A Virginia state senator has been charged with damaging a Confederate monument in Portsmouth during protests that also led to a demonstrator being critically injured when a statue was torn down, authorities said Monday. The charges were filed the same week Virginia lawmakers are taking up dozens of criminal justice reforms during a special legislative session. The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia called for the charges against Lucas and several others to be dropped. "Felony charges leveled against a sitting state senator are to be taken seriously, and should not be sought out for political gain," he said in a statement. "It is for that reason that the Republican Party of Virginia calls for Senator Lucas to turn herself in.

Source: Fox News August 18, 2020 15:33 UTC