State senator charged with 'injury' to Virginia Confederate monument

[RandySF]

NORFOLK, Va. — A Virginia state senator has been charged with damaging a Confederate monument in Portsmouth during protests that also led to a demonstrator being critically injured when a statue was torn down, authorities said Monday.

Sen. Louise Lucas faces charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000, Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene said during a news conference. The protest occurred in June.

Lucas is a longtime Democratic legislator and a key power broker in the state Senate, joining the chamber in 1992. The charges were filed the same week Virginia lawmakers are taking up dozens of criminal justice reforms during a special legislative session.

The reaction from some of her fellow Democrats was swift.

“It’s deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges,” Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, tweeted on Monday evening.



https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/virginia-confederate-monument-397503

[gratuitous]

1. Chief Angela Greene looking for a gig at Fox?

Damaging a confederate monument should be rewarded, not a felony charge.

[TomSlick]

2. I am unclear what Senator Lucas is charged with doing.

The Politico story doesn't answer the question.

It seems unlikely that she was involved in any physical act against the "monument." I worry that she was charged with speech.

[world wide wally]

3. I would think a black woman would have every right to tear down a confederate statue

[msongs]

4. charge is designed to keep her from voting in the next week then will be dropped nt