Richmond police arrest protesters

Richmond police on early Thursday broke up an encampment of 20 anarchists and homeless people who had camped out in Monroe Park near Virginia Commonwealth University for nine nights to bring attention to homeless issues.

Nine people were issued a summons for remaining in the park after dark, a violation of a city ordinance, said Richmond Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland.

Of those nine, seven refused to identify themselves to authorities and were taken into custody and charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, Thorne-Begland said. One of the seven then decided to provide identifying information and was released. The others were taken to jail and later went before a judge, who released them on bond.

""They were all warned repeatedly that remaining in the park after dark would be a violation of the city ordinance," Thorne-Begland said.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones' administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, City Councilman Charles R. Samuels thanked administration officials "for taking necessary and reasonable action regarding the overnight 'guests' in Monroe Park."

"The park has been returned to its normal state," Samuels said in an e-mail Thursday.

On Wednesday, the councilman had sent an e-mail complaining that the city had not taken swift action against the protesters. His 2nd District includes Monroe Park.

"There are several laws the campers are violating, including staying (in) the park overnight, creating an encampment and trespassing," he said in an e-mail to the Fan District Association. "I have been in conversations with the mayor's office since last Tuesday strongly encouraging them to enforce the laws currently in place and to not be selective in their enforcement of this law, but to enforce it on anyone who violates it. I have stated I would support their decision to act swiftly to remedy this situation."

The members of the occupation said Thursday that they had not had any interaction with police since setting up in the park March 7. VCU students were part of the occupation last week, but most were away on spring break this week.

Mo Karn, a member of The Wingnut, a local anarchist collective, said a police plane flew over the park for hours Wednesday. Then, at 12:19 a.m., police surrounded the park in 20 police cruisers, eight of which pulled into the park, and there were as many as 50 police officers, Karn said. A firetruck's floodlight illuminated the park, and, using a megaphone, officers cited a city ordinance that prohibits staying in a park overnight and told the protesters they had 15 minutes to gather their belongings and leave the park.

The police took into custody those who refused to leave. The group had set up tents and moved sofas into the park. A bulldozer was used to plow a large structure the protesters had built to protect them from the rain and winds last week.

Karn's group and some other advocates for the homeless have been objecting to the city's plan to temporarily close Monroe Park for renovations, saying the work would disrupt feeding programs in the city's oldest park. The renovations have not been scheduled because the estimated $6.2 million renovation project is not funded.

The occupants said Carolyn N. Graham, deputy chief administrative officer for human services, had visited the camp earlier this week and invited them to talk with city officials about their concerns. Wingnut member Jeremy Hawthorne said protesters told her they wanted the city to stop breaking up homeless camps, and then his group would be willing to meet with City Council and the mayor, but only at Monroe Park.

Asked about Graham's visit, city spokesman Michael Wallace would not comment on the protest. He responded by e-mail Tuesday that "the city of Richmond has a poverty rate of over 20 percent, which equates to one in five residents living at or below the poverty line. Given these numbers, addressing poverty and homelessness to improve the quality of life for Richmond's most vulnerable residents has been and continues to be a top priority for Mayor Jones' administration."

Samuels, who could not be reached Thursday, said in his e-mail Wednesday that he was frustrated that nine days had passed without a response from the city.

"I am disappointed that the administration has not taken any visible action on this matter to date," Samuels wrote. "While I respect the idea of using dialogue over debate, there are times and instances where one must do the right thing and act expeditiously."

kgreen@timesdispatch.com

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wjones@timesdispatch.com

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