Several hundred Occupy Richmond protesters marched to Monroe Park on Wednesday night, then headed down Broad Street to occupy Festival Park, next to the Coliseum in downtown Richmond.
Festival Park, which adjoins the Blues Armory building, is open until 3 a.m., and police told the group they were welcome to stay until then, but if the protesters remained in the park after that time, they would be arrested.
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At a general assembly meeting at the downtown park, a speaker said the police told him he could not bring water into the park or unload anything from his truck.
Another said that the group's initial plan had been to occupy Monroe Park, but given the police presence there, they decided to go to Festival Park instead.
Another said that no one has made a decision to make a permanent stop at Festival Park. During group sessions, suggestions were made to go to the Virginia War Memorial, to Abner Clay Park at Brook Road and Leigh Street, to the Canal Walk or back to Monroe Park. No decision was made on where to go.
During the group's procession around Monroe Park, two people were arrested for wearing illegal face coverings_ in this case, bandanas that covered their faces up to just below their eyes. Protesters shouted, "Shame! Shame!" as the arrests were made.
Protesters later moved north on Laurel Street to Broad Street, and then marched in the eastbound lanes to the park along North Seventh Street. Police blocked traffic at West Grace and North Laurel streets to allow protesters to keep moving.
Earlier in the evening, a group of about 200 protesters assembled at Gallery 5, in the 200 block of West Marshall Street, to see a documentary about the movement.
About 8:30 p.m., they split into three groups to prepare to march to Monroe Park. Some wore masks soaked in vinegar, in case pepper spray or tear gas was used against the crowd. They shouted "We are the 99 percent" and other slogans as they walked.
En route to the park, they announced they would march around Monroe Park rather than occupy it.
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