Date | January 20, 2020 |
---|---|
Location | Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, Virginia |
Coordinates | 37°32′24″N 77°25′57″W / 37.539918°N 77.432436°W |
Organised by | Virginia Citizens Defense League |
The annual Lobby Day 2020 was cancelled due to gun rights rally that took place on January 20, 2020 at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia. The rally was an extension of the Second Amendment sanctuary movement and was organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Documented threats of violence and credible warnings from the FBI prompted the governor of Virginia to declare a state of emergency ahead of the event.
Background
Lobby Day is an annual event sponsored by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.[1] The 2020 protest received international attention and a greater turnout than previous years because a Democratic majority in both the Virginia House of Delegates and state Senate was elected in 2019, alongside incumbent Democratic governor Ralph Northam.[1][2] President Donald Trump also acknowledged the event,[3] and stated that the United States Constitution was "under very serious attack" in the state of Virginia.[4]
State of emergency
Governor Ralph Northam received advance warning that "out-of-state militia groups and hate groups" were planning to come to the event to "intimidate and to cause harm" to the demonstrators,[5] which led him to declare a state of emergency ahead of the event.[6]
Three members of the Neo-Nazi group The Base—of which were hostile to the beliefs of the protesters—were arrested by the FBI days before the event.[7] The FBI had them under surveillance for several months and had set up CCTV cameras inside the group's apartment to keep an eye on them and prevent them from causing any harm.[8] According to FBI documents, the three members were discussing "the planning of violence at a specific event in Virginia, scheduled for January 20, 2020."[9] CBS Baltimore reported that the trio were indicted for their illicit activities.[10]
Demonstration
22,000 people demonstrated in favor of gun rights. This was less than half of the number of attendees predicted by rally's organizers.[11] Speakers at the event included Republican State Senator Amanda Chase, Republican Delegate Nick Freitas, and Republican Delegate John McGuire.[12] The event ended peacefully.[13][14][15]
A 21-year-old woman from Richmond was arrested for wearing a bandanna across her face; she was released on her own recognizance.[16][17]
References
- ^ a b Chappell, Bill (20 January 2020). "Richmond Gun Rally: Thousands Of Gun Owners Converge On Virginia Capitol On MLK Day". National Public Radio. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Richmond braces for giant gun rights rally on Monday". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
- ^ Trump tweets in support of pro-gun activists ahead of Virginia rally
- ^ Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Ahead of tinder box Virginia gun rally, Trump says Constitution under attack". News.trust.org. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
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has generic name (help) - ^ 4:02 PM ET (2020-01-15). "Virginia Governor Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Gun Rights Rally". Npr.org. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Declaration Of A State Of Emergency Due To Potential Civil Unrest At The Virginia State Capitol" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-01-20.
- ^ "Virginia Capital on Edge as F.B.I. Arrests Suspected Neo-Nazis Before Gun Rally". New York Times. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Judge: Canadian Man Tied To Extremist Group Is 'Very Dangerous'
- ^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRIAN MARK LEMLEY, JR, page 20
- ^ Three Alleged White Supremacists Who Reportedly Hoped Virginia Gun Rally Would Cause ‘Civil War’ Indicted In Maryland, Delaware
- ^ Epps, Garrett. "Guns Are No Mere Symbol." The Atlantic. 21 January 2020. 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Virginia Citizens Defense League". 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Virginia pro-gun rally: Despite anger, threats of insurrection, massive rally is carried out peacefully outside state Capitol". Washington Post. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Virginia Gun Rally Live Updates: 22,000 Protesters Oppose New Laws". New York Times. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "At tense Virginia rally, demonstrators reject extremists, defend law-abiding gun owners". NBC News. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Woman arrested for allegedly wearing mask at pro-gun rally in Richmond", WAVY 10, 20 Jan 2020.
- ^ "Thousands of gun-rights activists converge in Virginia's capital to protest proposed gun laws". CBS News. Jan 20, 2020.