RICHMOND, Virginia — The mural of tennis legend Arthur Ashe in Battery Park, Richmond, was defaced by white supremacist graffiti in October 2021, causing concern among community members. The graffiti, which promoted the white supremacist group Patriot Front, was quickly removed after the park was temporarily closed. However, the incident sparked fear and unease in the neighboring Battery Park community.
Months later, the media outlet Unicorn Riot was able to identify the perpetrators of the vandalism through leaked video footage. Patriot Front members had recorded themselves defacing the Ashe mural, intending to keep the footage private. To the group’s surprise, the video became public, leading to a federal lawsuit filed by Battery Park residents. Despite this, no criminal charges have been filed against any of the Patriot Front members involved in the vandalism.
Recently, the civil suit against Patriot Front held its first hearing in Richmond. Lead counsel Glen Allen, accompanied by Bradley Mars, presented arguments in favor of a motion to dismiss the case. Four other defendants, believed to be Patriot Front members represented by Allen, also appeared but did not provide their names or stay for questioning. The suit named a total of 28 parties, including 19 individuals yet to be identified.
Allen began his argument by acknowledging that the actions of his clients were regrettable but claimed they were not spur-of-the-moment incidents. He emphasized that Patriot Front has engaged in acts of vandalism across the country, including other incidents in Richmond. On the other side, Arthur Ago, one of the lawyers representing Battery Park residents, highlighted the months-long campaign leading up to the defacement of the Ashe mural in Richmond.
During the hearing, Allen faced challenges from Federal Judge Hannah Lauke, who repeatedly shut down his arguments. Allen, who had previously been terminated as a contract attorney in 2016 due to his connections with a white supremacist group, appeared ill-prepared for the hearing. Judge Lauke questioned Allen’s assertion that the damage was subjective, pointing out that the park’s closure was a concrete fact.
Allen attempted to cast doubt on the motives of the plaintiffs, suggesting that their fears were influenced by a third party, the Southern Poverty Law Center. It was revealed that Allen had previously sued the SPLC without success and harbored a grudge against the organization. Judge Lauke redirected the focus of the hearing, pointing out that the purpose was to determine if the established facts warranted dismissal of the lawsuit.
Throughout the hearing, Judge Lauke patiently explained the grounds for the lawsuit to Allen, emphasizing that the plaintiffs were alleging racial harassment rather than assault charges. Despite Allen’s efforts, Judge Lauke appeared unswayed by his arguments.
The Battery Park residents’ lawsuit seeks to hold individuals accountable for their acts of racial harassment and discourage hate groups from using vandalism to recruit, as Patriot Front did in Battery Park. While this legal action may not entirely eradicate hate groups, it aims to provide justice and prevent future incidents of this nature.
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