RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Thousands of gun-rights activists from around the country rallied peacefully at the Virginia Capitol on Monday, protesting plans by the state’s Democratic leadership to pass gun-control legislation that have become a key flash point in the national debate over gun violence.
The size of the rally and the expected participation of white supremacists and fringe militia groups raised fears that the state could see a repeat of the violence that exploded in 2017 in Charlottesville. But the rally concluded uneventfully around noon, and the mood was largely festive as attendees — many carrying military-style rifles — spilled into the streets, chanting “USA!” and waving signs denouncing Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam.
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“I love this. This is like the Super Bowl for the Second Amendment right here,” said P.J. Hudson, a truck driver from Richmond who carried an AR-15 rifle just outside Capitol Square. He was one of the few African-American rally goers in the crowd that was overwhelmingly white and male, and frequently was stopped and asked to pose for pictures wearing his “Black Guns Matter” sweatshirt.
Authorities said that as of 1:40 p.m., there had been no reports of arrests or injuries.
The Richmond protesters came out in the thousands despite the frigid temperature to send a message to legislators, they said.
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