RICHMOND, Va. -- A Chesterfield man was arrested on the VCU campus twice Thursday and charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
Tyler W. Lloyd, 27, was holding a racist sign while he yelled at students on the Compass outside James Branch Cabell Library, according to witnesses.
The sign read, "2018 New Year's Resolution for Black Guys - Prevent [N-word] Moments."
As VCU students began to gather around the man, VCU Police officers responded.
Man arrested on VCU campus (PHOTO: Lia Tabackman)
"What began as a small group near the man grew to about 200 people," a VCU Police spokesperson said. "Police stood between the man and the crowd to maintain order and ensure safety."
VCU Police officer J. Malone, who stood near Lloyd, addressed the students who gathered.
"You can say what you want. Everybody can say what they want, I don’t have to like it. Nobody here has to like it," he said. "If you really want to do something about this, do it the right way. The only thing you’re doing right now is feeding this man’s ego."
After school leaders determined Lloyd was, "causing a significant disruption to university operations," campus police asked him to leave.
Lloyd was arrested when he refused to leave.
Lloyd returned to campus later Thursday afternoon with a different sign.
It read, "Why is it that only students have FREEDOM here."
'[Lloyd] was again arrested for trespassing," the police spokesperson said. "Lloyd is not a VCU student or employee."
