a day ago
Man 'drives SUV' into peaceful 'No Kings' protesters outside Virginia Walmart
A man was arrested Saturday for reckless driving and is accused of intentionally driving into a group of people leaving a protest today, according to Virginia police.
A group named Culpeper Democrats on Facebook said the ramming occurred in front of a Walmart on the James Madison Highway at their No Kings rally. Culpeper police described it as a "lawful protest event,"
according to NBC Washington
.
At least one person was hit but no other other injuries had been reported, police said. The man, 21-year-old Joseph Checklick Jr. is being held without bound at Culpeper County Jail.
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The Culpeper Democrats group thanked police for their swift action in arresting the driver.
"Based on the preliminary investigation, it was determined that Checklick Jr. intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd, striking at least one person with his vehicle," Culpeper police said.
The Culpeper Democrats group, who helped organize the protest, thanked the police department for its "quick response and for keeping our protest safe" in
their Facebook post
.
The Culpeper Police Department described their investigation as active and ongoing, and urged witnesses to come forward.
The No Kings protest in Culpeper represented part of a nationwide series of protests Saturday against the escalating force used by immigration agents and law enforcement in the arrest and deportation of immigrants and others. Large protests took place in dozens of cities around the US, including in
Los Angeles
, the focal point of protest activity in the last two weeks and the host to National Guard and Marines troops.
The No Kings protests occurred at the same time as Trump's military parade kicked off in Washington, D.C., where tanks and thousands of armed forces gathered in procession to celebrate Trump's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US army.
