NORFOLK, Va. — Protesters are demanding Norfolk's Police Department release use-of-force reports from the past decade.
Demonstrators held a sit-in Monday night at City Hall to protest the police department’s refusal to release the records.
The protest comes after reports by The Virginian-Pilot that the city and the Norfolk Police Department have denied information requests about the records.
“It’s like, if you have nothing to hide, then this is beneficial for you as well," said a protester named Rich. "You can show us what avenues you are using to make the community better.”
A demand for those records may have brought the group together, but organizer Tyler Woodward said they had a dual mission.
“We just want to build solidarity," Woodward said. "Encourage people to come out, say their piece, have their voices heard.”
Group members shared their voices in Richmond and hope to build that same solidarity in Norfolk.
"This is the first brick to a wall," said Rich "All we are trying to do is lay the perfect brick down right now and create conversation among community that aren’t really sure what is going on in the world right now.”
Organizers said they emailed police, but didn’t receive a response.