celebrate where the former Statue of General A.P. Hill stood, the march was interrupted as a brawl between members of the domestic terrorist group the BLA (Black Liberation Army) and suspected terrorist of one of the many Pro-Trump Militias came to blows outside of a local Cook-Out, before shots were fired, leading to a short and chaotic gunfight between the groups, before the arrival of Police, leaving one BLA member dead, another wounded and the members of the Pro-Trump Militia in an unknown state, as authorities are still searching for them.
Elements of the Black Liberation Army providing security for the march.
After the shooting, the already tense crowd once more turned on the Police, blaming them for not being there to stop the militia based violence and eventually inciting further protest, which devolved into rioting across the city. The situation was so bad, that Molotov Cocktails and pipe bombs were hurled at police from the protestors, inciting a much harsher response from Police. The Situation has turned so bad, that elements of the Virginia National Guard had to be called in to handle the issue. Currently several sections of the city are off limits, most notably Carytown, and the VCU campus, however several residential neighbourhoods are in a mixed state and a curfew has now been enacted for much of the city, extending even somewhat beyond the Richmond metropolitan area. Elements of the FBI are also being called in to help find the Pro-Trump militiamen who caused the riots, with the FBI chief personally noting he is willing to turn this into a Nationwide Manhunt and add their charges onto Trump for incitement of violence.
Two Protestors about to be arrested during curfew.
AAN will be sending one of our reports to Richmond to follow up with the RPD and keep you informed as the situation changes.
AAN News, reporting.