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Restore the Voting Rights Act, by Marc H. Morial
“Although the court did not deny that voter discrimination still exists, it gutted the most powerful tool this nation has ever had to stop discriminatory voting practices from becoming law. Those justices were never beaten or jailed for trying to register to vote. They have no friends who gave their lives for the right to vote. I want to say to them, ‘Come and walk in my shoes.’” — Congressman John Lewis reacting to the U.S Supreme Court’s Shelby v. Holder deci- sion in 2013.
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Judge steps down
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley B. Cavedo recuses himself from Confederate statue cases as formal complaint filed against him with judicial commission
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley B. Cavedo has given up his fight to preserve the statues of racist Confederate gener- als in the city, potentially opening the door to removal of the biggest statue of all — the one to Robert E. Lee at Monument and Allen avenues.
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Rep. John Lewis
A lion of the Civil Rights Movement and ‘conscience of Congress’ dies at 80
Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a lion of the Civil Rights Movement whose bloody beating by Alabama state troopers in 1965 helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation, and who went on to a long and celebrated career in Congress, died late Friday, July 17, 2020. He was 80.
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Tearful, rambling Kanye West launches presidential campaign
In his first rally for his last-minute presidential campaign, rapper Kanye West ranted against abortion and pornography, argued policy with attendees and at one point broke down in tears during rambling remarks Sunday at a Charleston, S.C., wedding venue and convention center.
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City prosecutor to review Marcus-David Peters case
The Marcus-David Peters case is getting another look.
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Richmond School Board awaits details on fall’s virtual reopening
In just a few weeks, Richmond Public Schools will be starting a new school year – virtually.
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Chesterfield schools to reopen for online learning in the fall; Henrico leaning toward virtual option
Chesterfield County Public Schools is following Richmond’s lead, approving reopening this fall for virtual learning only.
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Dominion Energy announces $25M in grants to HBCUs
Richmond-based Dominion Energy has announced it will provide $25 million in grants to historically black colleges and universities over a six-year period.
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Rev. C.T. Vivian, Freedom Rides organizer and key adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 95
The Rev. C.T. Vivian, an early and key adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who organized pivotal civil rights campaigns and spent decades advocating for justice and equality, died Friday, July 17, 2020, the same day as fellow civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis of Georgia.
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Ashe statue to stay put
On Richmond’s Monument Avenue, the collection of towering statues honoring Confederate veterans was interrupted by one noticeably different: A monument to hometown tennis legend and human rights activist Arthur Ashe Jr.
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2020 Festival of Arts goes online with live virtual performances
The coronavirus can’t stop the show.
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Kamaru Usman defends MMA welterweight title on ‘Fight Island’
Fight fans who admired boxer Floyd Mayweather are likely to have an appreciation for Kamaru Usman.
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Keeping land in the family, by Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan and Parker C. Agelasto
As Virginia and America continue the long overdue work of addressing structural inequity, our Commonwealth has taken one significant step toward fixing a leading cause of loss of land and wealth for African-Americans.
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Chief Smith embraces police reform, but wants to control it from the catbird seat
New Richmond Police Chief Gerald M. Smith is raising a yellow caution flag for those pushing to reform the department and support budget cuts to “defund the police.”
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Online Only
Threat of COVID-19 keeping RPS students at home
Richmond Public Schools students will continue learning online this fall when the 2020-21 academic year starts Sept. 8.
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Washington NFL team drops racist name
The most polarizing name in North American professional sports is gone.
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Questions swirl around judge
Lawyers representing Mayor Levar M. Stoney and the city have rushed to the Virginia Supreme Court, requesting the state’s highest court overturn a Richmond Circuit Court judge’s 60-day injunction barring the mayor from using emergency authority to take down Confederate statues.
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Low-key efforts waged to remove statue of segregationist Harry F. Byrd Sr. from Capitol Square
In the midst of widespread efforts to remove Confederate memorials, a similar change may be on the way for Richmond’s Capitol Square.
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New RPS HR director comes from system with similar challenges
Sandra Lee has her work cut out for her.
