The historic gun rights rally that took place on Monday at the Virginia Capitol was a resounding success, with tens of thousands of liberty-loving Americans gathering to peacefully demonstrate their rights.
The promulgated narrative that the event would be a violent, hate gathering was completely shattered. Journalist Ford Fischer of News2Share attended the event and his news page explained how the hype from the mainstream media regarding the nature of the rally was completely false:
“A planned ‘Militia March on Richmond’ event coincided with Lobby Day, the Virginia Citizen’s Defense League’s (VCDL) annual petition to state government to maintain their second amendment rights without restriction.
Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency ahead of the event, citing his fear of a repeat of the deadly 2017 rally in Charlottesville. Despite anxiety over the event turning violent, no violence or arrests reportedly occurred during the event.
“This is the safest place in the world right now,” Shane, a gun owner in attendance, said.
Chain-link fencing and security checkpoints separated Lobby Day rally goers depending on if they entered capitol grounds or not. Those entering the capitol grounds were made to comply with a ban on various items and weapons including guns, torches and nun-chucks to enter the enclosed grounds.
Starting before sunrise, hundreds stood in line to enter the grounds, unarmed, to voice their concerns over proposed legislation.
Sheriff S. H. Jenkins said that sheriffs and commonwealth attorneys need to stand up to gun laws.
“There is a line that we will not allow to be crossed when it comes to the Second Amendment,” he said.
For demonstrators not on capitol grounds, less restrictions applied. Hundreds openly carried long guns, the most common being variants of the AR-15, which proposed legislation would ban.
Numerous militias, armed and often in full gear, made a presence in the overflowing streets surrounding the Statehouse.
Lightfoot Militia, a civilian paramilitary organization present at the Charlottesville riots, was in attendance. The group marched through the streets with full color guard representing the militias multiple nationwide chapters, dispersing after presenting arms on north tenth street and singing ‘God Bless the U.S.A.,’ by Lee Greenwood.
Chants of “USA USA USA,” “Don’t Tread on Me” and “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” could be heard billowing from demonstrators at any given moment.”
Protesters were very creative with the signs they brought to the rally, some of which have gone viral in the aftermath of the demonstration.
Here are the top ten best pro-liberty signs held up by the 2nd Amendment supporters who attended:
