RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters marched in Richmond streets to protest the election of Donald Trump Wednesday night.
Protesters made their way throughout VCU’s Monroe Park campus, Broad Street and Belvidere to Interstate 95.
I-95 southbound was at a standstill for some time.
WTVR reported that Virginia State Police responded to the scene around 9:54 p.m. to assist with the mass of protesters on the interstate.
“State troopers responded to the location to guide the protesters off the interstate – for their safety and the motoring public’s safety,” said State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller. “Due to it being dark outside with limited lighting, and the blind curves and ramps along this particular stretch of I-95, it was an extremely dangerous situation for any pedestrian traffic.”
The interstate was cleared of all protesters by 10:34 p.m. No arrests were made in this particular incident.
The group then made their way throughout Jackson Ward and Gilpin court, before ultimately heading west back on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus.
State Police said a large group of protesters then made their way onto Interstate 195/Downtown Expressway at 11:39 p.m.
They say the protesters sat down in the travel lanes of I-195.
“Despite the state police’s attempts to communicate with the protesters about their need to disperse and leave the interstate, the large group of individuals refused,” said Geller.
A total of 10 protesters were arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and for being pedestrians on an interstate.
The six females and four males that were arrested range in age of 20 to 26 years of age.
The remaining protesters exited I-195 and it was reopened to through traffic by 12:15 a.m. Thursday.
The Republican Party of Virginia confirmed their headquarters at 115 East Grace Street was vandalized during the protest. The damage was to the building’s windows, graffiti on the doors, and the doorbell was broken.
A statement by GOP Chairman John Whitbeck read in part, “The violent protests that led to the vandalizing our headquarters is unacceptable but not unexpected…We will move forward – not intimidated but vigilant – and pray that this Nation will come together just as Secretary Clinton, President Obama and President-Elect Donald Trump have stated.”
VCU students and Richmond residents Tweeted pictures and videos of the protesters.
