Second amendment patriots rallied in Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 20, 2020 to lobby state legislators against new gun control measures proposed by the majority Democrat legislature. Police estimated that about 22,000 people filled the Capitol grounds and streets surrounding the Capitol. Earlier in the week, legislators had banned guns in the Capitol building, and Gov. Ralph Northam had declared a state of emergency and banned guns from the Capitol grounds. By rally day, the Capitol grounds had been fenced off and anyone wanting entry to the grounds had to disarm and pass through a security checkpoint. Gun rights supporters on the streets surrounding the Capitol remained armed, but were bottled up into streets that were blocked off by police. Crowds filled the streets by 8 a.m. By 11 a.m., an estimated 6,000 patriots had cleared security and filled the Capitol grounds where they cheered the speakers presented by the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Despite Gov. Northam's claim that extremist groups were planning to storm the Capitol, the rally was entirely peaceful. The rally ended by noon after various speakers condemned the Democrat legislature and vowed never to give up their guns.
Gear Photos were made with a Nikon D750 paired with either a Zeiss Milvus 35 mm f/2, a Nikon 50 mm f/1.8, or a Nikon 70-300 f/4.5 -5.6.
