RICHMOND, Va. -- Sitting in a chair in the grassy area around the state-owned statue to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, Anthony Fisher reflected on the throngs of people gathered on Richmond's famed Monument Avenue Saturday afternoon.
"I see love, I see compassion, I see friendship," Fisher said. "Last week was bad, so it's a change that was needed and it took all of us coming together to do it."
Fisher summed up the coming together with a simple, hopeful message.
"The more we stay united, the more we can actually become a stronger voice," Fisher said.
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"I think that this just shows that Richmond... has a really great community here that wants to change the system," Liz Remick said.
Under a big tent nearby, Alvion Davenport was giving away food.
"We're frying fish, we also have hot dogs on the grill, veggie dogs, corn on the cob," Davenport said.
Davenport saw a need and a way to lend his support to the cause.
"If you are peacefully protesting, we want to keep you in the streets, doing the work," Davenport said. "So think about it, why would you need to leave because you're hungry? So if we're feeding you, there's no need to leave."
Some visiting Monument Avenue said the peaceful protest sends a strong message much farther than to Richmond city leaders.
"I think that it's the city speaking to the world," Remick said.
Fisher was encouraged by the diversity of crowd on a multitude of levels.
"We're setting a positive example for the rest of the world, because as you see, there's all different types of races," Anthony Fisher said. "You got the grandfather generation, the dad generation and you got the son generation out here all at one time."
