RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond law enforcement agencies were given more than $475,000 from the United States Department of Justice on Monday.
$477,498.00 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs will be distributed to the Department of Police, the Richmond Sheriff’s Office, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office "for the purpose of providing funding for COVID-19 pandemic response programs, projects, and services."
Richmond's City Council unanimously voted to accept the grant.
Richmond City Council tonight approved an ordinance to accept a $477K federal grant toward COVID-19 related expenses - including life-saving PPE - for the RPD, the Richmond Sheriff’s Office and the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. https://t.co/hOTnFYLdhQ
— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) September 14, 2020
Demonstrators marched from Martin Luther King middle school to City Hall in protest of the funding.
The flyer for the protest stated that supporters are calling for an end to investments in policing.
Those against the funding said that the money should instead be used to fund non-violent intervention "bystander training" and mental health services and that that funding services and resources outside of the police force is what will create real change in the city.
