Students and community members gathered at O’Hill field Tuesday afternoon and marched to the steps of the Rotunda as part of a demonstration organized by U.Va. Beyond Policing to demand justice for 18-year-old Charlottesville resident Xzavier Hill and for the release of dashcam footage of his death. An estimated 100 people attended the march.
Hill — who wanted to work for his mother’s local cleaning company — was shot and killed by Virginia State Police after being pulled over while on the way home to Charlottesville on I-64 on Jan. 9. Following a high speed chase, Hill attempted to exit his vehicle, was shot and died at the scene. Police allege that Hill was holding a gun, but Hill’s mother, LaToya Benton, said that Hill was not holding a firearm. Benton was allowed to view the dashcam footage by Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Caudill, but the footage has not been released to the public.
U.Va. Beyond Policing — a group that advocates for a world without police — organized Tuesday’s march with the primary purpose of advocating for justice for Hill’s death. The group called upon students and community members to join them in demanding the release of dashcam footage to the public, the release of the identities of the officers involved and that the two officers be fired and arrested.
“Let them know that people are demanding justice,” one organizer said at the event.
The event began with a phone zap, where organizers handed out papers with contact information for Caudill and Virginia State Police. Attendees called Caudill’s office and communicated their demand. Organizers also encouraged attendees to talk to the people around them about why they were there and what they hoped to accomplish.
Following the phone zap, protestors marched down McCormick Road holding signs and banners displaying messages including “Imagine a world beyond policing,” “Black Lives Matter” and “Release the footage.” Organizers with megaphones led chants demanding recognition for Hill and justice for his death as well as the deaths of others who were victims of police brutality. Many students in dorms cheered on the protestors from their windows while others stood on the sidewalk and observed as the march passed by.
The march ended on the front steps of the Rotunda, where an organizer began the final part of the demonstration with a land acknowledgement, asking those present to think of the Monacan and Manahoac land on which the University stands as well as the enslaved laborers who built it. Following the acknowledgment, organizers and protestors alike spoke to the crowd.
“Xzavier Hill was an 18 year-old child,” an organizer said. “He was murdered by Virginia State Police exactly one month ago today.”
Another organizer reminded the crowd that Hill was a part of the Charlottesville community and how similar he was to the young protestors in attendance.
“He was one of us,” the organizer said. “He was me, he was you, he was our brother. He lived down the street from us."
Benton addressed the crowd along with her sister. She was overcome with emotions starting her speech, as the crowd cheered her on, reminding her that people were there to support her in seeking justice for her son.
“I am Xzavier’s mom, and I will always be his mom,” Benton said. “He was supposed to be safe.”
Benton continued on, calling for the community to spread the demands of the protestors and to fight for recognition of the movement.
“I’m gonna fight for my son,” Benton said. “I’m gonna eat, breathe and sleep justice for my son.”
After a few statements, an organizer asked people from the crowd to come up and share their voices. One attendee addressed the group, expressing how all the names of Black men, women and children killed by police officers were beginning to run together in her head and it hurt her heart.
A representative from Defund Cville Police spoke after embracing Hill’s mother and aunt and reminded the crowd of how much violence is suffered by the Black community not only in Charlottesville, but nationally.
A Charlottesville Police internal investigation into a November incident on the Corner between police and a Black community member recently found that the responding officer exercised “poor judgement.” The officers involved will report back to work after a training.
During the speech, the Defund Cville Police representative also challenged the crowd to go beyond reposting hashtags and marching through college campuses. The representative encouraged attendees to fight for change by actively challenging people’s denial of the Black experience along with desensitization to the pervasive nature of police brutality.
“We cannot afford to lose another Black life at the hands of the police,” the representative said. “We cannot afford to be silent any longer.”
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