Capitol Police address controversial response to Saturday’s ultrasound protest
Saturday’s protest featured the presence of both Capitol Police and Virginia State Police. Many people are criticizing both police forces for what they see as an overuse of police manpower and tactics, despite 30 arrests that were made. Captain Goodloe of the Capitol Police addresses these concerns and defends how the police responded
According to Capitol Police, approximately 1,000 people assembled outside the Capitol Building last Saturday to protest the General Assembly’s recent passage of a bill that would require a medically unnecessary ultrasound for women seeking an abortion. The arrest of 30 protestors and the presence of the Tactical Field Force of the Virginia State Police made many question the tactics and methods of the two police forces.
“We always plan for the worst-case scenario,” said Capt. Raymond Goodloe, in an phone interview with RVANews. “Our actions are indicated by what [protestors] do.”
Capt. Goodloe said that organizers of the protest had obtained two permits to assemble at Bell Tower, an often-used protest location near the state’s legislative and executive center at Capitol Square. The times were for 11am – 12pm, and for 2pm – 3pm. Between 1pm – 1:30 pm, protestors assembled outside the Capitol building, an act that is not permitted—only state-sponsored events are allowed at Capitol Square sites beyond the Bell Tower.
Capitol Police informed the crowd that their presence on the Capitol steps was illegal. Capt. Goodloe said that officers gave the protestors thirty minutes to leave. “It was an escalation based on [the protestors],” said Capt. Goodloe. “We were trying to help [the protestors] stay legal.” He said, however, individuals deliberately remained on the Capitol steps after being told their assemblage was illegal and that they would be arrested should they remain. He said that the protestors “knew the rules and intentionally violated them.”
Rumors swirled in the aftermath of arrests that Gov. McDonnell personally asked for the Virginia State Police to intervene. Capt. Goodloe said those claims are not accurate. He said that during events similar to last Saturday’s protest, Virginia State Police are kept “offsite, but close by” in the case that Capitol Police require their assistance.
When it looked as though arrests were going to be made, the Virginia State Police’s Tactical Field Force (which carry and use equipment similar to the popular notion of “riot gear”) assisted Capitol Police officers when the crowd proved unresponsive. “The police are always outnumbered,” said Capt. Goodloe, who said that Capitol Police used the Tactical Field Force of the State Police to insure the safety of officers and protestors should violence have occurred. “It was a tense time,” he said, and that in “just a second” a passionate protest can turn into a riot, which he said warranted the assistance of the Virginia State Police. Capt. Goodloe said that it was the first time in 27 years that Capitol Police used the Tactical Field Force.
The thirty protestors that were arrested were charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly, each a Class 1 misdemeanor. Capt. Goodloe maintained that several of the arrestees behaved in a manner that indicated they wanted to be taken into custody, but that there was “no violence from the protestors.” Neither police nor protestors were injured during the event.
Wayne Powell, who plans to oppose Eric Cantor for the 7th U.S. Congressional seat, said he would provide pro bono legal services to those arrested.
Another protest is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) beginning at 10:30am at 1500 E. Main Street.
photos courtesy of Patience Salgado
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Nathan Cushing
Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
“The times were for 11am – 12pm, and for 2pm – 3pm. Between 1pm – 1:30 pm, protestors assembled outside the Capitol building, an act that is not permitted […] Capt. Goodloe said that officers gave the protestors thirty minutes to leave.”
If they were given 30 minutes to leave at, say, 1:30 (I don’t know what time the time-limit was given, so asking for the sake of asking), wouldn’t they then be *allowed* to be there the minute that time was up?
@Hayley – The protestors were assembled at the Capitol building, particularly on the steps of the building, where they were not allowed to be (and for which no permit is given). There permit was only for Bell Tower. Officers gave the protestors 30 minutes to leave the Capitol and move to Bell Tower, or disperse in general
@Nathan
Ahhh, that makes more sense. Note to self: read stuff clearly.
“Rumors swirled in the aftermath of arrests that Gov. McDonnell personally asked for the Virginia State Police to intervene. Capt. Goodloe said those claims are not accurate.”
Those are clearly carefully chosen words, undoubtedly filtered down from above the captain’s status. Saying those claims are “not accurate” is *not* a denial that there was influence by the Gov. There are other ways to pressure the VSP in that situation without definitively “intervening”.
What of the police deployed in olive drab with assault rifles, and their armored vehicle?
@Steve – those officers were members of the Tactical Field Force. Capt. Goodloe said while their “function” differs from those wearing the protective helmet and shield, they are nonetheless members of the TFF.
First time those Tactical Field Force officers were dispatched in TWENTY SEVEN years!? And it was to arrest middle-aged women, kids, grandparents, etc. demonstrating for women’s rights. That is very disappointing. If those 30 people had sat on the Capitol steps on a Saturday afternoon, and police left (and the rest of the rally moved to the Bell Tower), what harm would have been done? They said themselves that the protesters were not being violent, but they were there to prepare for that “worst case scenario” which was NOT PLAYING OUT. Soooo, no need for the force. Any trained law enforcement officer could see that walking away would have diffused the situation. Also, the arrested were then held, zip cuffed with hands behind their backs, for 5-9 hours on misdemeanor charges!? Come on. It doesn’t take that long to process them.
Why is it that people on the left never seem to think the law applies to them? They encourage their supporters to be vulgar, in your face and rude. However, these same people fall all over themselves in horror that Rush Limbaugh made fun of a woman who is clearly a fake and is whining that taxpayers should pay for her birth control because, as a law student, it’s too much of a burden on her. Hypocrites. Glad they were arrested. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Sally, I’m confused, how is she a fake woman? Is she a man dressed up as a woman? Does she have fake reproductive organs? Is she a robot or maybe an ungendered alien?
In any case, I presume you’re a fine American and hold the values put forth in the US Constitution near and dear to your heart. If you’ll pull out your pocket Bill of Rights, I think you’ll find this to be the very first amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
While you clearly have an opinion about birth control, I certainly hope you don’t get arrested for peacefully voicing that opinion without the appropriate permit on the steps of your own state capitol.
It’s not about “being rude” or thinking that laws do not apply, it’s about refuting corrupt, incorrect laws through civil disobedience. No one is encouraged to be rude or vulgar, unless they are being encouraged by people that are only concerned with a passionate spectacle as opposed to the real liberties at stake. Our country was founded on people peacefully disobeying laws in order to change them, if laws had not been disobeyed in the 50’s and 60’s changes, such as desegregation, would have been slow coming (if at all). This is not a gang of criminals who wish to cause havoc for personal gain, this is a community of people from all walks of life that have come together to civilly fight tyranny.
Sally . You don’t get it. That is our state capital. . And it seems to me that these kind of arrests are just like in 1939 Germany. Fascist. But from your statement. I guess your kind of into that? Huh Sal ?