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Marches across Hampton Roads in support of the Black Lives Matter movement Monday night went mostly according to plan, officials said.

The self-described grassroots organization, Black Lives Matter 757, heldfive different marches across the region Monday night the anniversary of the group's first march in 2016.

Marches were scheduled to take place in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton, all starting at 7:57 p.m.

The only summons issued, though, was to the movement's organizer, Aubrey "JaPharii" Jones Jr. Thesummons was for obstruction of free passage of others, Hampton Police Division said in a statement Tuesday. The divisionincreased patrols for the event, officials said.

Otherwise, they said "protesters were cooperative with our officers and remained on the sidewalk during the march," the statement read.

But Jones said he'll be going to local and state legislators.

"If that's how you choose to use state and city funds, we have a huge problem," he said by phone Monday night.

He estimated hundreds of people walked in the five cities.

Virginia State Police, including those on the tactical field force team, were dispatched to the cities to assist and were on standby, said state police spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Anaya. No unusual incidents were reported, she said.

They came with BearCats, or Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Trucks, she said. Some officers wore riot gear in Hampton.

"It's a unity peace march. Why are you all here with tanks?" Jones said he asked officials.

No arrests orissues were reportedin the other cities either.

In an email, Norfolk Police Department spokesman Daniel Hudson referred to the event as a "peaceful First Amendment march."

Portsmouth's Chief of Police Tonya D. Chapman called the collaboration between Portsmouthpolice and fire, the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office and Virginia State Police as "professional and admirable."

Communication, she said, is key.

"Tonight'sevents could have run more smoothly if protestershad communicated more openly with the Portsmouth Police Department," Chapman said in a statement Monday night.

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Black Lives Matter 757 protests mostly peaceful, one summons ... - Daily Press