Hundreds gather in Richmond for sixth day of protests

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Hundreds of people have gathered in Richmond for the sixth day in a row to protest police brutality.

Demonstrators first gathered around the Robert E. Lee monument along Monument Avenue, before going to the Capitol, Carytown and outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where the “Rumors of War” statue is.

The protests on Wednesday were largely peaceful throughout the day and night, a sharp contrast to demonstrations that were seen over the weekend.

“Now while we might be seeing a lot of reform within the past couple of hours and a lot of change happening, it’s because we’re here. But why is that change not come before today? Why is it taking this?” a protester said while crowds gathered at the Lee monument, which Northam is expected to announce its intended removal on Thursday.

Demonstrators are also calling for people to register to vote in the upcoming elections and for protests to continue so the push for real change isn’t lost.

"My purpose and my calling has never been so clear! We will affect change!” a demonstrator said while at the Robert E. Lee Monument and enduring the hot temperatures.

At one point on Wednesday afternoon, protesters blocked traffic on North 9th Street by sitting down in the roadway.

The National Guard has also arrived outside of Richmond Police Headquarters.

As of 6 p.m., Virginia State Police formed a line outside the police station to help block it. The National Guard is also there on standby.

NBC12 has a crew at the scene working to learn more.

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