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EGACY Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAYS • June 7, 2017

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INSIDE

Candidates! RVA, Tri-Cities and HR - 4 U.S. obsessing over morality... again - 8 Who is Justin Fairfax for lt. gov? - 13 Healthcare is a human right campaign- 15

Richmond & Hampton Roads

LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM • FREE

Who has the edge in Virginia’s races?

STAFF & WIRE REPORTS Widespread opposition to President Trump and his policies has heightened the challenge for Republicans hoping to retake the Virginia governor’s mansion this year, with GOP frontrunner Ed Gillespie trailing both Democratic contenders by double digits in a new Washington Post-Schar School poll.

The Virginia governor’s race offers a significant test of how much Trump’s sagging job approval ratings could hurt Republicans in the 2018

midterm elections and gauges whether anti-Trump activism will benefit Democrats. Although the general election isn’t until November, the poll suggests a hostile environment for Republicans.

Republican favorite Gillespie, who has a wide lead in the party’s three-way primary race, trails both Democratic candidates by almost identical margins: Tom Perriello by 50 percent to 37 percent, and Ralph Northam by 49 percent to 38 percent among registered voters.

Voters seem to be punishing Gillespie for Trump’s performance, which they don’t like.

Trump’s job approval rating is at 36 percent, while 59 percent of Virginia residents disapprove of his performance as commander in chief. More than half say they “strongly disapprove,” according to the poll, which was co-sponsored by The Post and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

“Unfortunately for Republicans running this year, they will carry the negative taint of the Trump administration with them no matter

(continued on page 4)

The LEGACY

2 • June 7, 2017

News Donation to support programs for homeless vets

Smithfield has donated $68k to support state programs for homeless veterans.

Smithfield Foods has donated $68,000 to support state programs for homeless veterans. In a ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial, Smithfield Foods was honored for its donation to the Veterans Services Foundation in support of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS).

“The success of the DVS Homeless Veteran Program has exceeded all expectations. This success is attributed to the ongoing partnership between federal, state, regional and local agencies and to the support of donors like Smithfield Foods,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “The community partners and agencies within the Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) recognize that not all of the financial needs of homeless veterans can be met through government resources, and that donated funds can fill important gaps.”

Over the past four years, DVS has worked with federal, state, and local partners to improve cross-agency coordination and to improve service capacity for homeless veterans. This coordination has greatly improved the identification of homeless veterans and enabled agencies serving homeless veterans to make quick connections to appropriate housing resources, according to the governor’s office.

In 2015, Virginia was certified by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as the first state in the nation to functionally end veteran homelessness. Virginia notes that over 3,000 veterans have been placed in permanent housing since October 2014.

In July 2016, the Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program, part of DVS, identified the need for supplemental funding to help veterans in the process of being housed. VVFS was established in 2008 in response to the growing need to improve and expand services to Virginia veterans and their family members coping with the impact of deployment, military service, posttraumatic stress, operational stress and/or traumatic brain injury.

Working with the Veterans Services Foundation and twentyfive partner housing agencies in the Homeless Continuum of Care, DVS established a pilot program to use donated funds to provide one-time gap assistance for homeless veterans in the process of being housed.

These expenses include deposits/first month rent, beds, rental arrears, utility assistance, etc. that cannot be paid by other federal, state, or local resources. To date, 156 veterans have been assisted.

“At Smithfield Foods, our ongoing commitment to support veterans directly aligns with the DVS Homeless Veteran Program’s

mission, and we are proud to provide resources to ensure this program’s continued success,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods.

“We are proud to play a role in this program, which allows us to give back to our nation’s service members and marks the beginning of a unique public-private partnership.”

The funds for the DVS Homeless Veterans Program are allocated from donations made to the Veterans Services Foundation (VSF).

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

June 7, 2017 • 3

White House formally backs plan to send 30,000 federal workers to private corporation The White House on Monday will formally endorse a plan to spin off more than 30,000 federal workers into a private nonprofit corporation, separating the nation’s air traffic controllers and those who work on a $36 billion modernization program from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Trump administration proposal, which will be presented at the White House later Monday, essentially is an endorsement of a plan that failed to gain sufficient traction in Congress last year.

The plan, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, is in keeping with the stated desire of the administration and congressional Republicans to streamline government and transfer some functions into private hands.

While the separation has been discussed for decades and was proposed under the Clinton administration, in its current iteration it has fractured the airline industry, divided the unions that

represent the federal workers, raised the ire of private plane operators, been opposed by ranking House Democrats and raised eyebrows in the Senate.

The Trump administration endorsement, first signaled in a preliminary budget released in March, could provide the momentum needed to get the proposal through both houses and to the president’s desk for his signature.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, embraced the dormant concept last year and fought to win the approval of his committee. But the bill it passed got no attention on the House floor, and there was muttering on the Senate side that suggested it had no future there.

“I first spoke to President Trump back in 2014 about the need for reform, and I’m glad to be working on it with him in 2017,” Shuster said. “President Reagan, who passed away 13 years ago today, once said ‘government is not the solution to the

problem; government is the problem.’

His words are fitting when we realize that government bureaucracy has held back innovation in American aviation. It’s time to bring our aviation system into the 21st century.”

The issue on Capitol Hill has not been the functioning of the 14,000 air traffic controllers, who are universally subject to praise for their devotion to safety when mentioned in the House or Senate committees that oversee them.

Instead, Congress has expressed enormous frustration over the pace of the FAA’s modernization program, called NextGen. While commonly referred to as a GPS-based system for directing the flow of aircraft, that simplistic explanation is akin to saying it’s the carburetor that makes a car’s wheels go around.

The reality is that NextGen is a complicated group of systems intended to smooth the flow of airplanes, speed air travel, save

fuel and accommodate a 20 percent increase in passengers in the next two decades.

The current system is radar-based and requires planes to fly from one waypoint to the next rather than in a straight line to their destination.

(Complaints about low-flying airliners have been legion across the country as the first of several NextGen projects has come on line.)

Selling Congress and the airlines, who would bear some of the cost, on a multibillion-dollar modernization program seemed like a dicey proposition, so about a dozen years ago the FAA came up with a catchy name for all its projects: NextGen. That gave the FAA a single name to use when it sought money from Congress. But it also gave Congress a single program to hold accountable when elements of NextGen moved slowly, or not at all.

Congress’s perception that NextGen wasn’t moving fast enough

(continued on page 4)

Men plead guilty to selling cocaine, firearms, and silencer Two men recently pleaded guilty in Norfolk court to their respective roles in a three-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Juan Rivera-Gutierrez, 35, and Pedro Pabon, Jr., 42, both of Virginia Beach, according to court documents, conspired to sell wholesale quantities of cocaine from September 2013 tthrough April 2017.

Both men are scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 21.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, attorney general of Virginia; and Karl C. Colder, special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Michael B. Boxler, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, accepted the men’s guilty pleas which addressed their roles.

During the course of the conspiracy,

both men offered to sell kilogram levels of cocaine ranging from $34,000 to $42,000. Special agents from the DEA conducted nine controlled purchases and recovered

over 500 grams of cocaine. During one controlled purchase, Pabon suggested that a confidential informant add a cutting agent to cocaine known as “aroma”, a

product commonly used a carpet cleaner, to increase profits. On another controlled purchase, Rivera-Gutierrez sold $2,000 worth of cocaine and five firearms with multiple 100-round clips and a silencer. The silencer was a Department of Defense asset and the firearms included a Russian shotgun, an Israeli rifle, a stolen AR-15 rifle, and a Colt M-4 rifle.

Rivera-Guitterez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms during and relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered firearm (the silencer).

Rivera-Gutierrez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Pabon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

The LEGACY

4 • June 7, 2017

(from page 1) how hard they try to separate themselves,” said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School.

And there’s no easy way out, because going too far in repudiating Trump risks alienating the party’s base, which still approves of the president.

“It’s a tough act to perform . . . I really don’t envy them trying to do that,” Rozell said. “The way it looks right now, that’s a lose-lose situation for a Republican.”

A majority — 77 percent — of Republicans in Virginia say they approve of the way Trump is handling his job, though just under half strongly approve, at 48 percent.

Among self-identified independents, more than 6 in 10 voters who disapprove of Trump support Northam and Perriello over Gillespie, with the Democrats receiving similarly wide support among independents who oppose the Republican health-care bill passed earlier this month by the House.

Fifty-eight percent of registered voters oppose the House Republican plan endorsed by Trump to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Just 34 percent of registered Virginia voters support the proposed replacement, the American Health Care Act. Gillespie has been cautious on Trump — he was slow to endorse him last year and has been careful in responding to the regular flow of controversy that has marked Trump’s presidency.

His problem is clear in the stance of a voter like Beverly Snead, 65, a political independent from Chesapeake. She voted for Hillary Clinton last fall but was willing to give Trump — and any Republicans running for governor — a chance this year.

But Trump’s behavior in office has turned her off — and Gillespie’s silence about it prevents her from supporting him, she said.

“I have no problem with Republicans, Democrats, running the United States.

Just do the right thing,” said Snead, who is concerned about Trump’s possible ties to Russia and thinks he has hurt race relations with the “things that come out of his mouth.”

“If you see someone in your party doing wrong, speak up and do the right thing,” she said.

Gillespie is one of three candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the June 13 primary, along with

Nichole Armstead state Sen. Frank Wagner (Virginia Beach) and Prince William County Supervisor Corey Stewart.

The winner will take on whoever prevails in the Democratic nominating battle, also culminating June 13, a tight contest between Northam, who is lieutenant governor, and former congressman Perriello.

The poll did not measure general election preferences with Stewart or Wagner as the Republican nominee, both of whom trail Gillespie by a wide margin in the primary race.

Both Democrats are running hard against Trump, with Perriello leading that effort through an influx of national money, support from progressive darling Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and viral online videos.

Democrats’ strength in the governor’s race comes despite the lukewarm popularity of current Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. At 49 percent approval and 25 percent disapproval, McAuliffe’s ratings are largely positive but below the average for past governors and significantly lower than Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan, who has a 65 percent approval mark in his state.

On the Republican side, the candidate who has most enthusiastically embraced Trump is Stewart, who was Trump’s campaign manager last year in Virginia before being fired for protesting against party leaders he thought were not supportive enough of Trump. He has turned his verbal flamethrower on Gillespie for not strongly defending the president, but Stewart’s stance hasn’t translated into voter support.

Gillespie has double the voter support of either Stewart or Wagner among likely Republican primary voters, according to the Post-Schar poll.

Some Republican voters who approve of Trump say they would like a Republican governor to embrace

him, but that it won’t necessarily affect their vote in November. “It’s important that he supports [Trump], but I think state government is quite a bit different than the federal government,” said Nancy Hass, 52, a contract specialist from Virginia Beach.

Kevin Thompson, a 58-year-old Fairfax resident, said he wouldn’t back an establishment Republican candidate like Gillespie in a primary but would still back him in a general election against a Democrat — “unless there’s a very strong thirdparty candidate.”

With overall Trump approval so low, though, the math is tough for any Republican nominee in the general election. Gillespie trails Northam and Perriello by similar margins even if you filter out people who are not all that interested in politics — those who did not vote last year, or in 2013, or who are not following the governor’s race closely.

One factor that could help the Republican nominee is low turnout.

Virginia elections typically draw far fewer voters in years when there is no presidential race. That can tend to favor Republican candidates, whose supporters generally are more likely

to be white and older — groups that are statistically more likely to vote.

At this relatively early point in the race, similar shares of registered voters who are Democrats (59 percent) and Republicans (53 percent) say they are paying close attention to the election — though fewer than 1 in 5 of either party says they are following it “very closely.”

Democrats are hoping that one side effect of the controversies around Trump is that more people are motivated to vote. Colin Dillon, 23, was old enough the last time Virginia picked a governor but was away at college and didn’t bother.

In related news, in Richmond, for the Democratic primary for treasurer is Nichole Ona R. Armstead vs Tavarris J. Spinks. In Richmond, the treasurer performs a variety of customer-service functions, such as collecting state income taxes, helping residents prepare tax returns, paying jurors, providing notary services and issuing hunting and fishing licenses.

They are vying to replace Eunice M. Wilder who has had a 20-plus year tenure in the Richmond treasurer’s office. Armstead is the daughter of former Richmond councilman, Chuck Richardson.

(from page 3) with the future and safety of our was amply bolstered by critical reports from the inspector general’s office and from the Government Accountability Office.

The FAA, however, has been able to point to success in recent years with some elements of NextGen. When Shuster revived the concept of moving the controllers and the NextGen program to a private nonprofit corporation run by a board of directors, one of the big four airlines — Delta — opposed the move and parted company with the lobbying group Airlines for America, which endorsed it. Operators of small planes and corporate jets — known as “general aviation” to distinguish them from the airlines — pushed back out of fear the airlines would dominate the corporation’s board.

That National Air Traffic Controllers Association backed Shuster’s plan, saying the new corporation would ensure more stable funding than Congress could provide, while the 11,000-member Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union strongly opposed it.

“It is unfathomable, even dangerous, to consider gambling

air traffic control system through privatization,” PASS President Mike Perrone said in a statement last month.

Mirroring much of Shuster’s 2016 proposal, a four-page White House proposal underscores that “no group should have the appearance of influence over the board of directors,” countering the argument that the airlines would dominate the board.

The new corporation would pay for itself through user fees for airlines and “reasonable” fees passed on to passengers, the administration said.

It also would have the authority to adjust air routes after seeking public comment, recognizing that NextGen routing will cause noise over houses that haven’t previously experienced low-flying planes.

The wording of the White House paper may cause concern for union members who would go off the federal payroll. It specifies twice that current employees will retain their pay and benefits and be able to participate in federal retirement and health-care plans. It does not say that the corporation’s new hires should expect the same pay or benefits.

June 7, 2017 • 5

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Safer hurricane evacuations is focus of KYZ promote highway safety, and lessen overcrowding at storm shelters.

The new zones enhance the current evacuation plans and routes already designated in coastal Virginia.

When a serious storm is expected to impact Virginia’s coastal region, state and local emergency managers will work with local news media outlets that will broadcast and publish evacuation directives to the public.

“Virginians are safer when they are prepared for emergencies,”

said Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. “Know Your Zone is an important new tool to empower people to make good decisions based on the latest and best scientific and technical information. The commonwealth is always working to improve emergency response plans, so educational and operational enhancements will continue throughout hurricane season and into future years.”

McEachin calls on HUD to correct ‘systemic’ safety issues at Essex Village apts

June marks the beginning of the annual six-month hurricane season and last week, Virginia released new, tiered evacuation zones for coastal regions designed to enhance current evacuation plans, boost public safety, and improve travel efficiency in the event of hurricanes or other disasters.

“This new evacuation plan represents a significant step toward ensuring the safety of the Commonwealth’s residents and visitors,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “The new datadriven plan will streamline the evacuation process by providing accurate and useful information to citizens based on their street addresses. And, because it will be vitally important for people to be aware of the new system, we’re launching a public information campaign called Know Your Zone.”

Know Your Zone will serve about 1.25 million people who live in coastal Virginia, the region of the state most vulnerable to hurricanes and other storms. Twenty-three localities (listed below) are participating in the program.

Hurricanes cause high winds, tornadoes and landslides, but their deadliest hazard is flooding. Tropical storms and depressions can be just as dangerous. Over the past several decades, hurricanes have repeatedly battered eastern Virginia, killing dozens of people and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Different hurricanes can bring vastly different impacts, depending on tides, storm intensity, path, and other meteorological factors.

The tiered evacuation zones were developed in close cooperation with local emergency managers throughout Hampton Roads, the Northern Neck, the Middle Peninsula, and the Eastern Shore, and are based on the most up-to-date engineering data for the region.

The zones are designated A through D and will provide residents with a better understanding of whether they should evacuate in an emergency or shelter at home, based on their street address and the nature of the emergency event.

Avoiding unnecessary evacuation travel will reduce traffic congestion,

Congressman A. Donald McEachin (D-04), has written a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson urging him to immediately address the issues at Essex Village in Richmond.

“As HUD is aware, Essex Village residents have been forced to endure systematically unsafe and unhealthy living conditions for too long,” wrote McEachin.

In light of a recent incident when a balcony rail gave way and a pregnant woman fell, McEachin sent a previous letter to Carson requesting a phone call with HUD about the living conditions and promising to send this more detailed letter, which further explains the disastrous living conditions and reiterates the congressman’s specific concerns.

“I sent a letter requesting a second call with your staff in order to hear what HUD plans to do. I reiterate that request today: I would like to know why Essex Village was allowed to reach its current state of dangerous disrepair; what corrective actions HUD is taking or intends to take, and when; how HUD will work with other good-faith stakeholders – notably county officials – in order to achieve better outcomes; and what recourse is realistically available to my constituents if fundamental problems are not swiftly and completely corrected,” noted McEachin.

Rep. A. Donald McEachin McEachin has requested from HUD: · A plan for repairing the Essex Village property; · An immediate phone call regarding the young, pregnant woman who fell from her secondstory balcony; · Information about how residents can vacate their contracts and secure vouchers to find other housing; and · A policy change to allow Henrico County officials to accompany HUD on inspections of the property or provide an understanding of why that is not feasible.

McEachin’s office noted that he is eager to speak with HUD at the earliest opportunity. “He remains deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the 1,600 Essex Village residents and calls for immediate actions to correct the various unacceptable issues,” according to the office, which also noted that HUD has confirmed receipt of both letters.

6 • June 7, 2017

Op/Ed & Letters

The LEGACY

Brooks’ firing shows that the NAACP doesn’t have a clue RAYNARD JACKSON Once again the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has proven why it is the Hillary Clinton of the Civil Rights Movement.

The NAACP used to be a storied organization, that was a major player in the historic fight for full equality for blacks in America; that was before they got bought out by the Democratic Party in the early 1970s; before they bowed downed to the alter of the homosexual community; and before they sold themselves to the likes of radical liberal, George Soros and his open borders crowd who believe everyone has a right to be in the U.S., whether legally or illegally.

The equality that the NAACP once sought was not predicated on some “special” rights or entitlements that some groups wanted the courts to create out of thin air (gay rights). The NAACP and blacks wanted the rights that the U.S. Constitution already said we were entitled to. In other words, the NAACP simply wanted the government to enforce the laws on the books, not create new ones.

Like Clinton, the NAACP can never seem to bring itself to accept responsibility for any of their own actions; and the plight of the black community can always be blamed on others.

The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 3 No. 23 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 1/2 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-1550 Online www.legacynewspaper.com

This Clintonian tick led them recently to fire their latest president and CEO, Cornell William Brooks.

Brooks should have never been hired for this post; the national board selected him three years ago, because they wanted someone that was easy to control.

Brooks was a horrible speaker and wasn’t as charismatic as some of their past leaders, but he was easily controlled.

Since the 1970s, the NAACP has only had two heads, who made any difference in America and the organization; those two people were Benjamin Hooks and Bruce Gordon.

Hooks was an icon of the Civil Rights Movement and a staunch Republican. Richard Nixon appointed him to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the early 70s. He was the first black to ever serve on

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this commission and is singularly responsible for the diversity in media ownership that we see today.

Without Hooks, networks like BET and TV One never would have existed.

But somehow, the NAACP rarely mentions Hooks’ Republican ties in any of the group’s written literature, but I digress.

Maybe Hook’s speech at the NAACP’s 1990 convention is why they sanitized his Republican linage.

During the speech, Hooks said that, “It’s time today… to bring it out of the closet: No longer can we proffer polite, explicable, reasons why black America cannot do more for itself…

I’m calling for a moratorium on excuses. I challenge black America today—all of us—to set aside our alibis.”

Ouch!

Bruce Gordon came from a family with deeps roots in the Civil Rights Movement, but he chose to make his mark on America by working his way up the ladder in corporate America.

He became a high-ranking executive with telecom giant Verizon.

So, his appointment to lead the NAACP in 2005 shocked everyone, because they typically hired preachers or politicians. President George W. Bush had rightfully ignored the group and refused to attend their national convention until Gordon came on board.

Gordon’s business background helped him to navigate the political battlefield and he was able to build a personal relationship with President Bush, to the dismay of his group’s board.

This friction led to his abrupt resignation in 2007. Gordon stated: “I did not step into the role to be a caretaker, to be dictated to…I stepped into the role to understand as best I could the needs of the African American community and then to propose strategies and policies and programs and practices that could improve conditions for African Americans…The things I had in mind were not consistent with what some—unfortunately, too many—on the board had in mind.”

The national board of the NAACP demands undying fealty and they love to micromanage their presidents; any attemps to cut their puppet strings and you become useless to them. God forbid a president makes a decision on his own or attempts to make the group more relevant to the 21st century.

I know many of their leaders from across the country and the tragedy is that most of them don’t even believe in the issues the national board has made a priority. Publically, many state NAACP leaders say one thing and privately they believe another.

(continued on page 7)

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

June 7, 2017 • 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

On Paris climate agreement withdrawal THE BAD NEWS: President Trump sealed his reputation as an economic and environmental wrecking ball with few rivals in U.S. history.

Locally, his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement threatens to reduce jobs and shrink our regional economy. It would do so by embracing fracking and a dying coal industry over the jobs-creating markets for wind and solar power.

Trump has endangered our coastal military bases in Virginia with more sea-level rise. He has endangered DC citizens with more life-threatening urban heat waves. He has endangered Maryland agriculture with more erratic weather that harms everything from fruit trees to livestock.

THE GOOD NEWS: President Trump CANNOT stop the growing local movement toward clean energy or the broader international effort to stabilize our global climate.

Locally, states are moving faster toward clean energy than ever before because of Trump’s criminal rejection of climate science and sound policy. Virginia has just announced the state’s first-ever carbon cap on power plant pollution. D.C. is moving toward a citywide carbon fee that creatively cuts pollution while boosting individual incomes. And Maryland has just banned fracking while approving the country’s largest offshore wind farm. This robust state action cannot and will not be

slowed by Trump’s federal rejection of climate truth and economic sanity.

The citizens of Maryland, Virginia, and DC should rest assured that our states – along with progressive states across the country – will continue to grow our economies with clean energy while fulfilling our historic collective duty to help solve the climate crisis for our children and the rest of the world.

Mike Tidwell

Government of thieves Thomas Jefferson wrote these prophetic words nearly 2 centuries ago. “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just and his justice won’t sleep forever.”

Jefferson was speaking of America’s condonement and participation in the most inhumane slavery in history: Chattel slavery in the Confederate South. Former enslaved Frederick Douglass described this un-Godly institution as follows: “There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour”. He added, “Your shout of liberty and equality…. are a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages”.

Recently, not a single Republican voted against the Monument Preservation Act that honors men in perpetuity who were treasonist, murderers, enslavers and yes, KKK leaders. “Historical preservation” is a thin veil to cover up their crimes which continue to disgrace a nation of savages. Most disturbing is

the total lack of concern for black children who are now forced to attend schools named after Jeff Davis and Robert Lee hence forth and forever more. Let’s face it, no white legislators would ever support a bill forcing white children to attend a school named to honor Nat Turner, who only killed whites to achieve his freedom.

The Articles of Succession of the rebelling southern states clearly state that the Civil War was fought to keep people of African descent enslaved in perpetuity. Pardoned for their treason against the United States, restored the treasonist land and their right to vote, the Confederate cause to sustain white supremacy in perpetuity continues to guide the thinking and laws of the Republican government from the White House to the State House.

Black life simply doesn’t matter.

No value is given to our children and the violence that surrounds their schools and communities. To force them to go to schools of violent Klansmen and Confederate leaders is unconscionable and un-Godly.

But God’s “justice will not sleep forever”. When black people learn the lessons of the Jews, we will not tolerate schools named to honor men who killed and enslaved their ancestors. In Germany, there is not a single monument to a Nazi. The day will come when a black child will dare not attend a school or cross a bridge named to honor a klansman or a Confederate, treasonist enslaver.

Faya Rose Toure

(from page 6) How can the NAACP claim to represent the Black community when they are out of sync with what the black community believes and wants?

Black community is very conservative. Blacks don’t support amnesty for illegals. Blacks are the largest voting block that supports school choice and vouchers! This, despite the NAACP passing a resolution last year at their national convention opposing school choice.

And they wonder why they are no longer relevant to the black community?

I dare the NAACP national board to choose someone like Condoleezza Rice, Shannon Reeves, or Jennifer Carroll as their next leader; if they are truly interested in regaining relevancy, that’s exactly what they’ll do.

Unfortunately, the NAACP national board is totally incapable of thinking outside the box or giving up control. The NAACP has become the retirement village for the black bourgeoisie.

Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party. BAFBF focuses on the Black entrepreneur. For more information about BAFBF, visit www.bafbf.org.

You can follow Raynard on Twitter @ Raynard1223.

8 • June 7, 2017

Faith & Religion

The LEGACY

Research finds Americans are obsessing over morality — again JEFF BRUMLEY The human penchant for worrying about the state of morality is ageless.

In the 1950s, the popularity of rolled-up jeans, slicked back hair and rock’n’roll music frightened Americans so much that many feared juvenile delinquency would be the ruin of society.

And today they are at it again, this time worrying that relativistic views of moral behavior are poisoning the nation.

At least that’s what LifeWay Research learned in a recent survey

of 1,000 American adults.

The Nashville-based organization said its survey reveals a significant generational divide on the subject of morality.

“More than 6 in 10 of those older than 45 say right and wrong do not change,” LifeWay reported in an online summary of its research. “For those 35 and younger, fewer than 4 in 10 make that claim.”

On some issues the concern is strong across age groups. For example, 85 percent of Americans 65 and older are worried about declines in moral behavior, LifeWay said.

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Among Americans 18-24, it was 72 percent.

The concern was similarly high across different ethnic groups.

The LifeWay survey found that 86 percent of African Americans, 82 percent of whites, 75 percent of other ethnic groups and 73 percent of Hispanics are worried about that decline.

But the research also uncovered plenty of disagreement among Americans — especially about legislating morality.

When presented with the statement: “Implementing laws to encourage people to act morally is not effective,” 63 percent agreed and 37 disagreed.

Men were more likely to agree with that statement than women, while nones are more likely to agree than Christians.

LifeWay also asked people how they personally choose between matters of right and wrong.

Moral truths never change, according to 52 percent of Americans. Thirtytwo percent believe whether someone is hurt determines right and wrong.

Whether an action is illegal or if the benefits outweigh the costs also influences its consideration as right or wrong.

“Overall, Americans seem guided more by their internal moral compass than by laws,” the LifeWay report stated. “Almost no one (4 percent) worries about getting caught when

deciding between right and wrong.”

Other variables were also examined.

“Faith, geography, education and gender divide Americans when it comes to morals.”

Women, at 36 percent, are more likely than men, at 28 percent, to consider harm to others when determining the morality of actions.

Midwesterners are more likely to consider harmfulness than Southerners, by 37 percent to 27 percent, respectively, LifeWay found.

Americans with high school educations or less, at 26 percent; Christians, at 26 percent; and evangelicals, at 16 percent, are less likely to consider harm to others in considering what actions are moral or immoral.

When respondents were asked what influences their moral views the most, 39 percent named their parents, while 26 percent named religious beliefs and 18 percent named their feelings.

Almost 65 percent of evangelicals credited their faith with shaping their moral vision. So did 51 percent of those who attend religious services at least once a month.

LifeWay Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said the statistics about evangelicals are no surprise.

But determining the source of right and wrong isn’t as clear for the rest of society.

“However, for Americans there is no most influential source of morality embraced by a majority,” he said in the LifeWay report.

What is clear is that worry and division are on the rise.

“We are shifting very fast from a world where right and wrong didn’t change to a world where right and wrong are relative,” McConnell said.

“We are not all on the same page when it comes to morality. And we haven’t reckoned with what that means.”

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

June 7, 2017 • 9

U of R chooses ‘The Faithful Scribe’ by Mufti as next ‘One Book, One Richmond’ selection For the first time, the University of Richmond will read a book by one of Richmond’s own faculty members as the 2017-18 One Book, One Richmond common reading selection.

“The Faithful Scribe,” by assistant professor of journalism Shahan Mufti, is both the personal story of Mufti’s family and an account of Pakistan’s complex history. Themes of faith, nationalism, family and war are woven throughout the book.

“The committee received a record of more than 50 nominations this year,” said Adrienne Piazza, One Book, One Richmond’s manager. “We decided ‘The Faithful Scribe’ offered many rich themes through which to explore current social justice issues in a way that speaks to our values as a welcoming and inclusive community.”

“Very few writers ever get to have their books become part of the culture of a vibrant university campus for a whole year, and to have my own university community read this story is truly special,” Mufti said.

In “The Faithful Scribe” Mufti

describes himself as “one hundred percent American and one hundred percent Pakistani.” Published in 2013, the book uses his personal experiences, including his time as a news reporter, to capture the larger story of Pakistan, the world’s first Islamic democracy, and its relationship with America.

“Pakistan came on the map after the second world war as the world’s first Islamic democracy, promising to bridge Islam and the West.”

Mufti notes. “The book is about this important political experiment and how Pakistan’s destiny matters to us all.”

Mufti has written for a variety of newspapers and magazines as a freelance journalist. He has covered Pakistan and the political evolution of Islam for a number of major publications, including The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal. He has worked at the University of Richmond since 2012.

One Book, One Richmond is a campus-wide effort that encourages

Shahan Mufti students, faculty, staff and members of the Richmond community to read and discuss a selected book on a social justice issue. Past selections have examined mass incarceration, food insecurity and poverty. The effort is led by the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement with a committee of students, faculty and staff representing all five academic schools as well as departments across campus. One Book, One Richmond will offer programming with campus partners throughout the academic

Sex Offender Helpline The helpline provides support to communities on issues related to accessing sex offender registration information; responsible use of information; sexual abuse prevention resources; and accessing crime victim support services.

The tips program provides the public an opportunity to report registrants who are failing to comply with registration requirements.

Tips can also be provided at www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

This program is not intended to be used to report police emergencies.

year.

According to the university, many UR faculty members incorporate the One Book, One Richmond reading into their classes. New this year, all students in first-year livinglearning programs will read the book as part of their introduction to the University of Richmond and participate in related discussions and programming.

The keynote event is planned for the spring semester, with details to be announced at a later time.

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10 • June 7, 2017

The LEGACY

New survey reveals surprising ways African Americans celebrate their family patriarchs In a new survey commissioned by AfricanAncestry.com, the pioneers of genetics ancestry tracing for people of African descent, spending quality time and gifts of words out ranked giving material gifts as expressions of gratitude for black family patriarchs. The survey, which polled African Americans ages 18 to 65, also revealed that while nearly 72 percent of respondents strongly agreed that it is important to honor family patriarchs, only 18 percent said that they celebrate them enough.

In the survey where patriarchs are defined as any male head of the family, Father’s Day ranked lowest when asked the occasion when you most celebrate fathers. Nearly 38 percent said they celebrate them ‘Everyday’ and 21 percent said ‘Birthdays.’ Family reunions and holidays were among

Dr. Rick Kittles of African Ancestry the least occasions to celebrate patriarchs.

“Black men, especially fathers, are the cornerstone of our community, yet are more often demonized than supported in this society, ” said African Ancestry President and Co-founder Dr. Gina Paige. “We strongly agree that ‘everyday’ is the

Surry student wins art competition

Congressman A. Donald McEachin (D-4th District) recently awarded Jada Epps first place in the 2017 Art Competition.

Epps’ winning watercolor painting, “The Melting Pot … What ‘Other’ Means” will represent the 4th Congressional District on display in the Capitol for one year.

Epps is a student at Surry County High School and has been invited to join the McEachin for a celebratory reception in Washinton D.C. on June 29.

“I knew we had talented young

students in our congressional district and that was confirmed with the submissions we received this year.

I look forward to seeing Jada’s watercolor painting everyday in the Capitol, representing our congressional district,” said McEachin.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. This winning piece of art will join those selected other participating districts from around the country in an exhibit in Washington.

best time to celebrate our patriarchs, and we are committed to making it easier to do so.”

Celebrating Black Family Patriarchs Survey Highlights Not surprisingly, gathering during the holidays is high priority when it comes to spending time, but don’t expect a vacation or trip. And when it comes to words of affirmation, respondents prefer most to do it in phone calls, but texting and handwritten notes, were also popular.

• Spending Quality Time: Sixty-six percent ranked spending quality time as an expression of honor, while 16 percent ranked it least favorite. A whopping 50 percent said they spend time most during the holidays and the least favorite way to spend time was on a vacation

or trip. Participating in family celebrations and taking loved ones out for special events were also popular expressions of time.

• Words of Affirmation: More than half of respondents ranked gifts of words as a popular way to honor their patriarchs. Seventy-four percent preferred phone calls the most, while 40 percent ranked handwritten notes as second favorite and sending texts or posting on social media ranked at nearly 37 percent • Material Gifts: When it comes to material gifts, 68 percent ranked sharing family history such as photos and ancestry kits. Watches, clothing and special event tickets were the least favorite gifts to share and giving money was pretty popular 29 percent.

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

June 7, 2017 • 11

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12 • June 7, 2017

The LEGACY

Emulating Va.’s Wilder, Jealous confirms run in Md. TEWIRE - Former NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, also former Black Press executive, is now launching a political career.

Perhaps recently best known as a surrogate for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jealous confirmed last week that he is running for governor of Maryland.

He cited his long record of civil rights and the diversity of the state of Maryland as being matched to his favor.

“When I was president of the NAACP I learned just how quickly my neighbors here were prepared to move forward on civil rights. In one year, we abolished the death penalty, we passed marriage equality, we passed the Dream Act. I’m running for governor because I believe we’re prepared to move just as quickly in moving forward on our education, on employment, on the environment while continuing to protect civil rights,” Jealous said in an interview.

“I’m running for governor because I believe we can do much better by our kids right now.”

Jealous is entering a crowded field of seven other candidates for the Democratic primary to be held June 26, 2018. He believes disaffection for the scandal-laden Trump administration may cause voters to lean back toward Democratic leadership after electing Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in November 2014. Hogan is eligible to run for re-election in the state where the Democratic base is actually two to one.

“Larry Hogan is governor of Maryland because in 2014, we had a high tide of Republican turnout and an ebb tide of Democratic turnout,} Jealous said. He pointed out that Hogan won by 60,000 votes after 125,000 Democrats who had voted in 2010 didn't show up to vote in 2014.

“In this era of President Trump, they can only remember having a president that is competent to serve.

And now they see the impact of having a president that is quite the opposite,” Jealous said. “So long as we turn out Democratic voters who are used to voting in gubernatorial elections, there’s almost no way that

Ben Jealous with his family. he can win.”

The election will be held Nov. 6, 2018. But first Jealous must distinguish himself among the crowded Democratic field. In that regard, he may just have a notso-secret weapon. If he can win an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders, it may bolster his chances significantly.

“Let’s just see,” was Jealous’ only response when asked whether he expects to receive Sanders’ endorsement.

Sanders won 36 percent of the vote in Maryland’s Democratic presidential primary. If Jealous can win a majority of those voters; plus a significant portion of Maryland’s 45 percent black vote, he is a strong contender to win the Democratic nomination.

But the key will be to excite the Democratic base to the polls. Jealous believes he has the record to do just that. Maryland has a 45 percent white constituency and 10 percent that encompasses other races.

Jealous believes his background and civil rights record could attract a following similar to the “Rainbow Coalition” that was amassed during the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign, for which Jealous also worked in 1988.

Jealous was born in Pacific Grove,

Calif. But his parents, a mixedrace couple, had met in Baltimore where his mother grew up. His father, Fred Jealous, who was white, helped integrate lunch counters in the South. His mother, Ann Jealous, worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s. As a teenager, Jealous became steeped in civil and voting rights work and spent summers in Baltimore with his maternal grandparents.

“The combination of an activist rooted in the tradition of the NAACP and the civil rights movement and an activist rooted in the Bernie camp, gives us a broad base that looks like Maryland similar to what you saw of Doug Wilder in Virginia after the Jesse Jackson campaign,” Jealous said.

Jealous’ career has been woven with civil rights and politics.

Between 2000-2004 he served as executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Earlier in his career, he’d worked as an editor for the historic Jackson Advocate newspaper in Mississippi.

After NNPA, he became founding director of Amnesty International’s U. S. Human Rights Program. In 2008, he became the historically youngest NAACP president at the age of 35, an office he held until 2012. He later became a venture capitalist with the Oakland, Calif.based Kapor Center for Social Impact. He also played integral rolls in the presidential races of President Barack Obama.

“I’m blessed to have lived my life as a progressive in the black community who is committed to fighting for a better life for everyone in our community and ultimately for everyone in every community...It’s that life, that path that starts with Jesse Jackson ‘88 and goes all the way through Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign,” he recounts. “It’s that life that started with my parents and my grandparents rooted in the NAACP, raised in the NAACP; ultimately leads into the labor movement and the environmentalist movement and the LGBT movement and the

women's rights movement. That’s me, that’s where I’m rooted and where this campaign is rooted.”

If he wins, Jealous would become the nation’s fourth black governor in modern history. The others were Virginia’s Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, elected in 1989; Massachusetts’ Gov. Deval Patrick, elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010; and New York’s Gov. David Paterson who served two years after the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2008.

Jealous, 44, has two young children to whom he often refers when expressing concerns about the future of Maryland. Reflecting on the economic deprivation that became a national spotlight during the Freddie Gray case, he accuses Hogan of having ignored Baltimore during his tenure.

“This is a governor who has shifted millions of dollars away from public education and into voucher programs and who has toured the state with [Trump-appointed Education Secretary] Betsy Devos and has embraced Attorney General Sessions’ foolishness of trying to revive the failed war on drugs by also investing millions of dollars in building up law enforcement to go after heroin addicts as law breakers rather than as people who need to be sent to rehabilitation,” he said. “The only way to create a better future for Baltimore and its residents is to have a governor who is always for all of its residents; including Baltimore.

Right now it feels too often that we have a governor who is always for all of Maryland except for Baltimore...

You simply cannot starve a city that’s supposed to be the economic epicenter of the state and have the state prosper.”

Ultimately, the voters of Maryland must be inspired enough to believe the election even matters.

“It’s going to take us deciding that our children’s future, that our family's economic future is important enough for us to turn out,” said Jealous. “And so, at the end of the day, we will do what it takes to turn out voters. Donald Trump will make that easier and Larry Hogan will make that easier still.”

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

June 7, 2017 • 13

‘On the Run’: 2017 campaign edition from The Root JASON JOHNSON Tired of punching at the sky, yelling at the television and unfriending folks from high school because of politics? Of course you are!

Some say the current Congress and administration’s steady commitment to incompetence, corruption and white nationalists has gotten the American people, especially African Americans, riled up in ways not seen since Chaka Khan performed at the Republican National Convention.

Hence, the ongoing series, ‘On the Run: 2017 Campaign Edition’ from The Root.

Several times a month, The Root has gone on a tour throughout the U.S., focusing on African-American candidates running for local office, the statehouse and Senate, mayor or governor ... in other words, the people who have just as much to do with your healthcare and security as the golf-playing, TV-watching retiree in the White House. These are local races where you can volunteer, give money, support and vent your current political representativeinduced frustrations at the ballot box this fall.

This feature takes place in Virginia, which, according to the state’s motto, “... is for lovers” (of all kinds, legally). Justin Fairfax is a 38-year-old attorney and graduate of Duke University running for the Democratic nomination June 13 to be lieutenant governor of Virginia. He is currently leading in some straw polls, and if successful this fall, he would be one of only a handful of African Americans ever to serve as lieutenant governor in the United States, not to mention the only African American to hold statewide office in Virginia this year. This reporter talked to Fairfax about his upbringing, his view on politics and why he just can’t stay loyal to one major league team.

TR: Justin, I think you were made in a lab by Democratic scientists looking to make the perfect black candidate for the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia metro area). You come from the Midwest (Pittsburgh), but you grew up in

Justin Fairfax with his family.

Northeast D.C. during the worst part of the crack epidemic in the late ’80s and ’90s. You were raised by a single mom who managed to send four kids to college, and you graduated from Duke undergrad, then Columbia Law School. And your last name is Fairfax, which just happens to be the most populous and diverse county in the state. How do we know you’re for real?!

Justin Fairfax: [Laughter.] Well, I’m real. [Laughter.] I mean, my motivation for running for office is to pay back a spiritual debt. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money.

People gave us hope and faith and optimism and a high-quality education. No matter how dark things seemed, that spiritual wealth kept us going. I have a spiritual debt to pay to all those people—my mom, grandparents, neighbors—who poured so much into me. I have to make that story possible for other people.

TR: You grew up in Northeast D.C., which used to be a poor and working-class black neighborhood.

Now almost nobody can afford to live there. The same thing is happening in Northern Virginia, where the Great Recession and the housing crisis wiped out so much black wealth that almost nobody can afford to buy Grandma’s old row house and flip it for a million dollars. What is your stance on gentrification?

JF: It is a huge challenge, and one thing that I’m passionate about. My mom saved up enough money to buy the house across the street from my grandparents, and she still lives there today in Northeast D.C. These homes are going to sell; they sell for a huge profit, and that can increase the intergenerational wealth people have.

For 90 percent of American families, a home is the largest investment they’re ever going to make. You only have so many chances to change the trajectory of your family. One of the things that inspired me to run for attorney general four years ago was I saw the housing crisis.

I’m passionate about protecting homeowners.

TR: What do you think of the Republican House’s new revision of the Affordable Care Act? What can you do in Virginia to assure millions that they won’t lose their health care?

thing and policy, all five of Virginia’s statewide officeholders are Democrats. Democrats have won Virginia in the last three presidential elections. Yet in the House of Delegates, 66 out of 100 members are Republican. That’s a supermajority.

In our congressional delegation, 7 out of 11 members of Congress are Republican. All this shows you the power gerrymandering can have on policy. As lieutenant governor, I want to fight for nonpartisan redistricting; it might be one of the most important issues of our time.

TR: You live in Virginia, you grew up in D.C., but came from Pittsburgh.

Who’s your team?

JF: [Laughter.] Basketball team is certainly the Wizards. Since I went to Duke, Jordan is the only Tarheel I like, plus we have the same birthday.

I’m existentially torn between the Caps and the Penguins.

TR: What is your position on the racist name of Washington’s football team?

JF: I think this bill is a complete moral travesty and reckless fiscal policy. Utah, Kentucky, Ohio—red states have expanded Medicaid, but we can’t. Until we get our districts to reflect our voters, we’re gonna be stuck, and we’re not gonna be able to do the things we need to do.

JF: Speaking personally, I personally don’t like the name. But I think we need to keep things in perspective. I think we’re often diverted by issues like this—but I don’t want that to take away from existential threats to our community: health care, criminal

Just to reflect on the gerrymandering

(continued on page 15)

14 • June 7, 2017

The LEGACY

Number of female candidates for Va. House has jumped GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER Kelly Fowler’s daughter was born the day Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, but this year’s birthday was a downer, said Fowler, who, together with her daughter, Tessa Anne, had been enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporters, and they couldn’t bear to see President Trump sworn in on her big day.

So Fowler took her little girl to the Women’s March in Washington to salvage their spirits. And in the process, she decided something about herself: She was going to run for office.

Fowler is now seeking to become the Democratic candidate for her House of Delegates race in Virginia Beach, where she will go up against Republican incumbent Ron Villanueva, who also faces a primary challenger, in House District 21.

That makes Fowler part of a wave of female candidates in this year’s elections for 100 House seats.

With primary elections coming on June 13, 61 women are seeking a seat in the Virginia legislature — about 30 percent of the field.

The overall crop of 206 candidates is far bigger than usual, and the number of women may be a record.

The 50 women running as Democrats are the most for that party in at least a decade and probably ever — up from 27 who filed in 2015, according to the state party. Republicans are fielding 10 female candidates, and one woman is running as an independent.

“I think what you’re seeing here is the Trump effect,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington and a longtime Virginia election watcher who said he can’t remember seeing so many women on the ballot.

“There are so many people frustrated in Virginia with Trump, and that’s

generating a lot more candidates as well as more women candidates than we’ve seen in recent cycles.”

In a recent poll by The Washington Post and the Schar School at George Mason University, only 36 percent of Virginia residents said they approve of Trump’s performance as president. Among women, the results were even worse — 29 percent said they approve of Trump and only 17 percent said they strongly approve. Two-thirds of women said they disapprove, and 61 percent strongly disapprove.

Partly as a result, women’s issues have featured prominently in this year’s race for the Democratic nomination for governor. Both of the party’s candidates — Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former congressman Tom Perriello — have campaigned on promising to be a “brick wall” against attempts by Trump or the Republican-controlled state legislature to roll back access to abortion or otherwise restrict women’s health issues.

But it’s the outpouring of interest from female candidates that best captures the spirit of the moment, said Stephanie Schriock, president of the women’s political group Emily’s List.

“I think there’s been a real empowerment of women to step up and want their voices heard in all aspects of society, and that particularly means elective office,” Schriock said. “There are many reasons — one clearly is the election of Donald Trump and what that means to a lot of women in their gut who say, ‘Wait a minute, if that can happen, I’ve got to take charge and get involved myself.’ ” Emily’s List waded into the Virginia races Tuesday, endorsing Fowler and six other House candidates, including Danica Roem in House District 13 in Prince William County. She would be

Members of Emerge Virginia, a training program for Democratic women. the first transgender person elected to the General Assembly. All of the seven are Democrats.

The national group, which also has endorsed Susan Platt for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, promises to bring attention and fundraising power to their campaigns. The others on their slate are Hala Ayala in HD51 in Prince William; Jennifer Carroll Foy in HD2 in Prince William; Wendy Gooditis in HD10 in Loudoun; Kathleen Murphy in HD34 in Fairfax; and Cheryl Turpin in HD85 in Virginia Beach.

Of the 61 women running for office in the Virginia House primaries, 12 are Democratic incumbents and four are Republican incumbents.

Many Virginia incumbents go years without challengers, and as districts have become more polarized, Democrats have sometimes struggled to field challengers in very red parts of the state. Not this year, though: All but 16 House races feature candidates from both parties, and women account for more than half of all challengers seeking seats held by Republicans.

At least four contested races feature only women, but that number could rise once the general election

candidates are selected. And there were actually five more women candidates who have already been winnowed out in districts that used a nominating process.

“The Trump effect might have been a good thing in the long run,” Fowler said. “Everyone is awake and paying attention and taking a stand.”

But even with the surge of interest from women, Virginia still has a long way to go for gender parity in the state legislature. There were 17 women among the 100 members of the House of Delegates in the most recent session. Factoring in the Senate, which is not up for reelection this year and features 10 women among its 40 members, Virginia’s General Assembly is about 19 percent female.

That’s below this year’s average of about 25 percent for statehouses across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Vermont, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona all lead the way with legislatures that are about 39 percent women.

Of course, women make up more than half of the population they represent. - WaPo

June 7, 2017 • 15

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Black Women’s roundtable and AARP Launch ‘Healthcare is a Human Right’ campaign The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (NCBCP) Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), in collaboration with the AARP, have launched of its HealthCARE is a HumanRight #NotAPrivilege Campaign (BWR HealthCARE Campaign). The campaign is a call to action focused on protecting Medicare, Medicaid and quality affordable health care for seniors, children, young adults and the poor; and protecting Social Security for seniors, dependents and the disabled.

Melanie Campbell, NCBCP president & CEO and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable on why they are embarking on this campaign, said that given the drastic cuts in the Trump’s proposed budget that includes a proposed $1.4 trillion cut in Medicaid, the continued attacks against the Affordable Health Care Act, and the looming attacks against Social Security and other safety net federal programs, it is vital that Black women and all people of good will speak out and challenge their Congressional representatives to be the 'check and balance' that their constituents voted them to be and protect the most vulnerable in our communities, our children, seniors, working families and the poor."

“Protecting affordable health care is one of the fundamental tenets of our mission," said Edna Kane Williams, AARP Senior Vice President of Multicultural Leadership. "It is imperative that we continue to advocate against the proposed budget cuts to key health programs and acknowledge the importance of health care and the overall wellbeing of Black women and their families.”

BWR HealthCARE Campaign Advisor Dr. L. Toni Lewis shared, “My mother has always said, when America gets a cold, black women and families get pneumonia. So, it is enormously important for black women's leadership and voices to be heard and lifted up in this campaign.”

a dangerous and highly punitive budget that puts America’s most vulnerable citizens directly in its crosshairs. Its draconian cuts represent a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of those Americans already struggling to survive. A collective movement to combat these cuts is absolutely necessary.”

Additional national and state-based partners include: A. Philip Randolph Institute, Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation/AL BWR, Black Youth Vote!, Clayton County GA BWR, Florida Coalition on Black

Civic Participation, Florida BWR, Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda/GA BWR, International Black Women's Public Policy Institute, Labor Project for Working Families, Family Values @ Work, MomsRising, Mothers of Hope/ Kalamazoo BWR, Mothering Justice/ Detroit BWR, National African American Clergy Network, National Council of Negro Women, National Organization of Black County Officials, NOBEL Women, North Carolina BWR, Ohio Unity Coalition, Pittsburgh BWR/SSON, Women's March on Washington and others.

Melanie Campbell The BWR HealthCARE Is a Human Right #NotAPrivilege Campaign will include tele-town halls, social media engagement, op-eds, blogs, Twitter Thunderclaps, Twitter Chats, community organizing during the August Congressional Recess, and other public awareness and calls to action efforts. These strategies will highlight the importance of health care and other safety-net programs to the well-being of Black women and families. Additionally, the NCBCP will also continue to disseminate elements of the BWR Report, black women in the U.S., 2017, that address these issues as well. Key findings of this report will be promoted as a part of the social media campaign. In addition, future surveys and polls conducted by the BWR will feature expanded questions focused on health care, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare to further access these policy priorities for black women.

Further, Avis Jones-DeWeever, PhD, BWR senior policy advisor, stresses “It is literally mathematically impossible to balance the budget on the backs of the poor.

Yet, this White House uses this excuse to call for the enactment of

Rep. Bobby Scott, Joni Ivey and Justin Fairfax in Newport News.

(from page 13) justice, mass incarceration. I want to stay laser-focused on people having economic opportunity. With that said, if I owned the team, I’d change the name.

TR: Last question: What’s on your phone? What are you listening to right now; what are you watching?

JF: My favorite song right now is from the musical Hamilton. It’s called “My Shot,” and that’s our campaign theme. We don’t want people to give away their shot on June 13. I haven’t had much time for TV lately; I’ve spent over 35,000 miles in a car, but I read a lot. I’m usually reading multiple books at once. On my reading list right now is The Warmth of Other Suns, The New Jim Crow, True Compass by Ted Kennedy and Team of Rivals.

TR: Are you serious? That’s like a college syllabus in political science.

You really were made in a lab!

JF: [Laughter.] I’m almost done.

My favorite is When Hell Froze Over; it’s about Doug Wilder’s 1985 run for lieutenant governor of Virginia [Doug Wilder was the first African-American governor since Reconstruction], and A Reason to Believe by Deval Patrick [who was only the second African American to be elected governor in the United States].

TR: Any last words for our readers, and potential voters, out there?

JF: We’re the first major election since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

In 2017, Virginia is going to be the place that sparks a progressive wildfire that spreads across the country. I want everyone to be a part of it.

16 • June 7, 2017

Calendar

The LEGACY

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

6.9, 5 p.m.

6.9, 9 a.m.

The Petersburg High School Boosters Club, Petersburg TRIAD, Petersburg Sheriff’s Office and the Progress Index is sponsoring the “TRIAD Golden Years Revue”, a senior citizen talent show featuring senior citizens over the age of 50.

Comedians, dancers, magicians, ventriloquists, musicians, groups, singers and seniors over 50 yrs. old with any unique talents are invited and can sign up now. Deadline to submit applications is June 9.

Auditions will be held on Wednesday, June 14, from 4 -7 p.m. at the VFW, 1925 Johnson Rd. in Petersburg.

Final competition will be Thursday, July 6 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Petersburg High School Auditorium, 3101 Johnson Rd. in Petersburg.

The top three winners will win cash prizes: $300-1st place; $200-2nd place,;and $100-3rd place.

For more information call 804733-2369. Registration fee for competition is $10. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Petersburg Sheriff's Office.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics Virginia will pass through Central Virginia as runners make their way to Richmond for Special Olympics Virginia’s largest annual competition, Summer Games, June 9-10. The central region includes law enforcement agencies from the following jurisdictions: Amelia County, Buckingham County, Charles City County, Chesterfield County, New Kent County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Powhatan County, and Richmond City.

Officers will start at the Chesterfield Police Station, 2920 W. Hundred Rd., at 9 am, and run a total of 62.5 miles until reaching the final torch hand-off at the Henrico Police Department, 7721 E Parham Rd. Metro Richmond officers will run from the Capitol to University of Richmond’s Robins Stadium, where they’ll run the final leg on campus and join more than 1,500 Summer Games athletes to officially open Summer Games!

Fans are welcome to attend this free, fun, family-friend event – for more details or to sign up, visit www.volunteer2cheer.com.

Elect PRESTON BROWN 74th District House of Delegates NOV. 7, 2017

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June 7, 2017 • 17

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www.LEGACYnewspaper.com The Library of Virginia is seeking a Director for the Library Development and Networking Division. This is a full-time position with benefits including health coverage. For full information, and to apply, please visit https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/78515 for position #00146. This position is open until filled.

AUCTION/SALES

HELP WANTED/ TRUCK DRIVERS

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AUCTION Construction Equipment & Trucks BID ON-SITE & ONLINE! 6/13 @ 9AM, Richmond, VA Excavators, Dozers, Road Tractors, Loaders, Dump Trucks, Trailers, & More! Accepting consignments through 6/9 3600 Deepwater Terminal Road www.motleys. com• 804-232-3300 x4 • VAAL#16

CDL TRAINING FOR LOCAL/OTR DRIVERS! $40,000$50,000 1ST Year!

4-wks or 10 Weekends for CDL. Veterans in Demand! Richmond/ Fredericksburg 800243-1600; Lynchburg/ Roanoke 800-6146500; Front Royal/ Winchester 800-4541400

HOME IMPROVEMENT SIDING YOUR HOME FOR JUST $3295 Price includes Siding labor and exterior trim wrap up to 1000sqft

SEALED BID AUCTION Greensville County will offer surplus vehicles and equipment for sealed bids on June 15, 2017.

For details call (434) 348-4205 or www. greensvillecountyva. gov.

CAREER TRAINING

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REPLACEMENT WINDOWS $199 INSTALLED minimum 3 804-9865464 DIVORCE – Uncontested, $395 + $86 court cost. No court appearance.

Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Telephone inquiries welcome no obligation. Hilton Oliver, Attorney. 757490-0126. Se Habla Español.

PUBLIC AUCTION1ofIssue (J Unclaimed Vehicles Rate: $11

225+/- IMPOUNDED Includes AUTOS, LIGHT TRUCKS & In MOTORCYCLES Please reviewPLAZA the proof, make any n SOUTHSIDE DRIVE-IN

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Ok X________________ Gates open at 9:00 AM Auction begins at 10:00 AM

Auction will include thechanges vehicles X listed Ok with _____ below plus many others:

1995 BUICK LESABRE 1G4HP52L2SH402864 2000 HONDA ACCORD 1HGCG6679YA090921 2001 FORD FOCUS 3FAFP31381R243191 REMINDER: Dead 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA JN1EJ01F6RT501415 2001 BMW 325i WBAAV33491FU89922 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER JT3HM84R5X0031208 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 4T1BE32K62U517319 1992 FORD F-150 1FTEX15Y5NKB35640 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE 1GNEK13T31R165976 1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1LNLM81W1NY609122 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE KM8SB82B11U027360 2002 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 1LNHM87A92Y673356 UNK HONDA FOURTRAX 200 TYPE II TBX00DT 1996 NISSAN SENTRA 1N4AB41D9TC800778 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY 1C4GP54L7VB201658

SEIBERT’S is now accepting vehicles on consignment!

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WWW.SEIBERTSTOWING.COM VA AL # 2908-000766

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