RICHMOND, Va. -- Six people were arrested and charged with participating in an unlawful assembly Sunday night at the J.E.B.. Stuart Monument on Monument Avenue in Richmond.
"The Richmond Police Department last night declared an Unlawful Assembly during a protest at the J.E.B. Stuart Monument," a Richmond Police spokesperson said. "The action was taken as protesters threw objects at the officers and tied a rope to the statue in an apparent attempt to pull it down – an action that would have put many people at risk of being hit."
A Richmond Police officer struck by a thrown brick was treated at the scene, according to a Richmond Police spokesperson.
Richmond Police declared an unlawful assembly Sunday night and broke up a gathering of people accused of attempting to pull down another Confederate monument.
Richmond Police declared Sunday night's gathering near the statue to Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart unlawful and ordered those in the crowd to leave the area along Monument Avenue around 9:30 p.m.
A line of police in riot gear then moved in to encircle the monument and used chemical agents to disperse the crowd.
Richmond Police issued a warning Friday that officers would declare an unlawful assembly if protests become violent or dangerous.
Richmond City Council is expected to vote the remove the Confederate monuments at a meeting in July.
