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A30 world news
Diamars 17 November 2020
Case dismissed against lawmaker accused of damaging monument

felony and injury to a monu-
ment in excess of $1,000. The Portsmouth is a majority
charges stemmed from a pro- Black city of nearly 100,000
test in June that drew hun- people. The damage to the
dreds of people to the city’s memorial and the protester’s
Confederate monument. injuries prompted blame
Heads were ripped off some against protesters and police
of the monument’s statues alike. Lucas had called for the
while one was pulled down, resignation of Portsmouth’s
critically injuring a demon- police chief, Angela Greene,
strator. who is also Black.

The police department had The dismissed case is only
(AP) — A judge in Vir- filed the charges without the latest fallout stemming
ginia dismissed charges the monument June 10 and William & Mary law professor
on Monday that were filed the cooperation of the city’s from the June protest. Short- told police they could not ar- Timothy Zick told The As-
prosecutor. And Lucas’s allies ly before the judge’s decision
against a prominent Black Monday, Portsmouth’s po- rest anyone who put paint on sociated Press in August that
state senator after police viewed the case as shameless- the memorial. he questioned the strength
ly political. The Democrat lice chief said she had been
said that she and others fired and planned to sue for of the case. He pointed to
conspired to damage a is the state Senate’s Presi- Police said the 76-year-old two phrases in the probable
dent Pro Tempore. She was wrongful termination.
Confederate monument approached officers with a cause: “Go ahead” as well as
in the city of Portsmouth. charged in a warrant the day warning: “(T)hey are going “I’m not telling them to do
before state lawmakers met “I believe I was wrongfully to put some paint on this anything, I’m telling you, you
to work on various police re- terminated for upholding the thing, and y’all can’t arrest can’t arrest them.”
The Virginian-Pilot reports forms, including ones Lucas law,” Greene said Monday at
the charges against state Sen. a news conference. them.” Speech that calls for an un-
Louise Lucas were dismissed championed. “(T)hey gonna do it, and you lawful action is protected un-
at the request of the city’s top Greene had said in August can’t stop them … they got a less it is “directed to inciting
prosecutor, who said the el- Legal observers also ques- right, go ahead!,” police claim an imminent violation and
ements of the charges were tioned the strength of the that “several individuals con- Lucas said. Police “informed that violation is likely to oc-
not properly met. case because it was based on spired and organized to de- Senator Lucas that she could cur,” Zick said.
Lucas’s words, not her ac- stroy the monument as well not tell people they can do
tions. The senator’s attorney, as summon hundreds of peo- that,” the filing said. “Lucas “If those are the facts, then
Portsmouth’s police depart-
ment charged Lucas and Don Scott, had said she left ple to join in felonious acts.” replied, ‘I’m not telling them the senator’s speech would
several others in August the scene hours before the Charging documents filed by to do anything, I’m telling likely be protected,” Zick
with conspiracy to commit a statue was torn down. police said Lucas arrived at you, you can’t arrest them.’” wrote in an email in August.

Retirees protest Belarus leader on 100th day since vote

elicited international outrage.
The European Union has
imposed sanctions on Lu-
kashenko and several dozen
officials over their role in it
earlier this year and again
condemned it following Ban-
darenka’s death.

Steffen Seibert, spokesman
for German Chancellor An-
gela Merkel, accused Belaru-
sian authorities of “brutal po-
(AP) — Crowds of retir- banners the retirees carried. lice violence.”
ees marched Monday in “This must end,” he said.
the Belarusian capital of Such protests have roiled “The German government
Minsk, marking 100 days Belarus ever since the Aug. after reportedly being beaten won’t forget how people
since mass protests began 9 election handed Lukash- Authorities have cracked by security forces. there are mistreated almost
and became an almost- enko a crushing victory over down hard on the largely “Why was (Raman) killed?” daily on the streets, and we
daily feature of life in the his widely popular opponent peaceful demonstrations, the they chanted, demanding a will also not forget those who
country after authoritar- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. largest of which attracted criminal investigation into are kidnapped daily and ex-
ian President Alexander She and her supporters re- up to 200,000 people. Police his death. posed to even worse abuse
Lukashenko won his sixth fused to recognize the result, used stun grenades, tear gas Police didn’t interfere with behind prison walls.”
term in a widely disputed saying the vote was riddled and truncheons to disperse the march but harshly dis- Tsikhanouskaya, who is in ex-
election. with fraud. the rallies and detained thou- persed a demonstration in ile in Lithuania after fleeing
sands, beating many of them Bandarenka’s memory on Belarus for her safety, called
More than 2,000 pensioners Both sides seem to be locked brutally. Sunday, using stun grenades, on the West to “act faster.”
were estimated to have taken into a continuing cycle of tear gas and clubs and beating
part in the rally, demanding protest and crackdowns, According to human rights up protesters in shops and “Belarusians need help right
the resignation of Lukashen- with the opposition turn- advocates, over 19,000 people restaurants where they were now,” she tweeted Monday.
ko and a halt to the govern- ing out thousands in regular have been detained since the hiding from the crackdown. “Expand the sanction list
ment’s violent crackdown on marches while the govern- election. At least four people (and) impose economic re-
dissent. They carried flowers ment uses arrests and other are reported to have died as The Interior Ministry said strictions. Help those re-
and red and white flags that intimidation tactics to quash the result of the crackdown. over 700 people were de- pressed (and) injured. Sup-
have become a symbol of any threats to Lukashenko’s tained Sunday across the port media (and) human
protest. 26-year hold on power. A na- Retirees at Monday’s march country, while the Viasna hu- rights defenders. Stop in-
tionwide strike called by the in Minsk carried portraits man rights center put the fig- vesting in banks (and) state-
“Lukashenko, you and my opposition did not catch on, of Raman Bandarenka, a ure at 1,291. owned companies. Start in-
children will remember this although students boycotted 31-year-old opposition sup- ternational investigation and
disgrace,” said one of the classes for a few days. porter who died last week The continued clampdown tribunal,” she wrote.