Charlottesville braces for alt-right rally over Confederate statues
As the City of Charlottesville braces for a potentially volatile confrontation between supporters at a “Unite the Right” rally organized by white supremacist Jason Kessler and counterprotesters, city officials and faith leaders are taking precautions. The rally is scheduled for noon to 5p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville’s downtown to protest the Charlottesville City Council’s decision in April to have the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee removed from the park.
New VUU president
Dr. Hakim J. Lucas of Bethune-Cookman tapped as school’s 13th president
They’ve been rivals forever, but Virginia Union and Virginia State universities soon will have one thing in common — a first-time president with executive credentials honed at Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. Twenty months after VSU hired Bethune-Cookman Provost Makola M. Abdullah as its 14th president, VUU announced that the Florida university’s chief fundraiser, Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, would become its 13th president, effective Sept. 1. Dr. Lucas’ appointment was announced Tuesday by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, VUU’s board chairman, following a 14-month search to replace former President Claude G. Perkins, who stepped down in June 2016, first taking a sabbatical and then retiring.
Access to voter information to boost schools petition drive
Paul Goldman has gained access to Richmond voter information for his Put Schools First petition drive under a settlement reached with the office of Attorney General Mark R. Herring. Already close to securing the nearly 10,400 signatures needed to get on the ballot, Mr. Goldman said the settlement allows him to access the names and addresses of registered voters on a block-by-block basis from the state Department of Elections’ database.
VSU wins HBCU awards
Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah was named Male President of the Year at the 2017 HBCU Awards presented by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
‘Richmond could be a showpiece’
Re “‘Tear those statues down:’ Richmonders decry mayor’s plan to put Confederate statues ‘in context,’” Free Press June 29-July 1 edition:
1 vendor? ‘This is ridiculous!’
Re “Only 1 black-owned food vendor at NFL training camp,” Free Press July 27-29 edition: Only one black food vendor at the NFL training camp in Richmond? This is ridiculous!
‘Working democracy and … acts of humanity could save this city’
Re: Who’s running RPS superintendent search?” Free Press July 27-29 edition: I agree wholeheartedly with the Rev. Ben Campbell that we should welcome Richmond’s major corporate leaders who are willing to help our community solve its most pressing problems.
The real context behind Monument Avenue
The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality issued the following open letter to members of the Monument Avenue Commission:
Happy birthday to Medicaid
For more than a half century, Medicaid has been a shining example of the good and essential support government can provide those most in need across all ages. Through the years, we have been striving to live up to the promise of ensuring all children and young people a chance to reach healthy adulthood — laboriously and successfully expanding coverage to more children thousands by thousands, millions by millions, state by state.
End the paralysis
Once again, we have turned our Richmond public schoolchildren and their parents into beggars.
The latest stunt
We are living in dangerous times. The bigots in the White House have launched a federal Justice Department study of anti-white bias in college admissions. The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Trump administration plans to redirect the civil rights division’s efforts toward investigating and suing universities over admission policies believed to discriminate against white people. What????
McEachin task force to host forum on special needs students
A task force created by Congressman A. Donald McEachin of Henrico will host an education forum on Saturday, Aug. 12, to help parents understand their rights and the resources available for special needs students. “I’m bringing this task force together out of frustration,” Rep. McEachin said in an interview with the Free Press. “But we’re doing this with the hope that we’ll be able to pull together a solution to help the students who are affected.”
Pulitzer winner Tracy K. Smith named U.S. poet laureate
Tracy K. Smith, who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2012, has been named the nation’s 22nd poet laureate, and her recognition is being trumpeted in more than the usual places.
Robert ‘Fat Rob’ Kelley is growing his skills
NFL history is flavored with running backs with colorful nicknames suggesting stardom. Examples include “Rocket” (Raghib Ismail), “Beast Mode” (Marshawn Lynch), “Kansas Comet” (Gale Sayers), “Diesel” (John Riggins),” “Mercury” (Eugene Morris), “The A Train” (Mike Alstott) and “The Jet” (Joe Perry).
CIAA football roundup
Virginia Union University’s Lavatiae Kelly is feared as a triple threat by rival CIAA football coaches. The senior player for the Panthers has been named to the Preseason All-CIAA team at three different positions — wide receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner.
MEAC outlook not too promising for NSU and Hampton
Hampton University and Norfolk State University must hope their conference’s crystal ball is broken. The MEAC preseason football predictions are in, and they aren’t too promising for Virginia’s entries in the historically black athletic league.
Former George Wythe standout signs with VSU basketball
Virginia State University’s most recent basketball signee comes from Texas. But he is no stranger to this area. Brandon Holley was a standout on George Wythe High School’s 2015 State Division 3 championship team. Holley has signed with VSU Coach Lonnie Blow Jr. following two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
Bolt’s lightning career may end soon
Usain Bolt may be nearing his final finish line. The iconic Jamaican sprinter, long hailed as the “World’s Fastest Human,” has announced he is retiring following the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Athletics at London’s Olympic Stadium.
David S. Carter Jr., husband of School Board member Nadine Marsh-Carter, dies at 59
David Samuel “Big Dave” Carter Jr., the husband of 7th District Richmond School Board member Nadine Marsh-Carter, died Sunday, July 30, 2017.
Rev. Alexander ‘JJ’ James III, associate pastor of Trinity Baptist, dies at 42
Just a few hours after welcoming the Rev. Jesse Jackson to his church last Sunday, Trinity Baptist Church’s pastor, the Rev. A. Lincoln James Jr., and his wife, Mary P. James, suffered a shattering loss.
