This happened over this past weekend’s protests. Sadly, its not the first time this wall of the Jacob House has suffered graffiti.
Graffiti On The Jacob House
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Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow
This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.
If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.
St. Andrew’s Bell Toll For National Day of Mourning
From announcment:
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is joining with faith communities around the nation in marking a National Day of Mourning. We mourn the lives lost in this pandemic. We mourn the livelihoods and economic security that has been lost in the pandemic. We mourn the countless lives lost to systemic racism. We mourn the pain and fear that our siblings of color experience on a daily basis. We mourn that we have not made enough progress in creating a world of justice for all.
At 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, the bell at St. Andrew’s will toll for ten minutes to express our grief. Wherever you are, I invite you to pause as you are able, either at 3:00 or at another point in the day, as we acknowledge our collective grief.
Protest Starting In Monroe Park
Neighbors are hoping this will be like the protest march we saw at Brown’s Island yesterday, but they are bracing for worse outcomes:
8 pm Curfew
As reported from VPM News:
After a second night of protesting the death of George Floyd in Richmond, Gov. Ralph Northam authorized an 8 p.m. curfew Sunday in the city. The Virginia National Guard is also on alert and will step in if the city needs assistance.
Overnight Saturday, hundreds of people marched near the Capitol and on Broad Street. Police officers were seen in riot gear, dispersing the crowd with what appeared to be pepper spray. After midnight, the Daughters of the Confederacy headquarters on Arthur Ashe Boulevard was set on fire. The building was tagged with graffiti, along with Confederate statues on nearby Monument Avenue.
“I hear you. I know your pain is real. We have all seen too many people harassed, abused, and killed by law enforcement officers, in too many places, for too long—just for being black. I also know that others are exploiting this pain and are now causing violence,” Northam said in his first a statement on the demonstrations over the weekend. He released a statement Friday about the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
The curfew lasts from 8 p.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday. City officials say it applies to public spaces. People may only be out in public to go back and forth from work, seek medical attention or assistance from first responders.
Local Businesses Damaged During Protests
While many Oregon Hill residents sympathize with the recent protests, many are also saddened by damages experienced by local businesses during them. The Tech Exchange on W. Cary was broken into and several thousands of dollars in merchandise broken or taken. Some businesses in VCU area experienced broken glass and significant damages. The closest bicycle shop to Oregon Hill, Balance, on Broad Street, was destroyed.
Brown’s Island Protest Today
Downtown Richmond has been rocked by protests against the murder of Minneapolis citizen George Floyd and police brutality across the nation in general. While there was a peaceful protest Friday evening that started in Monroe Park, a later riot the same evening burned a police car and a GRTC bus. Richmond is not alone, as cities across the United States have seen protests and riots which some have called a national uprising. All of this is happening as the COVID-19 pandemic is still a threat.
Rainy Day Mulch Sprinklers
Citizens continue to press for a full audit of the Monroe Park Conservancy.
At the same time, there is late notice of a Black Lives Matter protest in Monroe Park this evening, in response to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Coming Down Saturday
Dominion Energy confirms that its old downtown headquarters at 7th Street and E.Cary will be imploded Saturday, May 30 around 7 a.m.
If you are watching from outside, wear a mask- to lower the chances of spreading viruses and lower the chances of breathing in any dangerous building dust.
Congratulations To Jane Ruggles!
Admittedly, there are times in the neighborhood when all the young energy seems to be about VCU student residents, but ever since the pandemic shut down the schools, the absence of Open High students has been palpable.
So it was wonderful to see the Richmond Free Press’ photo gallery of Richmond high school valedictorians this week. And in particular, it was very nice to recognize Open High’s representative, Jane Ruggles.
JANE RUGGLES, Open High School, 4.9483 GPA. Attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in the fall, where she plans to major in biology and environmental science. Daughter of Sandra Lambert and Jeffrey Ruggles. “For me, the silver lining of this pandemic has been the ability to spend time with my family before going to college. I was very busy before the pandemic and I have tried to be thankful for this time. I’ve also been happy to see how my school, classes and friends have stayed in touch although separated.”