
No more monuments to slave owners and Confederates
Letters to editor
On Monday, the Commonwealth of Virginia took another absurd step toward creating another space in Richmond to celebrate slave owners and Confederates.

End blockade of funds for HBCUs
Columnists
Each year as families beam with pride at seeing a son, daughter or another relative graduate from college, that achievement is nearly always the result of a family’s commitment to higher education. And when these institutions are among more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, that pride is magnified by the history of how our forefathers overcame what once seemed to be insurmountable challenges.

Suspend use of biased facial recognition technology
Columnists
It’s no secret that Amazon has been promoting DIY (Do It Yourself) surveillance products to consumers, such as its very own smart doorbell, Ring. But what Amazon shoppers and most everyday Americans are just starting to find out is that the real target customers for these surveillance tools are police departments and other law enforcement agencies — something that should have every person of color worried.

Dreadful in Texas
Editorials
We are dismayed by news out of Fort Worth, Texas, that Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old African-American woman babysitting her nephew in her own home, was shot and killed by a police officer as she stood near a window.

Changing the landscape
Editorials
We were delighted with the unveiling and dedication this week of “Voices from the Garden: The Virginia Women’s Monument” in Capitol Square.

Documentary and panel on voting rights suppression set for Oct. 30
Voting rights and the efforts to suppress them is the focus of a film and panel discussion 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Contem- porary Art, 601 W. Broad St.

Civil rights activist Theresa A. Walker, widow of Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, to speak on Oct. 26 panel
Theresa Ann Walker, a civil rights activist and widow of Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker who led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was chief of staff to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be featured at a panel, “The Role of Women in the Civil Rights Movement: The Chesterfield and Petersburg Experience,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Chesterfield County Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd.

Henrico County Community Day Oct. 19
Henrico County Community Day, which al- lows the community to gain greater knowledge and insight into the workings of county government and public school system, will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Henrico High School, 302 Azalea Ave.

2nd Annual RVA Booklovers' Festival Oct. 19
More than 30 authors and literature aficionados will give readings and lead discussions at the 2nd Annual RVA Booklovers’ Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Jefferson Park, 1921 Princess Anne Ave. in Church Hill.

Free Press photographer to speak on her quest to find her late grandfather
A film about the quest of Richmond Free Press photographer Regina H. Boone to find out about her late grandfather who was imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during World War II will be shown in Richmond.

VMFA to host women's empowerment forum this Saturday
Jean Patterson Boone, publisher of the Richmond Free Press, will be among a host of women panelists speaking at “Ascend and Lead: A Women’s Empowerment Forum,” sponsored by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the museum, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.

VSU celebrates homecoming this weekend
Virginia State University is celebrating its homecoming this weekend with a bevy of activities, including a jazz concert, golf tournament and comedy show.

VUU President Lucas to be inaugurated during homecoming week
Virginia Union University is officially inaugurating Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, its 13th president and chief executive officer, at a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown.

Queen Latifah: A day of empowerment with a 'get out the vote' message
There was unity around one message in Richmond on Tuesday among a diverse crowd of more than 1,000 women: Empowerment.

Coco wins first WTA title at 15; Osaka gives up U.S. citizenship to play for Japan in Olympics
Coco Gauff is still just 15. She also is already the owner of a WTA singles title.

Gymnast Simone Biles breaks medal record with 25
American Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in world championship history Sunday when she won the beam and floor finals to take her career tally to 25 medals.

Kenyan runners spark VUU cross-country team
Coming from some 7,500 miles away, Micah Kipruto and Enos Rotich feel right at home on America’s oval tracks and cross-country trails.

Kenyan marathoner breaks 2-hour barrier
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge made athletics history on Saturday when he became the first person to run a 26.2-mile marathon in under two hours, stretch- ing the limits of human endeavor and passing a milestone few thought could be reached for decades if at all.

VSU to meet CIAA champ Bowie State in Saturday's homecoming
Virginia State University has won five straight games with a relatively soft schedule. On Saturday, Oct. 19, easy street ends.

VUU heads into homecoming with 62-0 win over Lincoln
Virginia Union University has the potential to turn this weekend’s homecoming into showtime.