Prince William County Schools (PWCS) students should expect to go back to the classroom bright and early in August, as in a recent press release it was signaled that schools will be reopening on time for in-person learning.

School buildings across the state have been shuttered since mid-March when Gov. Ralph Northam ordered schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The move forced school divisions to shift their educational efforts solely online.

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Protestors walked from Liberia Avenue in Manassas to Woodbridge on Saturday under the hot summer sun to protest the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, who died during an arrest attempt by a former police officer now charged in his death.

These photos were shot at about 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2020.

The school year is nearly over, and Prince William County Schools (PWCS) Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts is calling for some major changes.

In a June 5 email to all PWCS staff, parents, students, Dr. Walts laid out his 'action plan to combat racism,' calling on the email recipients to actively pursue diversity and equity for the school division's more than 91,500 students and to be vigilant in promoting antiracism.

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While the world may seem chaotic during coronavirus pandemic, there is a little bit of good news when it comes to animals that need our help.

The Prince William County Animal Shelter’s adoption rate is up 70%, a 28% increase from last year, according to Jeremy Beale, a spokesman for the Prince William County Animal Control Bureau. There is no way to tell why adoptions have increased, but the new coronavirus may have something to do with it.

“People adopt animals from the shelter for a number of reasons. While there is no way of knowing for certain if COVID-19 has attributed to an increased rate of adoption, a connection can be made.” said Beale.

Currently, the shelter only has 20 animals up for adoption, with an average of 14-17 being adopted per week.

In addition to adoption rates being up, animal intake (stray animals coming into the shelter/people surrendering animals) rates are down by 38%. This has to do with both people being able to stay home and care for their animals more, and the fact that the shelter has put a hold on taking in healthy stray cats to reduce the chance of overpopulation, according to Beale.

While it is possible many of the adopted animals could be brought back once people return to work, the shelter is not concerned. According to Beale, the shelter is ‘always prepared for the circumstance where the animals come back’ and has been posting training videos for dogs/cats on their Facebook page to aid owners in being able to handle their pets better. The shelter has also set up a pet food pantry to aid people in feeding their pets. 

“It is very hard to determine if animals will be returned to the shelter later on, but we firmly believe that anyone who does adopt an animal is equipped to handle them,” said Beale. 

For those interested in adopting from the shelter, there are new health procedures in place. In April, the shelter set into effect precautionary measures due to the new coronavirus and is now only allowing visitors in at 30-minute intervals with an appointment. Visitors who are interested in dogs, however, do not enter the building whatsoever. The dogs are brought outside to meet them, and then, if the visitor is interested, the adoption process takes place. All visitors are asked to wear face masks or coverings.

Visitors are also asked to identify a specific pet they are interested in before visiting the shelter. This can be done on the shelter’s PetFinder, a website that shows all of the animals currently available for adoption and gives a general description of them.

The pet shelter can be contacted at (703)-792-6465 or animalshelter@pwcgov.org.

“The one thing that I think has been really amazing during this time is the community that supports the shelter has come out and supported us in every way possible We are seeing so many people from our community engage with the shelter in ways that are helping us getting so many more animals adopted out sooner,” said Beale. 

The Prince William County Police Department aims to diversify its ranks.

The department, in conjunction with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), is requesting input from the community on how to improve diversity in recruiting and hiring. The current demographics of the department are as follows: 76% White, 8% African-American, 11% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 2% other.

“In recent decades, the population of Prince William County has become increasingly diverse. The last U.S. Census indicated that Prince William County is a “minority-majority” community, meaning that less than half of the population is reported as non-Hispanic and of one rate (Caucasian). The Police Department recognizes the changing nature of the community and is continually seeking ways to be more reflective of the community it serves and to maintain the public trust,” said Prince William police spokesman 1st Sgt. Johnathan Perok

This initiative dates back to 2018, when the department requested and later received local grant funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to ‘review and improve its recruitment plan and hiring strategies, in conjunction with a consultant,’ said Perok.

The department later contracted with PERF, an independent research organization that focuses on critical issues in policing, to ‘review processes and recommend strategies for improving diversity in recruiting and hiring police officers,’ according to a statement the department posted on Facebook.

“Over the years, the Police Department has incorporated a variety of different efforts in an attempt to increase the diversity in its ranks, including participation in minority recruiting events, advertising in minority publications, and maintaining ties to community groups and leaders, etc. The department employs many standard recruiting efforts and recognizes there is always room for improvement. That is why it is looking to PERF to recommend strategies and methods that may not have already been utilized,” said Perok.

PERF is currently performing a year-long study, which began in January. The organization expressed interest in receiving information from officers, applicants, community members, leading to the current request for input. Community members interested in giving feedback on how to increase diversity within the police department can email PWCPDstudy@policeforum.org.

“While PERF is unable to respond directly to every message, each will be considered to be included in their review,” stated a post on the department’s Facebook account.

It’s not the best time to be traveling around Manassas.

Sudley Road in the area of Sudley Manor Drive was closed about 8:45 p.m. ‘out of an abundance of caution’ due to nearby protests, according to a Facebook post from the Prince William County Police Department. Additional road closures can be expected, as the protestors are moving toward I-66.

“Crowd remains in the area of Sudley Rd. Police are assisting for safety. Use caution and follow police direction,” stated a a Facebook post from the Prince William County Police Department.

Just before 1o o’clock, police announced a the group was marching toward Interstate 66.

*UPDATE: Crowd is moving down Sudley Rd towards I-66, additional clsoures expected for safety. Use caution and follow police direction. https://t.co/DBTFF8unlK

— Prince William County Police (@PWCPolice) June 3, 2020

Sudley Road was the site of a large protest that turned unruly on May 31, causing police to deploy tear gas and to use rubber bullets to subdue the crowds. Virginia Delegate Lee Carter (D-Manassas, Bristow), was pepper-sprayed by police, and had a flashbang thrown at him, according to tweets from the delegate himself.

“Virginia State Police sprayed CS directly into my left eye after refusing to answer basic questions for 45min…. They tried to flashbang me again while I was walking away. Twice. They missed. I saved the hand thrown container,” tweeted Delegate Carter.”

The protest, which began peacefully, escalated when an unidentified individual threw an unknown object at a driver. Police from multiple counties, including the Virginia State Police, then proceeded to swarm the area to put down what was deemed ‘civil unrest’ by the Prince William County Police Department.

Even with police present, protestors continued to throw bottles and rocks from the parking lot of a nearby Red Lobster.

“During the protests, multiple businesses along the Sudley Rd corridor sustained damage and two small fires were reported to shrubbery and a trash receptacle. Numerous police vehicles were also reportedly damaged throughout the evening,” stated Johnathan Perok, the Public Information Office Supervisor for the Prince William County Police in a press release.

Protestors were requested to vacate the area by police, and ‘given the opportunity to disperse peacefully.’ Many did not follow police orders, and police proceeded to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them.

“Since I was in front of the crowd, I inhaled some of it [tear gas] and ended up running because it was too much to handle. I started coughing and I have to rub my eyes as well. Fortunately, I wasn’t hit by a rubber bullet, but it landed near me,” said Emily Jasmine Reyes, a protestor and Stonewall Jackson High School student.

The protest resulted in five arrests, including a DUI and ‘other offenses for driving through a police perimeter,” the injury of four Prince William County police officers, one of whom was taken to a local hospital.

Following the riot, police called for calm in the community.

Updated 11:30 p.m. 

*UPDATE: Group is off I-66, no impacts. Sudley Rd traffic closures remain in place. Use caution and follow police direction. https://t.co/pv1boPKwVU

— Prince William County Police (@PWCPolice) June 3, 2020

Northern Virginia may have recently reopened, but no one is supposed to be going out in Fredericksburg.

The City of Fredericksburg declared a state of emergency and issued an 8 pm curfew yesterday, June 1, in response to protests within the city. The curfew will last until June 3, and it prohibits residents of the city from being in public between the hours of 8 p.m to 6 a.m. The curfew, however, does not apply in all situations. ‘Traveling to and from work and medical emergencies’ are situations in which the curfew does not have to be followed, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department.

According to a press release from the City of Fredericksburg, the police department has created a Curfew Education Plan of Action to ‘ensure protesters understand the curfew and have ample time to leave on their own accord.’ It is as follows:

• 7:30 p.m. – Officers will make announcements over loudspeakers educating citizens the curfew begins in 30 minutes. The announcements will continue until all crowds have dispersed. Officers will also distribute copies of the curfew to educate citizens.
• 8:00 p.m. – Officers will approach all remaining citizens and ask them again to disperse as the curfew is in effect.
• 8:15 p.m. – Officers will continue to make announcements and hand out copies of the curfew order.
• 8:30 p.m. – Officers will approach remaining citizens and, once again, speak to them individually about the need to obey the order. Citizens who do not comply will be arrested.

“Please be assured we will work diligently to ensure our community’s visitors are cared for with respect and compassion. If they [protestors] do not obey our orders, we will work to enforce the curfew to maintain our community’s safety and order,” said Fredericksburg Police Chief Brian Layton.

The plan, which was enacted at last night’s protests, was not adhered to by protestors.

“The Curfew Education Plan was executed and protesters ignored the curfew order.  From 8:00 p.m. till approximately 11:00 p.m., protesters walked in public roadways, attempted to gain entry to parked vehicles, and placed objects in roadways to block traffic. At 10:15 p.m., officers began issuing citations for violation of the curfew and pedestrian in roadways. Fifteen people were charged with these citations and released on their own accord,” stated a press release from the City of Fredericksburg.

The June 1 protests began at 3 p.m. with a small group of people walking down the sidewalks in downtown Fredericksburg. As the group grew and time passed, protestors began to walk in the roadways.

“Protesters were stretched across two lanes of traffic on Caroline Street, ignoring motorists and putting themselves as well as drivers in danger. Protesters continued to display unlawful behavior walking in roadways, spray painting parked vehicles, and destroying property,” stated a press release from the City of Fredericksburg.

Protestors then began to march across Falmouth Bridge, entering Stafford County. On the bridge, unidentified members of the protest smashed the window of a vehicle containing a man, woman, and infant child. The glass landed on the child, whose injuries appear to be non-life threatening, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

Stafford County authorities used CS gas (teargas) on the protestors in an attempt to subdue them. No CS gas was deployed in the city of Fredericksburg.

The Fredericksburg City Government, in an abundance of caution for additional protests, has closed government offices at 2 p.m. according to a press release from the city’s Public Information Officer, Sonja Cantu.

This comes in light of what the city’s Fire Chief, Mike Jones, called a ‘civil disturbance’ that Fredericksburg faced on May 31 when peaceful protests turned unruly and people refused to disperse. Protestors, as well as Virginia Delegate Joshua Cole, were subdued with tear gas by police.

“What started out as a peaceful protest later turned into an angry group of people who would not listen to reason when told to disperse. This resulted in the need to take measures to protect our citizens and their properties. We do not wish to see a repeat of this again,” said Chief Jones.

“Tear gas was deployed to disperse the crowds who threatened innocent bystanders and police, were unsafely blocking streets, throwing rocks, and vandalizing vehicles as well as historic structures after being giving multiple attempts to leave,” said Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick.

With additional protests planned for today, June 1, citizens are urged to keep things peaceful.

“We respect the right of people to express their views and when demonstrations or protests are run peacefully, they can be an advantage to a community. When bad actors from outside the area inject themselves with the intent to spread hate and criminal actions, we all as a community lose. Don’t let folks from out of the area come to our great city and make it less of a place. All folks in Fredericksburg work hard each and every day to make this a better place to live. Let’s keep it that way,” said Chief Jones.

The May 31 protests, which were held due to the killing of George Floyd, a Minneapolis resident who was being placed under arrest by a former police officer, Derek Chauvin, began in the early evening with what police estimate to have been 250-300 people. As the crowd marched from Princess Anne Street to Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg police declared an unlawful assembly.

“Officers continued to ask protestors to leave the area, which they ignored. At approximately 8:34pm, when the protestors arrived at the intersection of Route One and Cowan Boulevard, they made a straight line for Police Headquarters at which time officers deployed gas,” read a statement from the Fredericksburg police department.

By 10:30 p.m. officers were still trying to disperse protestors, some of whom were ‘throwing rocks at officers’ according to the Fredericksburg police department.

No arrests were made and no police or civilian injuries were reported.

A Declaration of Local Emergency was later declared by City Manager, Time Baroody and Fredericksburg Police requested that residents shelter-in-place. A curfew of 11:30 p.m.- 6 a.m. was then placed on the city, but has now been lifted.

For the second night in a row, Virginia police have faced off with protestors and gassed a Virignia State Delegate, only this time it was in Fredericksburg.

This is what happens when you try to peacefully protest #Fredericksburg #GeorgeFloydProtests #RIPGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/ccI8B9BFFm

— z (@338rk) June 1, 2020

At 8:34 p.m., police deployed tear gas to disperse protestors heading towards the Fredericksburg police headquarters at 2200 Cowan Boulevard from the intersection of Route One and Cowan Boulevard, according to a press release from the Fredericksburg Police Department. In addition to the general protestors, Delegate Joshua Cole also inhaled gas. It was announced that Delegate Cole was ‘attacked with tear gas by the Fredericksburg police while attempting to check on kids tear-gassed by police,’ on his Facebook by his Chief of Staff.

“There are young people who are out protesting, and I want to be very clear: they are not rioting, they are not looting. I came down here to check on people and to tell kids to get home. As I’m ushering kids to go the other way…there was pops and there was tear gas that came out. I came in contact two times while I was down there,” said Delegate Cole in a Facebook livestream.

Protestors allege rubber bullets were fired as well, but the Fredericksburg Police Department says no rubber bullets were fired Sunday night.

“No agencies used rubber bullets at any time on Sunday, May 31st or in the early hours of Monday, June 1st during the unlawful assembly on Cowan Boulevard and in downtown Fredericksburg. Tear gas was deployed to disperse the crowds who threatened innocent bystanders and police, were unsafely blocking streets, throwing rocks, and vandalizing vehicles as well as historic structures after being giving multiple attempts to leave. The Fredericksburg Police did deploy sting ball grenades were used when the crowds became volatile. VSP deployed flashbangs,” said Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick.

Protestors also alleged the gas was deployed to incite violence.

“Tear gas was used around Cowan later in the day. While protesters actively walked away things were still going off. Police are trying to make this protest violent by deploying the tear gas,” said Ally Miller, a King George County resident.

The protest, which was held in light of the killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, began in the early evening with 250-300 at Market Square in downtown Fredericksburg. The protestors then moved to Princess Anne Street, where it is reported that they ‘struck and pounded on parked vehicles.’ An unlawful assembly was declared as protestors moved from Princess Anne Street to Cowan Boulevard, officers present ‘continued to ask protesters to leave the area which they ignored,’ according to a statement from Fredericksburg police.

“Officers continue to declare an unlawful assembly to each group they encounter and continue to request they leave the area. Fredericksburg Police ask that residents of the downtown district shelter in place until further notice,” according to a statement from Fredericksburg police.

In addition to the Fredericksburg Police Department, the Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office, the University of Mary Washington Police Department, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police were present to assist in controlling the protest.

FREDERICKSBURG STAND UP!!!!!!!!! We did that!!!!!!!???????? pic.twitter.com/zZfxf38u4Q

— Tee (@royall_living) June 1, 2020

No officers or civilians have been reported injured, and no arrests have been made. The Fredericksburg police will remain on patrol for the remainder of the night.