RICHMOND, Va. -- Dozens of protesters gathered at Monroe Park Sunday evening to demand the Richmond Police Department be defunded.
The group then marched to the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue in Shockoe Bottom.
Several speakers called for recognition and protection for Black LGBTQ people, and reopening the Marcus Davis Peters case.
The march came one day after Mayor Levar Stoney introduced Richmond's new police chief, Gerlad Smith.
Smith, who was named chief 11 days after the resignation of chief William Smith, said his first priority will be to listen to the needs of the community.
"We want to make this department better, we want to make this department better than what it was, so I am listening right now," Smith said Saturday. "The number one thing that I want to find out before we make any type of change is what's in the ground."
