Richmond Free Press July 23-25, 2020 edition

Page 1

City prosecutor to review Marcus-David Peters case By Jeremy M. Lazarus

and racial injustice. Demonstrators have informally renamed the grassy circle on Monument Avenue where the Confederate Lee statue stands in tribute to Mr. Peters. Members of his family and a coalition involved in the Richmond protests have Please turn to A4

Richmond Free Press © 2020 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 29 NO. 31

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

ee Fr

Fr ee

Mr. Peters

The Marcus-David Peters case is getting another look. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette W. McEachin has begun a review of the controversial May 2018 police killing of the 24-year-old Henrico County man

and biology teacher, even as she dismissed as unfounded a set of complaints against city police officers arising from recent Black Lives Matter protests. Richmond protesters have tried to raise comparisons between Mr. Peters and George Floyd, the unarmed Black man whose May 25 killing by a white officer in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests over police brutality

JULY 23-25, 2020

Rep. John Lewis

A lion of the Civil Rights Movement and ‘conscience of Congress’ dies at 80 Free Press wire, staff report

1991 photo

Judge steps down Judge Cavedo

ATLANTA 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

Related stories on A7 and B3 long and celebrated career in Congress, died late Friday, July 17, 2020. He was 80. “The world has lost a legend; the Civil Rights Movement has lost an icon; the City of Atlanta has lost one of its most fearless leaders; and the Congressional Black Caucus has lost our longest serving members,” Please turn to A8

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley B. Cavedo recuses himself from Confederate statue cases as formal complaint is filed against him with judicial commission By Jeremy M.Lazarus

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley B. Cavedo has given up his fight to preserve the statues of racist Confederate generals 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. Stung by criticism from the Free Press and private attorneys that he has favored those seeking to preserve and protect the statues and violated a judicial requirement to be impartial, Judge Cavedo stepped aside last week from hearing any further cases involving the statues. He recused himself from the lawsuits, handing off the litigation to Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant. Still, the questionable injunctions Judge Cavedo imposed to protect the state-owned Lee statue and to block City Hall from removing any more city-owned icons of slavery defenders remained intact as of late Wednesday. Judge Marchant has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, July 23, to consider dissolving the indefinite injunction Judge Cavedo issued in June barring Gov. Ralph S. Northam from removing the Lee statue. Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring, in representing the governor, has raised concerns that the Cavedo injunction has given veto power to a private individual, William C. Gregory, a descendant of family members who donated the land where the statue stands and who cannot show any ownership interest. Mr. Herring has called that legally improper and urged that the suit brought by Mr. Gregory be dismissed and the restraining order removed so the governor can proceed to remove the statue. Complicating the issue, a group of six property owners on Monument Avenue, who previously dropped their lawsuit challenging the removal of the Lee statue, refiled it on Wednesday Please turn to A4

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Demonstrators parade past the historic Jackson Ward police-fire station on July 15 on their way to “Reclamation Revival Day 3.” Location: 200 W. Marshall St. They marched to the Richmond Coliseum for a sit-in and speeches before marching and demonstrating about 10:15 p.m. outside the West Clay Street home of City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray.

Protest appears to mix with mayoral campaign By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The race to become Richmond’s next mayor appears be bleeding into the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. As the contest for the city’s top elected office heats up, the most notable example of the confluence of the campaign and the protests to date has been the nighttime demonstration on July 15 in front of the Jackson Ward home of a top mayoral candidate, 2nd District City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray. Supporters of a mayoral rival, Alexsis Rodgers, were highly visible at the protest, including social worker Chelsea Higgs Wise, a founder and leader of the progressive group Richmond for All that has been front and center in the local Black Lives Matter movement. Ms. Wise, whom Ms. Rodgers prominently lists as one of her endorsers, was on a bullhorn leading chants of “Shut her down” as at least 150 people blocked the

stretch of West Clay Street in front of Ms. Ms. Gray is still upset about having Gray’s home around 10:15 p.m. her home targeted. Ms. Rodgers, who has portrayed herself Printed material is being circulated to as generally backing the demonstrations and protesters on how to influence public ofas supportive of the demands for change, ficials to meet their demands. One action did not respond directly to a Free idea is to show up at a target’s Press request for comment. house, “honking in cars with a Instead, the response came band. Basically, don’t let them from Sheri Shannon, spokessleep.” woman for Ms. Rodgers’ camThe first use of the tactic paign, who stated: “We are apparently occurred June 16 running a positive campaign when more than 200 people, and have not engaged in any some armed, gathered outside malevolent tactics against CounMayor Stoney’s condo buildMs. Gray cilwoman Kim Gray or any of ing in Downtown. About 25 our opponents. Our campaign is about the protesters entered the building to try to people of Richmond. We will not stoop to speak to the mayor directly before being mudslinging.” asked to leave by security. The protest also Ms. Gray, though, remains skeptical. included loud chanting of his name and She said along with targeting her home, spraypainting tags such as “WYA Stoney?” supporters of Ms. Rodgers are openly on the building. boasting on Facebook and other social Ms. Gray said her children were home media about pulling up her campaign signs and trashing them. Please turn to A4

Richmond School Board awaits details on fall’s virtual reopening By Ronald E. Carrington

In just a few weeks, Richmond Public Schools will be starting a new school year – virtually. How it will all take place has been a hot topic — and a challenge — for Richmond teachers, parents and students since the Richmond School Board voted July 14 for schools to reopen only for virtual learning in the fall because of the threat of COVID-19. At a meeting Monday night, Richmond School Board members peppered the administration about the mechanics and procedures for virtual learning, as well as how effective the first semester will be for the school system’s diverse student population of 24,000. Superintendent Jason Kamras tried to

quell concerns, noting that the fall semester will be much more like RPS’ SummerCamp@Home, the summer education virtual programming. He said the administration’s goal is to Mr. Kamras have a comprehensive reopening plan for the board at its Monday, Aug. 3, meeting. The plan will focus on providing additional Chromebook laptops for students and teachers and a range of digital learning platforms, as well as teacher training and student expectations for the semester. RPS has distributed 16,000 Chromebooks and 6,000 WiFi hotspots to RPS families without computers or internet

access. “In the fall, we’re going to provide a Chromebook to every RPS student, regardless of economic need,” Mr. Kamras told the board. “This will make everything easier for students, families and teachers.” Board members expressed concern about whether teachers will have adequate training in online teaching before classes begin. Dr. Tracy Epp, RPS’ chief academic officer, presented the administration’s system of teacher professional development — how to work in a virtual environment — that started in June and will continue through August. Additional sessions will be scheduled during the school year. “Virtual training focuses on technical Please turn to A4

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Comfort spot Akenji Joseph, 2, clings to his mother, Kamala Bhagat, as the two joined a socially distanced crowd of about 100 people last Sunday for the final porch concert of Plunky & Oneness in the city’s West End. Please see more photos, B2.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.