Protesters surround Confederate statue on Richmond's Monument Avenue
Protesters screaming "take down the monuments" marched from a park in downtown Richmond to the beginning of historic Monument Avenue before surrounding the statue of J.E.B. Stuart and planting a flag in the mouth of the Confederate general's horse Sunday night.
Posted — UpdatedNews 3's sister station, WTVR CBS 6 in Richmond, has been covering the protests since they broke out late Sunday night.
Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said officers responded to Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward around 8:30 p.m. for an assembly.
Police followed the crowd and posted updates on social media that the group was moving down West Broad Street around 10:20 p.m.
Police said the demonstrators turned onto Lombardy Avenue and were headed for Monument Avenue as of 10:50 p.m. with the goal of reaching the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee.
However, the group settled for the Stuart statue when Capitol Police said only 20 people could gather at the Lee monument.
"Tear the racist statues down," the group yelled as one person attempted to climb the Stuart monument before nearly taking a spill and slipping down the statue.
The man, who was shirtless and wearing a mask, was successful on his second attempt. The crowd cheered as he walked back and forth before he successfully planted a flag on J.E.B. Stuart's horse.
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