A permit for a proposed rally at a Confederate monument in Richmond has been withdrawn.
On Tuesday, Jim Nolan, spokesperson for Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s office said they believed rally organizer, Bragdon Bowling, had withdrawn a permit for the proposed Sept. 16 rally.
Concerning Bowling’s move to withdraw the permit, Nolan said Mayor Stoney “believes Mr. Bowling made a sensible decision.” Bowling did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
According to Dena Potter, communication director for Virginia’s Department of General Services, the permit was submitted on behalf of Americans for Richmond Monument Preservation. She confirmed Tuesday that the organization had withdrawn its request for a permit to host an event at Lee Monument.
The rally had been described online as “a huge showing of patriotic Southerners to make a statement to Mayor Stoney, the commission, and the entire city of Richmond.”
Slated for Sept. 16, the monument rally would have come just weeks after violence erupted in Charlottesville after thousands of protesters rallied in the city during a “Unite the Right” event, resulting in one death and 19 injuries.
“I want to make it clear that there is no place for hate in our city and we will not tolerate violence in our community,” Stoney wrote in a Facebook post regarding the proposed rally. “We will keep our residents safe.”
Amy Poulter contributed reporting. WYDaily archives were used in this article.
This article was published in partnership with WYDaily’s sister publication, Southside Daily.
