Update: Thursday, 12:45 p.m. A planned March 3 protest against an Augusta County business has been canceled, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said today.
Smith relayed in a press release a public statement from the organizer.
“[Due] to the recent information that I have received for the coming event that was planned for March 3 2018 I will be canceling the event. … Anyone planning to still come to Verona Va. on March 3rd is advised not to do so. This event is officially canceled on my behalf. It is with respect to my City and County that you do not come. If you chose to do so it will be on your own behalf.”
Original story: Tuesday, 5:50 p.m. Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said Tuesday that militia groups are planning a protest against Nexus Services for Saturday, March 3.
The sheriff’s office issued a press release Tuesday afternoon indicating that it had been approached by a local resident requesting a permit from the county to host a protest to voice opposition to an Augusta County business.
The release noted that the man who requested the permit was told that no county permitting process or ordinance exists, and that Smith has kept an open dialogue with the gentleman on his group’s plans for the protest.
Neither the nature of the protest nor the identity of the group was released.
Smith said county officials have been in contact with Nexus Services and adjoining businesses regarding the protest plans.
“We are taking this incident seriously and, as a precautionary measure, I have reached out to the Virginia State Police and regional local law enforcement for assistance,” Smith said. “I want to assure our residents and local businesses that we are diligently working to assess and manage this situation.”
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Chris Graham
