A police chief in Portsmouth, Virginia, is facing calls for her resignation after a state senator was charged for her alleged role in dismantling a Confederate statue.
Community leaders have asked the Portsmouth city manager to demand a resignation from Police Chief Angela Greene because they disapprove of the police department's decision to charge Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas and 13 others. Lucas was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000.
"We are calling on the city manager Dr. Lydia Patton to request the immediate resignation of Chief Angela Greene," said Dr. Rev. Milton Blount, adding, "[Commonwealth attorney Stephanie Morales should] do all she can do to use her influence to throw all of these arrests out so it does not see the light of day in any court room."
Lucas and 13 others are accused of dismantling a Confederate statue during a protest on June 10. While the statue was being dismantled, a piece struck a man below and left him with serious injuries. In addition to Lucas, three NAACP representatives, members of the public defender’s office, and a member of the Portsmouth School Board were charged in the incident.
The charges were called into question by many, including Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam.
"It's deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges," Northam tweeted. "@SenLouiseLucas, I look forward to seeing you in Richmond tomorrow—so we can get to work."
Patton, the city manager, has also criticized Greene and noted that she was not notified that the charges were going to be filed. Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, Lucas's daughter, urged Patton to demand Greene's resignation and vowed that the next city manager will if Patton fails to do so.
"Day one of the new city manager if we don’t fire Angela Greene by then that’s the first order of business that I want the city manager to take care of," Lucas-Burke said.
