As you all know, the Tennessee-based group "Confederate States of America II," a pro-Confederate organization who primarily seems to exist to sell Confederate-related merchandise, is holding a rally on Monument Avenue this Saturday. Here's an RVA Magazine piece on them.
While it's impossible to anticipate exactly how many people will show, and who they'll be associated with, the current estimate for the pro-monument group stands at 50. They will be open-carrying firearms. We do know that the organizers disavow neo-Nazis and the Klan, but are involved with the far-right militia movement. We also know that members of various white nationalist groups will be showing up anyway.
In terms of what we know about the police response: this event will be heavily policed, by RPD, state police, and possibly others. A large "assembly area" has been blocked off on Monument Avenue around the Lee statue. There is a substantial no-parking area. Police have said that they cannot restrict the right of attendees to carry guns, but that they would not tolerate other weapons like batons, pepper spray, etc, or even protective gear like helmets. They have said repeatedly that they anticipate making many arrests. Despite the clear precedence of the August 12th white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, the city has said that they primarily fear "violence by far-left demonstrators who identify as antifa, or anti-fascist"; I am interpreting this to mean that officers will take an especially harsh view of anybody who looks like they might be an antifascist.
There are expected to be thousands of counter-protesters and people participating in related events. Here's what I know about.
Protest White Supremacy with the Defenders, held by the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality. 8am-6pm, details regarding meeting up to be posted. "Many Richmond progressive groups have called for protests, some on Monument Avenue, some in other parts of the city. We support all expressions of anti-racism. For our part, we will be as near to the Lee statue as possible, with signs, banners and chants denouncing white supremacy and calling for the Confederate statues to be taken down." I have been with the Defenders since 2013, and will be marching with them.
Richmond Stands United for Racial Justice, with the Richmond Peace Education Center, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, and First UU Church of Richmond. 8:45-11am, meet at the Maggie Walker Monument (approximately 100 West Broad Street, Richmond VA). There will be a rally for racial justice and rejecting the white supremacist foundation of the Lost Cause mythos, followed by a march.
The #BlocKKKparty, held by Shut It Down RVA. 9am-whenever, at the median at Monument Avenue and North Allen Street. A potluck-style community cookout, with the slogan "celebrate a human future— don't enshrine a racist past."
White Rose Demonstration, held by Community of Richmond Virginia (CORVA). Meets 8:30am at the Museum of Fine Arts (200 North Boulevard, Richmond VA). Participants will pass out white roses at the demonstration, a reference to the anti-fascist White Rose.
There are numerous options if you are unable to participate in a counter-demonstration. This is by far one of the largest:
Building a Just Richmond, hosted by a large coalition of local groups including the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond, Diversity Richmond, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, and many more. 1-4:30pm, at the MathScience Innovation Center (2401 Hartman Street, Richmond VA). Following a plenary with speakers and a panel, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from several facilitated workshops designed to build skills to advance a just Richmond.
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