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Neo-Confederates to return for second Richmond rally
A neo-Confederate group plans to return to Richmond next month for a second “Heritage Not Hate” rally on Monument Avenue, despite new state regulations restricting firearms and the number of people allowed at rallies at the Gen. Robert E. Lee monument. CSA II: The New Confederate States of America, a Tennessee-based group, “will hold their rally on Richmond City property outside of the traffic circle surrounding the Lee monument in the same location of the Sept. 16 rally,” Thomas Crompton, a rally organizer, told the Free Press on Wednesday.
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Washington Nationals fuel ahead with diverse roster
Any Washington Nationals victory sets off celebration throughout North and South America, the Caribbean and far off as Oceania.
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RPS basketball alumni showdown Saturday at Ashe Center
Richmond Public Schools is turning back the clock on basketball. Players from bygone decades will be dusting off their jump shots in the inaugural RPS Alumni Showdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
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New interfaith group targeting predatory lenders
As pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, the Rev. Rodney Hunter weekly hears stories of financial distress from members and non-members who seek help from his church.
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Reinstate Cornell Brooks
Black people have fared best when our collective interests and goals are held paramount. We’ve made the greatest headway when our assumed leaders are guided by principles of self-sacrifice above self-aggrandizement. I pray that we have the wisdom to remember and embrace these lessons learned “over a way that with tears has been watered ... through the blood of the slaughtered.” Since 1909, the NAACP has been the most recognized and venerated civil rights organization in the United States. Most Americans respect and admire the NAACP. Those of us 50 years old and older remember that, when intervening in civil rights matters, the NAACP often mitigated outcomes of interracial conflict to the benefit of often maligned African-American victims. It’s said, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” A lapse of time often adds to that contempt. Outside of “the faithful,” the NAACP’s reputation as a relevant player in the civil rights arena had diminished. This perception was especially true among youths who were more likely to ask the question, “What have you done for me lately?” While I am an NAACP life member and I’ve always seen its relevance, many people thought the organization had moved close to being irrelevant. Several episodes of questionable leadership did little to rehabilitate its reputation. For many, that changed in May 2014 with the selection of the Rev. Cornell William Brooks as national NAACP president and CEO. Lacking the bravado and ostentatiousness of many leaders of our community, Rev. Brooks came to the job as an experienced civil rights professional. A fourth generation A.M.E. minister and Yale-trained civil rights lawyer, Rev. Brooks was eminently qualified and well focused on directing the activities of the NAACP to meet contemporary imperatives. Three years ago, he inherited a staff demoralized by layoffs and uncertain funding. Now, fundraising is up and he had begun hiring additional staff to conduct the organization’s business. In nearly three years, Rev. Brooks has led the NAACP with purpose, dignity and skillful determination. His “hands-on, lead by example” approach to activism has inspired a new generation of youths to pick up the mantle of the NAACP. We have seen substantial participation and the increased membership of young people. Young people were constantly seen with Rev. Brooks demonstrating consistent, targeted action and participation in activities that gave renewed meaning to the concept of peaceful and intelligent resistance to injustice. Rev. Brooks is not a lip service leader. With the exception of being called away for related obligations, he walked every step of the two marches he organized between Ferguson and Jefferson City, Mo., and Selma, Ala., and Washington. The marchers and he became targets of racist snipers in Missouri and he remains under threat by domestic terrorists who would love nothing more than to stop his work. Rev. Brooks’ testimony against the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general was topped only by his sit-in and arrest in the Birmingham offices of Mr. Sessions. He gave national attention to the fact that the NAACP was once again a genuine player in the fight against injustice. This revitalized NAACP attracted a new following and, accordingly, online memberships increased significantly. For individuals and institutions alike, longevity can mistakenly be assumed to be the same as indispensability. Logic should inform that the only foundation of indispensability is in the sustainment of relevance. Under Rev. Brooks, the NAACP escaped the image of doing little and existing in outdated ineptitude to a state of true relevance. Sadly, the NAACP executive board has chosen to take a step backward by not renewing Rev. Brooks’ contract. I pray that decision will be reversed. Rev. Brooks was the right leader when he was chosen and remains the right leader for our challenging times. The board should reverse its ill-advised decision. The writer is president of the National Congress of Black Women.
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Exceptional? Data tell the story, by Lee H. Hamilton
Like most Americans, I have always considered the United States an exceptional country.
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County official chosen as new city auditor
Richmond City Council this week tapped a veteran of Chesterfield County government to make City Hall operations more efficient and track down waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Louis G. “Lou” Lassiter, deputy Chesterfield County administrator, was approved to be the new city auditor at a special council meeting at Free Press deadline Wednesday night.
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City requests applications for Coliseum-area development
City Hall is taking a fresh step in trying to replace the Richmond Coliseum nearly four years after it was shuttered.
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City Park Church to hold first service Nov. 1
The Rev. Joe Ellison is returning to his ministerial roots. For 16 years, he drew praise and won community honors for ministering to people in the Essex Village Apartments and surrounding neighborhoods in Eastern Henrico County through his church and day care.
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New street sign unveiled to honor Alicia C. Rasin
Mayor Dwight C. Jones and others gathered Monday in Church Hill to unveil an honorary street sign in Church Hill for Alicia C. Rasin, a longtime advocate for families of homicide victims in the city. Ms. Rasin, who was known as the city’s “Ambassador of Compassion,” died in October. Ms. Rasin’s sisters, Patricia Rasin Smith and Albertina Rasin Walker, attended the ceremony, along with City Council member Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District.-
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Commonwealth Links donate shoes to shelter at luncheon
On a recent Saturday at a Downtown hotel, groups of women — some wearing snazzy hats and 5-inch heels — headed to a luncheon, all the while carrying another pair of shoes. Why?
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Virginian Charles Haley first to win 5 Super Bowls
A lot has been said about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady winning five Super Bowls. But a Virginian was the in the NFL to win five Super Bowl victories.
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NC Central defeats NSU to win MEAC
Norfolk State University’s up-and-down basketball season ended with a couple of downers. Finishing with a 17-17 record, the Spartans lost 67-59 to North Carolina Central University in the MEAC Tournament final last Saturday at the Norfolk Scope.
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Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy to host annual awards ceremony Sept. 26
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will recognize several people and organizations for their work advocating for Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform, immigrant rights and higher wages for workers.
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Lighting a fire
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones lit a fire Tuesday when she spoke to an online group of 120-plus local people about school re-segregation and equity in education.
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Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
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Queen Harrison to host Queen Track Classic in Richmond for girls
Girls will not only be the main attraction, they will be the only attraction for the inaugural Queen Track Classic, named for Queen Harrison, the former Hermitage High School track standout and 2008 Olympic runner.
