PROTEST

As we sit and wait to find out of former President Donald Trump will be arrested at some point over the next few days, pro-Trump and anti-Trump protestors have gathered around the country to let their voices be heard.

A peaceful protest is being planned in Downtown Roanoke in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The Lynchburg police department designated the 800 block for pro-choice supporters and the 900 block for pro-life supporters, with Monument Terrace separating the two sides with gates and law enforcement.

The Supreme Court on Friday stripped away the nation’s constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for nearly a half-century. The decision by the court’s conservative majority overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

Following several recent school shootings, protesters - especially young people - demand change.

Protests have erupted all over the country after Politico released a leaked initial draft majority opinion indicating the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn two abortion-related cases, which would end federal protection of abortion rights.

A woman with a placard reading 'no war' appeared behind a newsreader on Russian state-controlled TV.

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Tuesday morning.

As counting concludes, United Russia looks set to maintain its supermajority in the Duma. It’s had to pull every lever.

A community is taking a look back a year after the murder of George Floyd.

Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful and clergy members have staged another protest against the island nation’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, which they contend promotes Satan worship

Six officers were injured in the "violent disorder" at Old Trafford on Sunday, police say.

Joining the nationwide outcry for justice of police-involved killings against Black people, Roanoke advocates call for more action against racial targeting and police brutality.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – A group of demonstrators in the New River Valley took out their political frustration with a protest against Rep. Morgan Griffith. About 50 people protested in front of Griffith’s Christiansburg campaign office Friday morning. Protesters told 10 News they were upset about Griffith’s vote against certifying the Electoral College results of the presidential election. The protest was organized by Appalachian Women for Action. “Our hope is that he will read the comments and consider them,” said Ann Goette of Appalachian Women for Action.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Alleghany High School is experiencing a season without sports due to COVID-19 concerns, but a group of students walked out of class in an effort to get the games going again. More than twenty students, including many athletes, protested in front of the high school Friday morning. The protest comes three days after the school board discussed the future of the athletic season during their board meeting. It’s nearly impossible to play winter sports at this point.”Some parents such as Kim Anderson also showed up at the high school to support the students. “Sports and everything else is being cancelled and they don’t get to go to school every day,” said Anderson, who’s son attends elementary school in Alleghany County.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The images of chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday are more than 24 hours old, but still fresh in Virginia lawmakers’ minds. You have the right to petition your elected officials; but the violence is inexcusable,” said Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith, who represents Virginia’s 9th district. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine holds President Trump accountable for the violence. I was so pissed off that this is what it’s come to with [President Trump] and with this country at this moment in time,” said Kaine. But Griffith says even after the chaos, Congress had a duty to continue the ceremonial count.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reservedProtesters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – More than 100 people came together in a Campbell County park on Saturday in defiance of Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order on capacity limits. The rally was organized by the Campbell County Militia after Northam’s order limited gatherings in Virginia to twenty-five people or less. “These are edicts that have been handed down by decree from one man,” said Wes Gardner of the Campbell County Militia. We’ve got to live our lives as free people.”Campbell County Militia member Kurt Santini said he’s so upset with Northam’s tenure as governor that he will run for governor himself in 2021.

(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump hold signs and chant slogans during a protest outside the Philadelphia Convention Center. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump yell at a counter protester at the Maricopa County Elections Department office on Nov. 6, 2020 in Phoenix. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)

“It starts small,” Love said about the number of people who showed up at the protest outside the acclaimed restaurant in the heart of Chicago’s Michigan Avenue business district. Others voiced their support in private but were hesitant to attend the protest out of fear of losing their jobs, Love said. Another employee, who also called for the protest, did not attend because she says she thinks she is sick with the coronavirus. A third employee emailed a statement to the Tribune, detailing the last seven months of his employment and echoing many of the grievances raised by Love.

ROANOKE, Va. – Two separate rallies in Roanoke Sunday afternoon were motivated by the same goal: justice for Breonna Taylor. Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13. “It’s modern day lynching: death by police brutality," said Roanoke NAACP chapter president Brenda Hale. The NAACP’s event featured several prominent Roanoke politicians, including Del. No Justice No Peace’s demonstration was more expressive, while the NAACP’s event was more introspective.

RADFORD, Va. – Students at Radford University came together for a school-sanctioned social justice march, but they were not allowed to take their demonstration off-campus because of coronavirus concerns. However, the university restricted the rally to students only, in order to prevent any potential COVID-19 cases from spreading into the larger Radford community. Mosley believes students needed to voice their concerns about racism now, even with COVID-19 in the air. “We want to bring awareness to what we go through on a daily basis: systemic racism, police brutality, injustice," Mosley said. “Black and brown people are going to stand up and are going to have to stand up for what’s right," Mosley said.

ROANOKE – Hundreds of people in Roanoke’s Elmwood Park put a new spin on social justice marches Sunday afternoon. The Rolling for Reform demonstration featured skateboarders, roller skaters, cyclists, and everyone in between using their wheels for justice. The group rolled out from Elmwood Park and went through downtown Roanoke, including Market Street. “The cause that we’re standing together for, against systemic racism, is a cause where we need everybody on board,” Preston said. “We want to do things where we’re consistently bringing in people from different demographics and groups.”

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A group of protesters rallied Saturday afternoon where a teenager was shot and killed by Roanoke County police officers four years ago. 18-year-old Kionte Spencer died near the intersection of Electric Road and Brambleton Avenue in February 2016. “George Floyd, he brought more light to Kionte’s case, which is a good thing,” said Carl Spencer, Kionte’s older brother. A petition asking the Roanoke County Police Department to release the video collected nearly 20,000 signatures at the time of the vigil. “We’ll never know what happened until they release the raw, unedited video footage,” Carl Spencer said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. Lynchburg police have arrested 15 people in connection with the protests and riots on May 31 and June 1 in the city. Demetre Jamel Wade, 25, of Lynchburg, charged with assault on a police officer, for throwing a projectile into an occupied building, property damage and unlawful assembly. June 4Savon Lavay Ellis, 19, of Lynchburg, is charged with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, property damage related to riots at Fifth and Federal. Andrew Stegner, 18, of Bedford, is charged with unlawful assembly and throwing a projectile into an occupied building. June 9Tyler Dolsey, 25, of Lynchburg, is charged with felony property damage and throwing a projectile into an occupied building.

ROANOKE, Va. – A protest on May 30 at the Roanoke Police Department served as a catalyst for change in the wake of George Floyd’s death. More than two weeks after the original protest, demonstrators such as Tatiana Druant are still proclaiming the message “Black Lives Matter” outside of Roanoke’s police headquarters. “It feels like the only move to make,” said Druant, who is with the group No Justice No Peace Roanoke. The second goal is for the Roanoke Police Department to recognize Kionte Spencer, an 18-year-old killed by the Roanoke County Police Department in 2016. “We make sure they hear Kionte’s name so they know they also have the power to call for justice," Druant said."

So let’s take a look at all of the wild things that happened so far this year that you probably already forgot about, shall we? (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Jan. 3: Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by the U.S. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Feb. 5: After months of investigations, hearings and lots of tweets from Trump, the president was acquitted by the Senate on both articles of impeachment. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)And now we’re in June. It’s hard to believe that all of those things happened during a pandemic, so who knows what else is next?

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. Protests in the wake of George Floyds death have popped up all across Virginia. On Wednesday, the movement came to Christiansburg. The event started in Depot Park before the crowd marched down Franklin Street to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. Protest organizer Devin Lanier believes Christiansburgs crowd shows how impactful Floyds death by a police officer has become. We have to get in there and fight this battle as well if change is ever going to happen.

ROANOKE, Va. Roanokes Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial became the starting point for a social justice march in memory of George Floyd on Sunday. Approximately a hundred people gathered at Kings statue, many of whom held signs that said, Black Lives Matter. The group marched from the memorial directly to the Roanoke Police Department. Protesters have demonstrated against police brutality in front of the Roanoke Police Department daily for more than a week. Demonstration organizer Tatiana Druant said the march aims to encourage city leaders to budget less money for police and more money for education. We can all sweat and scream, but nothing is going to change unless we take direct control of our system, the system that is supposed to be here for us, Druant said.

ROANOKE, Va. – As protests continue across Virginia, the state’s department of health is concerned about the health of those out protesting. During these large protests, the coronavirus can spread more easily, especially if protesters are not wearing masks, according to VDH. Those who have attended protests may be at higher risk of contracting the virus. People can have COVID-19 and not show symptoms or have only mild symptoms and unknowingly spread the virus to others. The health department said it will continue to monitor and respond to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak while supporting Virginians’ right to engage in civic action.

Netflix‘13th’Directed by Ava DuVernay (she’ll come up again in this list), the documentary shows you how America changed after the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, but also kickstarted the prison boom in America. ‘Moonlight’This Oscar-winning picture tells the story of a young black gay man living in Miami. chronicles the Central Park Five, a group of young black teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. The documentary tells the story of the days of protests, unrest and riots that followed. It’s a great film that shows how two different groups of people can react to fatal police shootings.

Color of Change is the largest online racial injustice organization. It’s a great place to donate to help fight racial injustices. If there is any organization that has been fighting for social justice and change for years and years, it’s the ACLU. Not only does it fight for racial justice, it fights for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and so much more. This is pretty simple: The petition is asking for justice for George Floyd’s death.

ROANOKE, Va. – As peaceful protests continue in Roanoke, city and police officials are speaking out about George Floyd’s death and the reaction from citizens. Protestors hold signs outside the Roanoke City Police Department on Wednesday. (WSLS)City officials held a virtual news conference on Wednesday to say they are heartbroken by Floyd’s death and the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s death are inexcusable. They said they’ve worked hard to represent the city’s citizens to make sure that everyone has equal access to success. Roman did defend his officers’ use of pepper spray during protests on Saturday, saying there were threats of property damage and violence.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – As protests in Lynchburg continue for a fifth-straight day, police have closed a road to protect those protesting. Court Street is shut down as protesters are peacefully gathered there right now.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg police have arrested three more individuals in connection with protests that began Sunday night. Marshals Service took William Shanks, 29, of Lynchburg, into custody on the following charges in connection with Sunday night’s riot. Demetre Wade, 25, of Lynchburg, is charged with assault on a police officer, projecting a missile at an occupied dwelling, property damage, and unlawful assembly. (WSLS)Wade, 25, of Lynchburg, is charged with assault on a police officer, projecting a missile at an occupied dwelling, property damage and unlawful assembly. Mackton Saunders, 31, of Lynchburg (Blue Ridge Regional Jail)Saunders, 31, of Lynchburg, is charged with unlawful assembly related to Monday night’s protest after it was declared unlawful.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – Protesters gathered at the Sheetz on Wards Road in Campbell County on Tuesday night. Protests in Campbell County Protesters are in Campbell County, within walking distance of Lynchburg, which enacted a mandatory curfew tonight. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Tuesday, June 2, 2020Tuesday marked the first night that Lynchburg had a mandatory curfew and this Sheetz is walking distance from the Lynchburg/Campbell County border. They then moved down to a man’s house, who gave them permission to be there. The group then returned to the Sheetz and ended their protest.

RICHMOND, Va. – During what’s typically been a coronavirus update news conference, Gov. "I cannot know how it feels to be an African American person right now or what you are going through," Northam said. "I cannot know the depth of your pain. “The expectation is to protest peacefully. After we protest peacefully, then sit at a table where our voices can be heard and where people can dissect and process what we have to say.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Emotions ran high in downtown Lynchburg Tuesday at the local NAACP chapters demonstration. Perhaps the height of it all was when an officer stood alongside protesters. “It was 100% wrong and we just want to let the community know as an officer and the Lynchburg Police Department, we are here to support [them]," said an emotional Carson. The event was held at Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg. In an effort to better relations between the community and officers, Carson has organized a group that will speak with organizations or individuals one-on-one across the Hill City.

RICHMOND, Va. – During Gov. Ralph Northam’s news conference on Tuesday he was asked about a recent controversial tweet by Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.Falwell’s tweet was in regard to his disagreement with the state’s mask mandate, saying he would only wear a mask if it had the controversial blackface photo in Northam’s medical school yearbook. Just so folks outside Virginia unfamiliar with the pic on the mask understand: it is from the personal page of the medical school yearbook of @GovernorVA . Just a way to shine a spotlight on the fact that Democrats are and always have been the real racists in this country. Falwell’s tweet, which he has said he will not apologize for, has also launched other events.

ROANOKE, Va. – The public information officer for the Roanoke City Police Department says they received information that there could be potential civil unrest in the Valley View area. A spokesperson with CBL Properties said the decision to close the mall was made after they received information about the potential protests. According to the mall’s website, it will reopen Wednesday at 11 a.m.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Fifth and Federal owner Josh Read is apologizing for a tweet from his restaurant that launched a riot in Lynchburg Sunday night into Monday morning. — Fifth & Federal (@Fifthandfederal) May 27, 2020“I’m at a loss, shocked. We love our community that we’re in and that’s why we came here,” said Fifth and Federal owner Josh Read. Peaceful protests, that’s what they were. I’m not sure why, but it just really, really spiraled out of control.”

Here's a look at protests happening right now in Denver, Colorado. [Feed has no audio]

LYNCHBURG, Va. – What was originally announced as a voluntary curfew has now been given teeth, but not until tomorrow. Starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Lynchburg police have the authority to enforce a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The curfew was announced Monday afternoon, and although the curfew is in effect Monday night, police will not be enforcing it. Beginning Tuesday night, curfew violations will be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The curfew goes into effect at 8 p.m. and lasts until 6 a.m. and people are being asked to remain home during that time.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Lynchburg city leaders will be speaking on Monday afternoon. At 1 p.m., Mayor Treney Tweedy, as well as other city officials and invited speakers, will hold a press conference to discuss the protests outside Fifth and Federal, as well as recent national events. Several officers are hurt and two people were arrested after peaceful protests turned violent Sunday night into Monday morning in Lynchburg.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Several officers are hurt and two people were arrested after peaceful protests turned violent Sunday night into Monday morning in Lynchburg. — Fifth & Federal (@Fifthandfederal) May 27, 2020The business has since issued a statement apologizing to anyone who thought they were supporting racism. Below is a transcription of the scanner audio embedded above:5:43: “I think we have shots fired. Shayne Dwyer WSLS 10 News is in Lynchburg as police are engaging with demonstrators who have turned violent. When those protests turn violent and threaten the safety of our community, we must take action, as we did tonight.

WASHINGTON – Protests could be seen happening just a few blocks away from the White House. Washington, D.C. protests In Washington, D.C. protests are happening just blocks away from the White House. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Sunday, May 31, 2020

ROANOKE, Va. – On Saturday, two different groups protested in Roanoke. The store had an emergency early shutdown around that same time and there was damage done to a window there. From there, protesters drove to Burlington on Hershberger Road and then went to the Sheetz across from the Berglund Center. While there, protesters chanted, “hands up don’t shoot”Private security tried to keep peace and protesters left there at about 10 p.m. The protest ended when someone hurled a firework at officers and the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly.

1:07 A.M. UPDATEPolice have just given protesters three minutes to leave after someone threw some type of firework at officers. 10:45 P.M. UPDATEProtesters started at the Roanoke City Police Station and are now making their way through downtown. Virginia State Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office and the Roanoke City Police Department are working together on crowd control. 8:45 P.M. UPDATEThere is a small group of people protesting across from the Roanoke City Jail. According to our crew at the scene, there are hundreds of officers responding to another large protest at the Valley View Walmart.

ROANOKE, Va. – All that could be heard Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Fifth Street and Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke was the sound of cars going by. “We just plan on bringing some signs...and maybe sing a couple of songs," said Gloria Henry, who’s organizing a protest at the intersection in honor of Linda Pierson. Gallimore pleaded guilty Monday to felony hit and run and had a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license dropped. “I think things don’t get done unless people gather together and make their voices heard," said Roanoke RIDE Solutions Director Jeremy Holmes. Friday’s protest is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

RICHMOND, Va. – Cars caused gridlock in Richmond as they looked to send a message to Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday. The drive-in protest in downtown Richmond has the goal to Reopen Virginia. Reopen Virginia drive-in rally in Richmond Cars are causing gridlock in Richmond as they look to send a message to Gov. Ralph Northam, Reopen Virginia.

Ralph Northam believes the commonwealth is not ready to reopen but thousands of people argue otherwise. Last week, a few dozen people showed up to the state capital in a more traditional protest, calling on Northam to reopen Virginia. Organizers for Wednesday’s rally told 10 News they’re expecting hundreds of cars and potentially thousands of participants to circle capital square. Reopen Virginia participants call the governor's stay-at-home order until June 10 unreasonable and said it's time to start talking about how to reopen. We need to be working to reopen this economy sooner rather than later,” Britt said.