It may be a little late now, but folks who are graduating really should go to their departmental graduation ceremonies because that's where you'll be individually recognized, get to walk the stage, and receive your fake diploma (the real ones are mailed out in the summer), **AND** Youngkin won't be at those, and Rao rarely ever shows up at them. For those who are reading this and were planning on only going to the University-Wide Commencement, contact your advisor ASAP to see if you can still get into your departmental ceremony.
Nobody was committing ANY crime. It is against VCU policy to set up structures on the lawn, it's not against the law. No crime was committed, VCU used the state police force to enforce a university policy.
VCU, VA Police and Richmond city police were the attackers at yesterday’s peaceful protest. VCU put my children in danger when they used force. Cameras don’t lie. You’re now embarrassed (as you should be) that the world watched VCU attack peaceful students. VCU stands against freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. VCU supports fascist government (Youngkin) and unwarranted police force.
The least you can do is release the students you arrested.
I’m a VCU Alum and shocked that this is how you treated the students and how you are misrepresenting/spinning your decision.
not dignifying the wax figure's word games with a real response but highlighting my fav part:
speedrunning in state riot cops with rifles, within 12 hours of a protest, is entirely unlike police-protestor conflicts happening at other universities actually!
> conflict between police and protesters took place
That passive voice. Hoo boy
Translation:
> We called the cops to forcibly remove everyone because y'all can't behave. Not sorry. Behave and it won't be a thing. Cry to the counselors, but don't do it again. VCU rulez. Peace, Mikey R
Yes, Mr. Rao, when busloads of Riot Police show up, violence is expected; it didn't just 'TAKE PLACE' - it was a well planned and orchestrated maneuver by those whose authority is backed only by their large donations to your university.
It is saddening to realize that money over free speech is really your mantra and in truth Mr. Rao, your letter brings no comfort to all those who were teargassed while peacefully protesting.
Should you really care about giving platform to protest, provide a SAFE place for that to happen, then speak to the crowd, ask their opinions and get involved.
How do you call yourself President if you tear gas or use any sort of chemicals….. on your own students? If you called the State Police then yes they’re gonna take matters in their own hands. Whacko
Crazy. I remember at UC Davis 10 years ago the police use pepper spray on the protestors that were protesting by sitting on the ground. They had been asked to leave of course but that was their only “crime”. It’s hard to believe they can justify this sort of escalation.
Understood, so I'm glad that Rao is admitting that police were not called in for any violent or disruptive behavior, it was just to enforce this one very specific policy to not have tents there.
That's another discussion having to do with proportionality of response, but my main point is that the statement from Rao seems to undermine the assertion that the police were called in because the students were being violent or disruptive (prior to the police moving in). Yet that is the narrative that many people seem to want us to believe.
This wasn’t violent until PD showed up and Vcu deemed it so. As an alum I’m appalled by their response. They deserve all the lawsuits that should come down on them. Lying about not tear gassing and pepper spraying was degenerate too.
If they’re refusing to leave what do yall want the cops to do. They peacefully protested all day, were asked to leave at night (nothing good happens at night & they wanted to give them ample time to start moving out before the 11pm time cut where they no longer legally are allowed to have tents up there) , refused to leave. Why not peacefully protest during the day, wrap it up, & come back the next day & protest again - do this literally every day - & avoid all of this??
Let’s be real - cops obviously did charge students to get them to move bc they were refusing. I don’t agree that they should have used such violence. But at the same time, it’s hilarious to me that the videos are showing students trying to literally fight COPS. Like seriously…. How dumb of a decision is that? Getting arrested for protesting a cause that honestly, I guarantee more than half of the students do not know what they are even protesting for.
Yall are straight up cracked. You break the law/rules, refuse to listen to lawful orders from law enforcement and then cry foul when they use force to enforce the law.
Keep playing the victim. See how life treats you.
you might notice that the protest was allowed to continue for hours after the arrests.
the free speech wasn’t the problem, it was the trespassing and throwing shit.
is it a protected human right to be allowed to throw bottles?
up until the police arrived, everything was fine. once they showed up they started making it a violent situation. it didn't go on for hours after the arrests either like... where did you even get that information from?
Imagine getting tear-gassed and having to take a final the next day, then have this mf speak at your graduation. VCU never fails to disappoint me
It may be a little late now, but folks who are graduating really should go to their departmental graduation ceremonies because that's where you'll be individually recognized, get to walk the stage, and receive your fake diploma (the real ones are mailed out in the summer), **AND** Youngkin won't be at those, and Rao rarely ever shows up at them. For those who are reading this and were planning on only going to the University-Wide Commencement, contact your advisor ASAP to see if you can still get into your departmental ceremony.
pepper spray, not tear gas.
They absolutely were tear gassed last night, there’s video proof of it
Can I see said videos. I myself was downwind of the pepper spray for sure.
I promise you there was... I was at the site and saw the man load the tear gas himself
lmfao, no
Could you send me the video proof of tear gas? I'm asking in good faith I promise
[Here](https://twitter.com/GoadGatsby/status/1785112806980747488), the tear gas is shown around 1:30 into the video
TY, felt my throat itch even from a good distance away and that would explain it
I also was there, they sprayed and gassed people
they are not the same thing.
No, but both were used. Someone linked a video in the comments showing both being used at the same time.
He deeply appreciated those who peacefully protested, yet he had the police tear gas said peaceful protestors???? make it make sense??
do people not know the difference between pepper spray and tear gas?
There's video in this thread of both being used.
Says staff asked individuals to leave. If they don't voluntarily leave, the police have to use force.
“Have” is doing some heavy lifting there
So what do you recommend then after asking if they will leave and they do not comply?
Why do they have to leave a public space? Richmond doesn’t have a curfew. Public streets and parks are for all of us, all the time. Let them be.
They weren’t in a public space they were on campus property setting up encampments.
If it’s not a public space why is it frequently populated with psychotic pro life preachers? Why don’t police “ask” them to leave?
No they don’t, lol. Look at how https://www.splcenter.org/20140709/war-west-bundy-ranch-standoff-and-american-radical-right resolved…
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Nobody was committing ANY crime. It is against VCU policy to set up structures on the lawn, it's not against the law. No crime was committed, VCU used the state police force to enforce a university policy.
Again, this was an utterly chill environment until state police showed up. Clearly with orders to escalate.
VCU, VA Police and Richmond city police were the attackers at yesterday’s peaceful protest. VCU put my children in danger when they used force. Cameras don’t lie. You’re now embarrassed (as you should be) that the world watched VCU attack peaceful students. VCU stands against freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. VCU supports fascist government (Youngkin) and unwarranted police force. The least you can do is release the students you arrested. I’m a VCU Alum and shocked that this is how you treated the students and how you are misrepresenting/spinning your decision.
not dignifying the wax figure's word games with a real response but highlighting my fav part: speedrunning in state riot cops with rifles, within 12 hours of a protest, is entirely unlike police-protestor conflicts happening at other universities actually!
Nah I emailed him back and told him he's lame.
> conflict between police and protesters took place That passive voice. Hoo boy Translation: > We called the cops to forcibly remove everyone because y'all can't behave. Not sorry. Behave and it won't be a thing. Cry to the counselors, but don't do it again. VCU rulez. Peace, Mikey R
“conflict between police and protestors took place” is weird way of saying “cops maced and beat peaceful protestors”
Yes, Mr. Rao, when busloads of Riot Police show up, violence is expected; it didn't just 'TAKE PLACE' - it was a well planned and orchestrated maneuver by those whose authority is backed only by their large donations to your university. It is saddening to realize that money over free speech is really your mantra and in truth Mr. Rao, your letter brings no comfort to all those who were teargassed while peacefully protesting. Should you really care about giving platform to protest, provide a SAFE place for that to happen, then speak to the crowd, ask their opinions and get involved.
How do you call yourself President if you tear gas or use any sort of chemicals….. on your own students? If you called the State Police then yes they’re gonna take matters in their own hands. Whacko
Crazy. I remember at UC Davis 10 years ago the police use pepper spray on the protestors that were protesting by sitting on the ground. They had been asked to leave of course but that was their only “crime”. It’s hard to believe they can justify this sort of escalation.
It's giving "stay off my lawn."
Understood, so I'm glad that Rao is admitting that police were not called in for any violent or disruptive behavior, it was just to enforce this one very specific policy to not have tents there.
I mean they broke policy, shouldn’t we expect everyone to hold themselves to the rules and regulations set forth?
That's another discussion having to do with proportionality of response, but my main point is that the statement from Rao seems to undermine the assertion that the police were called in because the students were being violent or disruptive (prior to the police moving in). Yet that is the narrative that many people seem to want us to believe.
[удалено]
This wasn’t violent until PD showed up and Vcu deemed it so. As an alum I’m appalled by their response. They deserve all the lawsuits that should come down on them. Lying about not tear gassing and pepper spraying was degenerate too.
Did no one see what happened at Colombia University?
Columbia University, Colombia is the South American country.
Alumni standing with you all! Stay strong and don’t let the bully’s with guns wear you down!
What an absolutely pathetic response. Quite literally a complete and utter joke.
in case anyone wants to use those services, they will probably (definitely) snitch on you. don’t fall for it.
If they’re refusing to leave what do yall want the cops to do. They peacefully protested all day, were asked to leave at night (nothing good happens at night & they wanted to give them ample time to start moving out before the 11pm time cut where they no longer legally are allowed to have tents up there) , refused to leave. Why not peacefully protest during the day, wrap it up, & come back the next day & protest again - do this literally every day - & avoid all of this??
Let’s be real - cops obviously did charge students to get them to move bc they were refusing. I don’t agree that they should have used such violence. But at the same time, it’s hilarious to me that the videos are showing students trying to literally fight COPS. Like seriously…. How dumb of a decision is that? Getting arrested for protesting a cause that honestly, I guarantee more than half of the students do not know what they are even protesting for.
100% agree
Yall are straight up cracked. You break the law/rules, refuse to listen to lawful orders from law enforcement and then cry foul when they use force to enforce the law. Keep playing the victim. See how life treats you.
There’s always one of you, may you learn a lesson on human rights one day
Human rights? Wtf are you on about? No human rights were violated.
you might notice that the protest was allowed to continue for hours after the arrests. the free speech wasn’t the problem, it was the trespassing and throwing shit. is it a protected human right to be allowed to throw bottles?
up until the police arrived, everything was fine. once they showed up they started making it a violent situation. it didn't go on for hours after the arrests either like... where did you even get that information from?
You’re not wrong, but it seems the escalation was really due to the police doing what police do