'Agitators' mar peaceful protests in Fredericksburg, leading to arrests

[TexasTowelie]

A day that featured Fredericksburg police officers marching with Black Lives Matter protesters and city officials vowing to address concerns raised by mostly younger residents took a slight turn for the worse Tuesday evening.

City police spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick said a group of “agitators” put a damper on what had been a promising day by blocking city streets, throwing bottles at officers and refusing to obey the 8 p.m. curfew that has been imposed in the city. She said the agitators may not have been the same people who had protested peacefully during the day.

As of Tuesday night, several people had already been arrested or received summonses and police were still trying to get things under control.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Kirkpatrick said. “After a very peaceful protest of 400 people, agitators came in and brought violence to our city.”

Read more: https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/agitators-mar-peaceful-protests-in-fredericksburg-leading-to-arrests/article_9b5a89fb-2e2a-5ef1-a7cc-0b86034e8445.html

[elleng]

1. "We" are being undermined

by forces we may never uncover.

[stopdiggin]

2. This probably the new normal.

I think it needs to be dealt with by improved organization and messaging. Clear messages encouraging participants to set (and then follow) time limits and parameters (defined locations, march routes) .. and then get off the streets. Nobody needs to be preaching their message at late night hours .. and under the cover of darkness.