RICHMOND, Va. – Peaceful protests wrapped up in Richmond Monday after a much smaller scale Lobby Day, despite a potential threat for violence at state capitols across the country. “Anytime we see First Amendment rights being stepped on, we’ll use our Second Amendment rights,” one gun rights protester told 10 News. Dozens of gun rights advocates decided a pandemic wasn’t going to stop them from making their voices heard, including a travel nurse 10 News spoke with who wasn’t wearing a mask. And that you have a right to protect it,” said Philip Van Cleave, who leads the Virginia Citizens Defense League. “I’m here exercising my First Amendment right which is also under attack so that we can defend our second,” Baker said.

Security fencing surrounds the Capitol Square complex in Richmond, Va., on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, as authorities brace for possible demonstrations. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia state lawmakers will be meeting under heightened security Monday amid concerns about possible civil unrest in state capitals in the days leading up to President elect-Joe Biden’s inauguration. Monday is also expected to bring a large showing of gun-rights supporters to Richmond. It marks the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and what’s informally known as lobby day, where citizens traditionally meet with lawmakers. Gun-rights activists typically make a large, organized appearance each year, and this year planned a series of caravans that intend to drive through the city decked out in pro-gun messages.

Wisconsin's "Forward" statue lies in the street on Capitol Square in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Crowds outside the Wisconsin State Capitol tore down two statues and attacked a state senator amid protests following the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat. Tony Evers on Wednesday said he was prepared to activate the Wisconsin National Guard to protect state properties in the wake of the violence. Late Tuesday in Madison, Democratic state Sen. Tim Carpenter was assaulted after taking a cellphone video of protesters. Vos also questioned why Evers, a Democrat, had not intervened to stop the destruction that took place on state property.

Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, Virginias capital city, Richmond, has closed Capitol Square. The Department of General Services, in collaboration with the Capitol Police, will keep Capitol Square closed to the public until further notice. DGS first closed Capitol Square Saturday, following civil unrest on May 29 that resulted in damage to multiple surrounding buildings and structures. We have a responsibility as stewards of the historic Capitol Square grounds to protect them from depredations and injury, said Joe Damico, DGS Director. Until we can be assured that these buildings and grounds, as well as the people who visit or work among them, can be secure from outside threats, it is prudent to keep Capitol Square closed to the public.Typically, Capitol Square is closed from daily from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m.DGS and Capitol Police will monitor activity near Capitol Square to determine when it is appropriate to reopen to the public.

The decision was made to close the Capitol Square after the protests turned violent in downtown Richmond. A window was broken in the Barbara Johns Building, which houses the Office of the Attorney General, and the Virginia Capitol Visitors Entrance, Virginia Supreme Court Building and Washington Building were vandalized as crowds surrounded Capitol Square. Capitol Square generally is closed from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. daily. DGS and Capitol Police will monitor activity near Capitol Square to determine when it is appropriate to reopen to the public. Organizers of the Charlottesville protest ask everyone to practice physical distancing, six feet apart from each other.

RICHMOND, Va. – Honks, chants and signs could be seen and heard all around Capitol Square in Richmond on Wednesday during the ReOpen Virginia rally. Hundreds of protesters drove around the square, while others protested from the sidewalk, speaking out against the closures due to the coronavirus. Welsh said she’s not minimizing the virus, but everyone deserves to choose whether or not to stay open or stay home. The #ReOpenVA rally is happening right now in Richmond. "If people choose to stay at home, then they can stay at home.

More than 100 people traveled from Safeside Tactical in Roanoke and Lynchburg to Richmond for Lobby Day. Capitol Square & the surrounding area saw crowds of tens of thousands & only one arrest was made. 3:51 p.m. updatePolice said that a Richmond woman was arrested during Monday’s pro-gun rally in Richmond. Mikaela E. Beschler, 21, of Richmond, Virginia (Richmond Police Department)She was charged with one felony count of wearing a mask in public in the 800 block of East Broad Street. Inside Capitol Square, state troopers and Capitol Police are everywhere.

Copyright 2020 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. RICHMOND, Va. – Get a bird’s eye view of Richmond’s Capitol Square as thousands pack the area for Monday’s pro-gun rally. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1554.

1A/B/C (Southbound): from Broad St., buses turn right on 5th St., left on Cary St., right on 14th St. and resume regular routing. 1A/B/C (Northbound): from 14th St., buses turn left on Broad St., right on 11th St., left on Leigh St. and resume regular routing. 2A/B/C (Southbound): from Broad St., buses turn right on 5th St., left on Cary St., right on 8th St. and resume regular routing. 12 (Eastbound): from Marshall St., buses turn left on 7th St., right on Jackson St., right on 8th St., left on Leigh St. and serve Bay M on Leigh St. at the Temporary Transfer Plaza. 14 (Westbound): from Main St., buses turn left on 14th St., right on Canal St., right on 4th St. and resume regular routing.

Ralph Northam plans to declare a temporary emergency Wednesday banning all weapons, including guns, from Capitol Square ahead of a massive rally planned next week over gun rights. Northam’s planned announcement comes days after Democratic leaders used a special rules committee to ban guns inside the Capitol and a legislative office building. That ban did not include Capitol grounds, which are under the governor’s control and are where a huge number of gun-rights advocates are expected to rally Monday. One official said Northam decided to ban all guns from the grounds of Capitol Square after receiving reports for weeks about inflammatory online postings by out-of-state pro-gun and militia groups who are promising to attend Monday’s rally. Gun laws have become a dominant issue this legislative session and there’s been a heavy police at the Capitol.