Four people were arrested and charged with rioting in Richmond last night after the John Marshall Courts building and businesses were vandalized.
A group marched along Broad Street in Shockoe Bottom towards downtown, eventually making its way to the John Marshall Courts Building. There they smashed windows and spray painted the property.
Protesters continued to damage buildings and parking meters before making a loop back to Shockoe Bottom where they met a Richmond Police lineup, which included Police Chief Gerald Smith.
“There would still be a pretty decent-sized crowd actually marching in the street as a handful of people would go and smash the windows, throw bricks, spray paint,” said Commonwealth Times Reporter Hannah Eason, who was covering the protest.
The John Marshall Courts building closed for business Wednesday and all cases are postponed until Thursday.
Mayor Levar Stoney condemned the protester’s actions, again accusing some of hijacking the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I want you to know that it will not be tolerated. It will not be tolerated. And you will be charged with all applicable offenses,” Stoney said at a press conference Wednesday.
