Louise Lucas - VA State Senator and President Pro Tempore of the VA State Senate - and over a dozen other peaceful protesters - including three NAACP representatives and three local public defenders - were served with felony warrants by the Portsmouth Police Department in connection with a protest resulting in the destruction of a Confederate monument. The warrants were announced one day before a special session of the VA state legislature to address the pandemic, police brutality, and racial justice.

This is clearly an act of retaliation for Sen. Lucas' work in pursuit of substantial criminal justice reform and addressing abuses by police, and a blatant attempt to intimidate her as the special session of the state legislature is convened. The VA Legislative Black Caucus has condemned this action by the Portsmouth PD. The charges against Sen. Lucas and her allies simply do not align with the plain facts of the events leading to the destruction of the monuments. Because Portsmouth PD knows that they do not have a case against Sen. Lucas, they are attempting to circumvent the Commonwealth Attorney for Portsmouth, Stephanie Morales, because of her progressive record.

We are calling on Portsmouth PD to immediately drop the charges against Sen. Lucas and her allies. This action by Portsmouth PD is a perfect example of why real, substantial criminal justice reform is so badly needed in the US. Americans deserve to live and work without intimidation and harassment by the police.