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VOL. 72, NO. 10 APRIL 1, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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Demonstrators holding signs at the ʻNo Kingsʼ protest on March 28. RVA Indivisible held a 'Freedom Fest' at Monroe Park (left) and 50501 Virginia held a rally and march at Kanawha Plaza (right). Photos by Burke Loftus and Andrew Kerley. Collage by Milena Paul.
In Richmond, competing ‘No Kings’ protests reveal divided leadership, complicated movement
Richmond organizations, which previously worked together, revealed a rift that has been festering for months — ref lecting national disagreements on how to best dissent against the unprecedented second Trump administration.
ANDREW KERLEY Executive Editor
A number of demonstrators said they were confused about which protest they were supposed to attend.
Richmond had not one, but two anti-Trump protests on Saturday, as ideological and strategic disagreements between organizers
led them to hold separate demonstrations. In downtown Kanawha Plaza, 50501 Virginia held a diverse rally alongside a coalition of progressive community organizers that turned into a march through some of the city’s busiest streets.
A mile away in Monroe Park, RVA Indivisible held a “No Kings Freedom Fest” with music, canvassing by local Democratic parties and high-profile speakers such as Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi. The different approaches by the two
THIRD ‘NO KINGS’ SMALLER THAN LAST RICHMOND PROTEST
NO KINGS Continued on page 2
VCU Police Lieutenant Edgar Greer. Photo by Andrew Kerley.
VCU Police traffic safety operation reveals ‘dangerous behaviors’ by drivers HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA News Editor
Natalie Bowen speaking during the Student Government Association presidential debate. Photo by Sal Orlando.
Natalie Bowen wins SGA presidential election
HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA News Editor
noted “record-breaking” participation with 1,441 total votes cast.
VCU Student Government Association Press Secretary Natalie Bowen has won the race to become the body’s next president for the 2026-27 academic year. Bowen — a third-year history and mass communications student — won with 44%, or 634 votes, according to the SGA. They
BOWEN PROMISES MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH ADMINISTRATION, OTHER STUDENTS
and other positions, and is grateful for the conversations she has had with students and her fellow student government members. “I’ve been in SGA for three years, and I have never felt so inspired by and proud of a group of senators, and I know we will make a really great team,” Bowen stated. “SGA is here to help in any way we can, and we have a huge team of hard-working and passionate Senators, so please never hesitate to connect with us.”
Bowen stated in an email she has congratulated her fellow electeds for senators
SGA ELECTION Continued on page 4
MAEVE BAUER Spectrum Editor VCU issued nearly as many traff ic summonses from Jan. 12 to Mar. 24 as it did in the entirety of the 2024-25 academic year as it continues to increase traffic enforcement through Operation Safer Streets. The increase has revealed “dangerous behaviors” from many drivers on the roads in and around campus, according to VCUPD spokesperson Jake Burns. SAFER STREETS Continued on page 4
Should VCU move on from the A-10?
Students bring ‘Taste of Sudan’ event
Richmond needs to be more cyclist-friendly
see SPORTS page 6
see SPECTRUM page 7
see OPINIONS page 8