Charges dismissed against state Sen. Louise Lucas in vandalism of Portsmouth's Confederate monument
https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/vp-nw-lucas-monument-motions-20201116-6c4btca5lfaknnj5apfxvwcbr4-story.html
From the Virginian Pilot
IMO this is why the Police Chief was fired. There is lots more at the link.
Charges dismissed against state Sen. Louise Lucas in vandalism of Portsmouths Confederate monument
By Margaret Matray
The Virginian-Pilot |
Nov 16, 2020 at 9:26 AM
PORTSMOUTH A judge dismissed charges Monday against state Sen. Louise Lucas and all others charged in a June protest at the citys Confederate monument at the request of the citys top prosecutor, who said the elements of the charges were not properly met.
The felony charges against Lucas and 18 others including local NAACP leaders, several public defenders and a School Board member stem from a June 10 protest at the citys Confederate monument in which demonstrators vandalized the statues.
Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene announced the charges at a press conference two months after the protest, to the surprise of the city manager and the citys elected prosecutor, neither of whom knew charges were coming. Police didnt consult with the commonwealths attorney about them.
Activists and Virginia Democrats questioned the timing of the charges, which came a day before a General Assembly special session. Lucas, a veteran Democratic legislator, has been an outspoken advocate for police reform.
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