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JULY 2-4, 2015

‘I don’t think God wants us to stop’ at removing the Confederate flag, President Obama tells mourners at Rev. Pinckney’s funeral in S.C. Free Press wire reports

For a moment, President Obama stood alone on the stage.

With an audience of about 5,500 people looking on at the College of Charleston TD Arena, the president then passionately burst into song.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,” he began, singing the 18th-century hymn solo.

The ministers beside him smiled, stood up and joined in.

Then a church organ was played and the crowd added their voices as they held hands.

The stirring scene took place June 26 at the funeral of the

Rev. Clementa Pinckney, the pastor who was slain along with eight church members at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., during a June 17 Bible study by a white gunman. Dylann Roof, 21, a white supremacist, was arrested the next day and is now behind bars awaiting trial.

After the hymn, President Obama called out the names of the Charleston shooting victims into the microphone. The crowd responded, “Yes!” to every name.

In a speech likely to be considered one of the most memorable of his presidency, President Obama paid an emotional tribute to Please turn to A5

David Goldman/Associated Press

‘New America’ prevails in U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decisions

Welcome home

Free Press wire reports

Old America largely conceded to New America in the latest round of major U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

New America is the coalition that came to power with President Obama in 2008 and gave him the winning majority.

It’s a coalition of groups marginalized for most of U.S. history: African-Americans, Latinos, religious minorities, young people, gays, single mothers, working women and Americans who claim no religious affiliation.

What holds the coalition together is a commitment to diversity and inclusion — precisely the values the nation’s highest court affirmed when it upheld President Obama’s signature health care law on Thursday and affirmed constitutional support for same-sex marriages on Friday.

The high-stakes health care ruling is a clear example. That ruling prevented upheaval in the insurance market and protected the huge changes in health coverage the president’s Affordable

Analysis Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Kaci Easley is the picture of confidence as the executive director of the grand 202-year-old home in Capitol Square where Gov. and Mrs. Terry McAuliffe now live. The Hampton University graduate has a staff of five to help her look after the first couple’s needs and makes arrangements for the varied public and private parties, receptions and dinners hosted by the McAuliffes.

By Joey Matthews

Charles City native a first at state’s Executive Mansion

Kaci M. Easley is carrying on a proud family tradition of public service.

Her late maternal grandmother, Iona W. Adkins, served as clerk of Charles City County Circuit Court from 1967 to 1988. She was the first African-American woman to be elected clerk of a court of record since Reconstruction. The Virginia House of Delegates honored her in a resolution shortly after her death in 2004.

Her mother, Mona Adkins-Easley, was named director of

the Virginia Council on Human Rights under former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.

Ms. Easley, 27, has stepped into her own place in history as the first African-American to serve as executive director of Virginia’s Executive Mansion.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the position in April.

“It’s very humbling,” she says. “I feel honored.

“I come from Charles City County, a rural area,” she adds, Please turn to A4

Care Act has ushered in, including ensuring that Americans cannot be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions and eliminating lifetime caps on coverage.

Throwing out Obamacare proved impossible for the court, including two of the justices considered conservative.

“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority in a sentence that outraged Old America foes. “If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.”

To President Obama and his supporters, the chief justice got it right in his New America opinion.

After the court upheld federal subsidies that enable lowerincome Americans to afford health insurance in every state, President Obama said, “We finally declared that, in America, health care is not a privilege for a few but a right for all.”

That’s inclusion.

So is the 5-4 ruling upholding same-sex marriage in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Please turn to A5

‘Future Centers’ to help students with life after high school

By Joey Matthews

Students in at least three of the city’s five comprehensive high schools will have new centers in their buildings this fall designed to help connect them to college and career opportunities.

They will be called “Future Centers,” and will launch later this year at three yet-to-be identified Richmond high schools.

The aim of the centers is “to lift lifetime earnings and transform the trajectory of our young people’s lives,” Mayor Dwight C. Jones said last Thursday at a summit marking the first anniversary of the Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building.

The centers will be dedicated spaces staffed with a coordinator to “engage students in planning their lives after high schools,” the mayor said to applause from about 150 Mayor Jones people attending the summit at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in the East End. The audience was comprised largely of state and local officials, educators, members of nonprofit organizations and community members.

The daylong event also featured panel discussions on themes such as education, employment and economic security, and the “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative” launched by President Obama in February 2014 to address opportunity gaps faced by boys and

young men of color.

The Future Centers would help address a huge need at RPS, where currently each full-time high school guidance counselor faces the gargantuan task of serving 350 students, according to standards set by the Virginia Department of Education.

Mayor Jones said the centers are being funded by an initial city investment of $425,000 in RVA Future, a collaborative Dr. Williamson initiative between Richmond Public Schools and the nonprofit RPS Education Foundation. RVA Future is designed to help high school students in Richmond plug in to college and career training opportunities after they graduate.

The business community has donated another $110,000 to the initiative, the mayor added, nearly enough for a fourth Future Center, he said.

Please turn to A4

Regional computer programming school proposed

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Summer fun

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Friends happily play a three-way version of the hand game “Hesitation” in Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward. They are, from left, Tonye Fox, 11; Lucy Stancell, 10; and Kyndal Caleb, 5. In the game, one person rests hands palms down atop the upturned palms of another. The person whose hands are on top quickly tries to move their hands before they are slapped by the person whose hands are on the bottom.

Ten school districts, including Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico, are embarking on a bold educational experiment aimed at overhauling career training for area high school students, particularly those struggling in traditional classes.

The first step: Creation of a regional school that would give students the skills to become computer programmers and open doors to careers in engineering,

computer science and other technology fields, according to a grant application the alliance of schools submitted to the state Department of Education.

“The overarching goal is to create a school” that would provide students from low-income families and others who are underserved or marginalized with “equal access to college and career preparation in a unique, highly engaging and relevant environment,” according to the document submitted on behalf of the alliance by

Donna Dalton, chief academic officer for Chesterfield County.

Among other things, the unique school would allow students to take online classes in order to complete high school diploma requirements within two years. In the final two years, students would gain real world experience in computer programming by working part time for a private company that would pay them $10 or more per hour.

Please turn to A4

A2 July 2-4, 2015

Richmond Free Press

Local News

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond Nine-year-old Nysia Harris toasts a marshmallow at the inaugural Capital Campout on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion last Thursday. Behind her, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, center, chats with other youngsters attending the overnight campout sponsored by the Virginia State Parks. The governor and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe hosted dozens of children from Richmond area Boys & Girls Clubs at the event promoting state parks and outdoor fun as part of National Great Outdoors Month. Mrs. McAuliffe also took the youngsters to the James River to fish, hike and kayak. The children ate dinner and then spent the night in tents on the mansion grounds.

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Fireworks schedule This year’s July 4th holiday marks the 239th anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

Here is a schedule of Richmond area fireworks shows in celebration of Independence Day: Friday, July 3 RVA Fireworks on the James, Brown’s Island in Downtown. Entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks blast off around 9 p.m.

Celebrate Freedom, Genworth campus, 6620 W. Broad St., Henrico County. Concert, 6:30 p.m.; fireworks, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 4 Richmond Celebrates the 4th of July, Carillon area of Byrd Park. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m.; fireworks around 9:15 p.m.

Richmond Flying Squirrels, The Diamond, North Boulevard and Robin Hood Road. Fireworks follow 6:05 p.m. game against the Akron Aeros.

Chesterfield Celebrates the 4th of July, Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road. Festivities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks after 9 p.m.

Fourth at the Fort, Fort Lee celebration at Williams Stadium on Lee Avenue on base. Entertainment begins at 5 p.m.; fireworks about 9:35 p.m. To access Fort Lee, drivers must show a driver’s license, current vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Adult passengers also must show a driver’s license or other government issued photo I.D. All vehicles subject to search. Coolers no larger than 6 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches allowed.

Bear wanders into Mosby Court

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

A black bear in Richmond?

Yes, it seems unbelievable.

The unusual visitor, though, is back in the wild.

Early Tuesday morning, agents with the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries captured the bear in the Mosby Court public housing community in the East End after shooting it with a tranquilizing dart.

Unharmed, the bear was caged then driven to the Great Dismal Swamp near Suffolk and released. The nearly 175-pound animal was at least 2 years old, officials said, and likely was surviving on grubs, garbage or dog food left outdoors.

No one knows how the young bear wandered into the city.

The search for the bear began after police received a report around 11 p.m. Monday from a person who saw the bear roaming in the 1800 block of Rogers Street, just east of Mechanicsville Turnpike in Church Hill.

The bear later was seen around midnight a few blocks west at Coalter and Redd streets in Mosby Court, police reported.

Excited residents followed the bear as it searched for food and took video with their cameras while keeping an eye on it.

According to police, two game wardens tranquilized the bear around 2 a.m. near the public housing rental office. After the bear collapsed, the game wardens were able to pick it up and put in a truck.

4th of July closings Richmond metro area Richmond, Petersburg and county offices: Closed Friday, July 3. Reopen Monday, July 6.

City and state courts: Closed Friday, July 3. Reopen Monday, July 6.

DMV: Customer service centers close at 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, and are closed Saturday, July 4. Reopen Monday, July 6.

Public libraries: Closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Reopen Monday, July 6.

Traffic, parking: Meters will not be enforced Friday, July 3, or Saturday, July 4.

Trash: Richmond, Petersburg, Henrico and Chesterfield collection will remain on schedule. Transfer stations and landfills will be closed Saturday, July 4. Central Virginia Waste Management Authority pickups will remain on schedule.

GRTC and Petersburg Area Transit: Buses will run a Saturday schedule July 4.

Banks: Most are closed Saturday, July 4.

ABC stores: Close at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 4.

Shopping malls: Open.

State of Virginia State offices: Closed Friday, July 3. Reopen Monday, July 6.

Federal government Federal offices: Closed Friday, July 3. Reopen Monday, July 6.

Post offices: Closed Friday, July 3. Reopen Monday, July 6.

Richmond Free Press

July 2-4, 2015

A3

Local News

Free Press wins 3 national awards The Richmond Free Press was recognized with three national awards at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention in Detroit.

The event celebrated the 75th anniversary of the news organization that represents more than 200 newspapers owned by African-Americans across the United States.

The theme: “Empowering a New Generation of Leadership.”

Free Press President/Publisher Jean Patterson Boone attended the five-day event, receiving the awards that were announced at the NNPA’s gala banquet June 18.

The Free Press awards: • The Robert S. Abbott Award for Best Editorial, for “No time for hate,” published in the Oct. 9-11, 2014, edition. The editorial saluted the court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in Virginia.

• The Wilbert L. Holloway Award for Best News Pictures, for Sandra Sellars’ poignant photograph published in the May 8-10, 2014, edition. The photo captured the grief and pain of three young girls attending a neighborhood memorial vigil for their slain friend Marty Cobb, 8, who was killed defending his

sister from a sexual assault in South Richmond.

• Best Church Page Award, saluting the content, feature treatment, photos and layout of church sections published in two consecutive issues.

The award honored the Free Press’ July 24-26, 2014, edition with photos showing the cleaning of brickwork near beautiful stained-glass windows at Hood Temple AME Zion Church in Jackson Ward and an article about a woman who runs a nonprofit center on South Side that provides clothes and other aid in the community.

The award also honored “Celebrating Eid al-Fitr,” a photo package in the July 31-Aug. 2, 2014, edition showing hundreds of Muslim worshippers gathered at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Downtown to pray and celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Among the other winners, the 2015 Russwurm/Sengstacke Trophy for General Excellence was awarded to the St. Louis American and its publisher, Dr. Donald Suggs. The 2015 NNPA Publisher of the Year Trophy was awarded to Molly Belt of The Dallas Examiner.

This Sandra Sellars photograph published in the May 8-10, 2014, edition won the NNPA’s Wilbert L. Holloway Award for Best News Pictures.

You’ve never been this close to expert pediatric heart care.

The Children’s Hospital Foundation Heart Center is the region’s most comprehensive pediatric cardiac care provider.

And it’s right here in Richmond. So children with heart disease, and their families, can turn to Virginia’s most experienced cardiac team, led by chief surgeon Dr. Thomas Yeh—and never be far from home.

Learn more at chrichmond.org/heart

Fredericksburg

Charlottesville 64

Richmond Williamsburg

85

Durham 95

Children’s Hospital Foundation Heart Center

Richmond Free Press

A4 July 2-4, 2015

Local News

New Virginia laws effective July 1 Hundreds of new laws took effect Wednesday in Virginia.

Here are a few highlights: Social media: Employers cannot ask employees or prospective employees for the username and passwords of their social media accounts.

Breastfeeding: Women can breastfeed anywhere the mother is lawfully present.

Campus sex assault: Lawmakers have approved several measures related to campus sex assault violence. They include requiring campus police departments to notify

local prosecutors within 48 hours of starting any investigation into possible felony sexual assault and requiring university registrars to put a note on the transcripts of any student who is suspended, expelled or withdraws from school for reasons related to an offense involving sexual violence.

Medical marijuana: The law provides an “affirmative defense” for epilepsy patients who have a doctor’s note to use cannabidiol oil for treatment.

State song: Virginia now has two official state songs. The

official traditional song is “Our Great Virginia” and the official popular song is “Sweet Virginia Breeze.”

Police drones: The law requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a search warrant before using unmanned aircraft systems.

Traffic: Drivers can cross double yellow lines in order to pass pedestrians and cyclists safely.

Hemp: Farmers now can grow industrial hemp as part of a university-managed research program. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charles City native a first at state’s executive mansion Continued from A1

“and being able to represent my county, it’s very emotional for me to think about sometimes. I just work hard to try and do a good job for everyone.”

The 2006 Hampton University business graduate previously served as assistant to the Virginia secretary of natural resources, as a program analyst in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as a project manager at the National Finance Center and as an administrative officer at the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“I want to help support Gov. McAuliffe’s goal of giving opportunities to all individuals in the state and making Virginia open and accessible to people from all walks of life,” Ms. Easley said of her new post.

She oversees a staff of five full-time employees at the Executive Mansion, which has served as home to Virginia’s governors since 1813. It is the oldest continually occupied Executive Mansion in the United States. Gov. McAuliffe is the 55th governor to live there.

Ms. Easley and her staff take care of Virginia’s first family and host dozens of events and receptions.

She said most of her days at the mansion start about 9 a.m. and can extend “late into the night.”

“My goal is to make sure the first family is happy and have what they need,” Ms. Easley said.

She describes Gov. McAuliffe and his wife,

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Kaci Easley shows off a portion of the ornate first floor of the 19th century mansion that has served as the residence for 55 governors since it opened in 1813.

Dorothy, as “very fun-loving people, very energetic and very passionate. They have Virginia’s best interest at heart.”

And the governor is very easygoing. She recalls one morning when Gov. McAuliffe

walked into the “downstairs kitchen and made a quick breakfast” for visiting French Air Force Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros, the current Supreme Allied Commander Transformation with NATO.

Ms. Easley said she was “honored” to assist Mrs. McAuliffe in spearheading the project that led to the unveiling last week of the portrait of late Richmond civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill in the Executive Mansion.

Ms. Easley said she also has worked with the first lady on “greening” the mansion.

She cited the installation of sensory lights designed to preserve energy. She talked about using compost in the vegetable garden in the back of the grounds.

Ms. Easley also supports Mrs. McAuliffe’s efforts to promote programs designed to encourage healthy nutrition among Virginia’s families and children.

To that end, the first family has a chicken coop behind the mansion where the first flock lays eggs.

There’s also a greenhouse “to show children that gardening can be fun,” Ms. Easley said.

She credits her faith in God — she’s a member of St. John’s Baptist Church in Charles City County — and her family, particularly her mother, now an assistant vice president of human resources at Norfolk State University, for serving as role models in her life.

“They have pushed me and challenged me,” she said.

As for future aspirations, Ms. Easley said the sky is the limit.

“I really haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up,” she said with a laugh. “I love this position and I have a passion for event planning and politics. I’m just happy where I am in my life right now.”

‘Future Centers’ to help students with life after high school Continued from A1

“Our long-term goal is to be in all high schools and to offer Promise Scholarships to all graduating students,” Mayor Jones added, so they can attend four-year colleges, community colleges or technical training centers.

He said the city is courting business leaders to fund the Promise Scholarship program, noting similar programs in Lynchburg and Pittsburgh.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College President Gary L. Rhodes spoke of his support for the program at the event.

He said Reynolds would offer associate degrees to RPS graduates, invest in scholarships for them and provide career coaches to the Future Centers.

The Future Centers are the brainchild of an anti-poverty commission formed in 2011 at the behest of Mayor Jones. The commission later was renamed the Maggie L. Walker Initiative for Expanding Opportunity and Fighting Poverty.

Dr. Thad Williamson, an associate professor at the University of Richmond, co-chaired the anti-poverty commission along with City Council member Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District. He took a leave of absence from his UR duties in 2014 to lead the Office on Community Wealth Building.

Staffed with two other full-time employees, his office

also has backed the mayor’s efforts to expand workforce development, engage in targeted economic development, bolster early childhood development, redevelop public housing communities and establish a bus rapid transit route along Broad Street.

Mayor Jones noted $3.6 million is in the city’s budget for fiscal year 2016 for initiatives under the Maggie L. Walker initiative umbrella.

He also announced at the forum that he would seek to have the Office of Community Wealth Building become a permanent city department.

Dr. Williamson called the forum an important event because it “brings all the voices together” to further discuss ways to end poverty in Richmond. One in every four Richmond residents lives at or below the poverty level, according to the city.

He cited some examples of the city’s recent successes in alleviating poverty.

Dr. Williamson said the city’s Center for Workforce Innovation across from City Hall has reached its initial goal to provide more than 150 people with “quality employment opportunities” since it opened in November 2013.

He said 10 families have been enrolled in BLISS, or Building Lives of Independence and Self-Sufficiency, a program designed to provide “pathways out of poverty” for families.

He said the group aims to enroll 10 more families by the end of the year.

He cited the work of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was funded for the first time this year with nearly $1 million and is involved in five projects to develop or renovate 270 units of affordable housing.

Dr. Williamson also touted a $300,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich., that was announced last week to support the city’s early childhood development efforts.

“This city has a lot of things designed to help our youth,” said City Council President Michelle R. Mosby, who also is president and founder of the Help Me Help You Foundation designed to help ex-offenders re-enter the community.

“We have to make them aware of it and get them to it,” she added.

Arthur Burton, executive director of Kinfolk Community in the Mosby Court public housing community in the East End, was more blunt.

“We don’t really need you folks to give us anything, really, but give us some money,” he said, as the audience applauded.

He said there are so many children and adults in public housing communities who could reach their full potential if only the proper resources were provided to help them.

Regional computer programming school proposed Continued from A1

Graduates would be guaranteed employment and also could receive an associate degree along with their high school diploma that would give them an entrée into four-year programs in computer science, engineering and other technology fields.

Last week, Gov. Terry McAuliffe awarded the alliance of 10 school districts a $50,000 High School Program Innovation Grant, allowing them to press forward to create the new school.

The proposed school is nicknamed RSI — for the Richmond Regional School for InnovationCodeRVA. Chesterfield County Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome is spearheading the nontraditional school, with the support of and participation of Richmond Superintendent Dana T. Bedden, Henrico Superintendent Patrick C. Kinlaw and the top executives of the seven other participating school districts.

They include Charles City, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, New Kent and Powhatan.

RSI is to begin taking formal shape this fall and could begin student recruitment for the first class of 200 students by next spring.

If all goes well, and the proposal gains approvals from the various school boards as well as the state Board of Education, the nontraditional school could open as soon as September 2016.

Essentially, according to the grant document, this project seeks to get at-risk students interested in learning and also to help fill the huge business

demand for people with computer skills.

The school would jettison bell schedules, grade levels and seat time in class and other traditional benchmarks. Instead of a traditional school building, students would gather in spaces that partner community colleges such as J. Sargeant Reynolds would provide and take their classes online using a computer, with support from teachers, tutors and career coaches.

As spelled out in the document, the regional school would offer “a rigorous, technology-based curriculum” that would allow each student to be assessed on performance.

Each student’s academic success would be based on mastery of the material, not pass rates on Standards of Learning tests, according to the document.

Students also would have opportunities to meet with computer science and information technology professionals, travel to government and private computer operations and take part in forums and competitions.

If RSI is successful, the alliance plans to create similar RSI model schools in other highdemand fields, including health care, finance and advanced engineering, according to the document. Down the road, the consortium also would look to transform an existing high school in a high poverty area into a magnet school using the innovations.

Along with community colleges and Virginia Commonwealth University, the school districts also plan to work with private partners to develop the new school.

The partners include CodeVA, a Richmond nonprofit that trains teachers in the principles of computer science and programming and in

integrating the problem-solving principles into K-12 classes. Rebecca and Chris Dovi, who founded and lead CodeVA, expect to train 180 teachers this summer.

“We support this new school,” Mr. Dovi said.

He is hopeful that development of the school would lead to greater interest from the school districts to incorporate those principles into grades K-8 to boost learning and the number of students interested in competing for the RSI experience.

Other partners include the Richmond Technology Council, a business trade group that would link RSI with member technology firms, and MAXX Potential, a Richmond-based company that would provide RSI students with paid training in entry-level programming during their junior year.

Financial details have yet to be settled, but insiders suggest the participating school districts might be able to cover start-up costs with existing resources. Costs are expected to be much lower because the school would not need its own building and would need fewer staff and faculty because of heavy use of computer-based learning.

According to the documents, area educators have two reasons for launching the innovative school.

First, barely half of area high school graduates go on to college and earn an associate degree, leaving too many unprepared and unable to fill the jobs of the future. By 2030, the Richmond area could have 65,000 unfilled jobs because they will require an associate degree or better, unless schools find a new approach to preparing young people.

The second reason: Education in traditional schools is unappealing for too many students.

The RSI plan cites a 2013 Gallup poll that found as many as six in 10 students are going through the motions in high school — deterred by the unrelenting focus on standardized testing, a dearth of project-based learning and the lack of clear pathways for those who have no plans to go to college.

By racing through high school, the students could then spend much of their final two years learning to write industry standard computer code. The plan for the school proposes that the students would work 15 to 20 hours a week for MAXX Potential, which seeks contracts for entry level coding work and would train and employ the students to complete the projects. Each student would do at least 400 hours of work for MAXX in the final two years and could expect to have offers waiting after graduation for jobs that pay $50,000 to $125,000 a year.

Innovation also would be a hallmark in the recruitment of RSI students, the planning document shows.

There would be no academic prerequisites, the document states. Instead, during the eighth grade, students would be offered an opportunity to attend an intensive, weeklong boot camp that MAXX Potential would offer. The camp would be open to any eighth-grader, regardless of grades. Participants would be gauged on their aptitude, interest and willingness to commit to the RSI program.

According to the grant document, the student body would be selected through a lottery as more applicants are expected than available slots.

Richmond Free Press

July 2-4, 2015 A5

News

Scott co-leader of bipartisan effort to curb federal prison spending

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

From Virginia to California, states are pushing change to cut their ballooning prison costs that collectively approach $60 billion.

Instead of automatically locking up people, 32 states have put in place reforms during the past five years that have reduced the numbers of people imprisoned without increasing crime rates.

The efforts have saved at least $4 billion.

That includes reserving prison cells for the most serous offenders and doing more to divert lower-level offenders to supervised support programs outside prison.

Some states are freeing up beds by releasing older prisoners — or at least the terminally ill — or using good time and shorter terms as strong incentives for inmates to participate in programs aimed at reducing their chances of returning to prison after release.

One of the most effective reforms has been to beef up probation services, allowing for earlier supervised release.

Virginia, which has closed nine state prisons in recent years, now has 49,000 people on supervised release, far more than the 37,000 felons held in state prisons and local jails.

Additionally, another 36,000 people charged primarily with misdemeanor offenses that would send them to local jails in Virginia are under supervision before trial or after conviction in community-based programs.

Two veteran congressmen, Virginia Democrat Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and Wisconsin Republican F. James “Jim” Sensenbrenner Jr., have seen what the states are doing and want Rep. to use those ideas to reform the outof-control federal prison system.

Last week, the two veterans stood together to introduce the Safe, Accountable, Fair and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act that they say would rein in a system that now costs $6 billion a year and has helped make the United States No. 1 in the world for the number of people incarcerated.

Since 1991, the federal prison population alone has tripled from around 71,000 people to more than 215,000 inmates, leading to overcrowded prisons with little impact on crime and fueled

by Congress’ embrace of the “lock ’em up and throw away the key” philosophy.

The federal system increasingly is clogged with defendants, studies show, as a result of

lawmakers creating thousands of new crimes and more than doubling the number of offenses that qualify for mandatory sentences that require a certain amount of prison time.

“We cannot allow our criminal justice system to remain on its current trajectory,” Rep. Sensenbrenner of Milwaukee noted. “It’s not only fiscally unsustainable, but morally irresponsible.”

Among other things, the ScottScott Sensenbrenner bill would reserve mandatory minimum sentences for major drug traffickers, rather than couriers and street-level dealers, and limit life sentences only for the most egregious repeat offenders.

The bill also would expand compassionate release for lower-risk geriatric and terminally ill offenders, promote greater use of probation for lower-level offenders and encourage creation of problem-solving drug and mental health courts that now do not exist.

The SAFE Justice Act also seeks to deal with what members of both parties also consider a problem — that too many violations of federal regulations now are treated as criminal matters.

The bill would require better disclosure of

regulatory offenses that are listed as criminal matters and mandate that Congress attach fiscal impact statements to all future sentencing and corrections proposals.

“Our criminal justice system is long overdue for reform,” Rep. Scott said. “Our bill implements the successful, evidence-based reforms from the states and restores accountability, fairness and rationality to our federal criminal justice system.

“More importantly,” he said, “we are proposing to use an evidence-based approach to reduce over-criminalization and over-incarceration and reinvest the savings into community-based prevention programs.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Doug Collins, R-Ga.; Elijah Cummings, D-Md.; Raul Labrador, R-Idaho; Judy Chu, D-Calif.; Mia Love, R-Utah; and Scott Rigell, R-Va. Rep. Rigell of Virginia Beach pointed to the coalition backing the bill as evidence of the broad support for change.

The support ranges across the political spectrum, from the NAACP and ACLU to the Washington D.C. Police Foundation and Koch Industries, owned by two brothers who are key financiers of conservative candidates.

President Obama to nation: Go further Continued from A1

the pastor and his flock.

“Blinded by hatred, the alleged killer would not see the grace surrounding Reverend Pinckney and that Bible study group,” President Obama told the audience.

Speaking in the language and cadence of the black church, President Obama argued that the massacre and God’s grace “allowed us to see where we’ve been blind” and has given America a chance to face up to the scourges of racism and gun violence.

He said the removal of Confederate flags across the South was “a modest but meaningful balm for so many unhealed wounds,” but that the United States needs to go further.

“I don’t think God wants us to stop there,” the president said.

He urged the audience to use the killings as a spur for reforming a criminal justice system that jails one of three black men at some point in their lives and for confronting “the unique mayhem that gun violence inflicts upon this nation.”

“It would be a betrayal of everything Reverend Pinckney stood for, I believe, if we allow ourselves to slip into a comfortable silence again,” President Obama said.

The shootings sparked an intense dialogue over the legacy of slavery and its symbols after photos showing the alleged gunman posing with the Confederate flag surfaced on a website that also displayed a racist manifesto.

Politicians and businesses quickly scrambled to distance themselves from the Civil War-era battle flag of the Confederacy amid calls for the flag to be lowered from the grounds of South Carolina’s State House.

President Obama called the flag “a reminder of systemic oppression and racial subjugation.”

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, who added her voice to those calls last week, brought a Charleston congregation to its feet Tuesday at the last funeral

Bree Newsome boldly holds the Confederate flag after climbing the flagpole at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C., to take it down last Saturday.

Adam Anderson/Reuters

for one of the victims when she declared: “That Confederate flag will come down.”

Gov. Haley broke down a day earlier in a service to honor church member Myra Thompson, 59, who earned her minister’s degree on the day she was killed.

“This is a woman who I want to strive to be,” Gov. Haley said of Ms. Thompson. “She wanted every person she came in touch with to make them better.”

Gov. Haley and the Rev. Jesse Jackson attended funerals for victims Saturday and Sunday.

During last Saturday’s funeral for Tywanza Sanders, 26, and his aunt, Susie Jackson, 87, Gov. Haley promised, “We will make this right.” The governor did not say what actions she planned to take.

Hours before the funeral for DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49, began on Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance at the church’s morning service to speak and worship.

Vice President Biden gave his condolences to the families of the victims and received a standing ovation after reading a selection of scripture.

The vice president’s son, Beau, died May 30 of brain cancer. He narrowly avoided death as a young boy in a 1972 car crash that killed the vice president’s first wife and his daughter.

“The reason I came was to draw strength from all of you,” he said. “I wish I could say something that would ease the pain.”

Since the church murders, outrage and fear have spread with reports of seven fires at predominately black churches across the Southeast.

Arson is suspected in three cases so far.

The latest: A blaze that burned down Mt. Zion AME Church in Greeleyville, S.C., Tuesday night. The same church was torched by Ku Klux Klan members in 1995.

Fire officials have ruled the church a total loss.

A federal law enforcement source told the Associated Press Wednesday morning that preliminary indications are the fire does not appear to be the work of an arsonist.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigates fires at houses of worship. The FBI has joined the investigation as well.

Separately, an African-American woman scaled the flagpole in front of the South Carolina state house last Saturday and removed the Confederate flag.

“We can’t continue like this,” the climber, Bree Newsome, 30, said in statement about her bold move. “It’s time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality.”

Ms. Newsome was arrested and charged with defacing monuments on state Capitol grounds.

The offense carries a possible fine up to $5,000 and up to three years in prison.

The flag was flown again on the pole about 45 minutes later.

The Loyal White Knights chapter of the KKK, based in Pelham, N.C., said it will hold a rally at the South Carolina State House on July 18.

“We’re standing up for the Confederacy,” James Spears, the chapter’s “Great Titan,” said on Tuesday.

He said speakers would address slavery, then hold a cross-burning ceremony on private property.

Gov. Haley said the group was not welcome in the state.

In Virginia, the Sons of Confederate Veterans has vowed to oppose Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s order to remove the Confederate flag from state-issued license plates, a move he announced last week.

‘New America’ prevails in U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decisions Continued from A1

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is trying to rally the New America behind her candidacy for president, tweeted the word “HISTORY” in rainbow colors last week to signify support for the new paradigm in America, where a broad majority no longer view marriage as solely between one man and one woman.

New America also seemed to be in the forefront in several of the high court’s other decisions of the past few days, including a 5-4 ruling that will allow civil rights groups and the government to employ statistical data to challenge segregation and racism in new housing developments.

Old America still has teeth, though. In a 5-4 decision, the court handed big business polluters and their Republican allies a huge victory in at least temporarily derailing President Obama’s efforts to regulate coal-fired power plants that spew poisonous mercury and arsenic into the air.

The court said the rules, which would force numerous coal-fired electrical generating plants to be shut down, need to be rewritten to address the costs of the regulation, a warning sign that the president’s efforts to address global warming could face a hostile court.

The Old America protests against the court’s New America decisions resounded loudly, ensuring more litigation and showing that the decisions may not be the final word, no matter how cast in concrete they seem to be.

Justice Antonin Scalia offered this scathing dissent in the same-sex marriage case: “If I ever joined an opinion for the court that began: ‘The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons . . . to define and express their identity,’ I would hide my head in a bag.”

He was expressing contempt for identity politics, which lie at the core of the New America coalition.

The Supreme Court always has been a lagging indicator of political change. It was designed that way. Supreme Court justices serve for life after being nominated by presidents and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

They will never face popular election, and

Photos by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

Above, Ikeita Cantu, left, and wife Carmen Guzman celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington after a 5-4 majority ruled last Friday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Left, supporters of the Affordable Care Act cheer the 6-3 decision last Thursday that upheld the crucial subsidies in President Obama’s health care law that makes health insurance affordable for millions of Americans.

they can’t be recalled. That’s supposed to protect them from popular pressure.

Still, politics does seem to play a role.

At this point, five justices were chosen

by Republican presidents and four by Democratic presidents. The Democratic justices picked up one Republican vote on the same-sex marriage decision — Justice Anthony Kennedy — and two Republican votes on the health care decision — Justice Kennedy and Chief Justice Roberts. With

those rulings, the Republican-majority court granted legitimacy to New America.

The decisions are being met with resistance, of course. That’s always the case with controversial Supreme Court decisions, such as racial integration of public schools in 1954 and abortion in 1973.

The reality is that New America can only savor the favorable court rulings for only so long.

Old America could bounce back next year.

For example, the Supreme Court has agreed to consider again whether to wipe out affirmative action inclusion policies that create diversity on college campuses.

And the court also plans to consider whether public employee labor unions, a key element of the New America coalition but an anathema to Old America, can require government workers to pay dues, even if they oppose unions.

And despite the president’s statement, Obamacare still could be wiped out. That health insurance program was granted by Congress and the president, and it could be taken away by the Congress and the next president. It just won’t happen while President Obama is in office.

Resistance to the same-sex marriage ruling is expected to be more difficult because the court did declare it a constitutional right.

However, that hasn’t kept foes from chipping away voting rights and abortion rights. That same chipping away could happen on gay marriage.

The court’s ruling on marriage did not grant gay people protection from discrimination in housing, employment and other areas of life, allowing opposition governments and businesses to erect other barriers to inclusion to show their displeasure.

Several states already have passed laws allowing public officials to refuse to authorize same-sex marriages if it offends their religious convictions. Some have passed laws allowing businesses to refuse services to gay couples on the same grounds. That is definitely discrimination. But it will take more legal and legislative battles to change that.

The old saying comes to mind if New America is to prevail: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Richmond Free Press

Jefferson Davis monument on Monument Avenue

Editorial Page

A6

July 2-4, 2015

Nation’s victory Pundits across the nation are hailing the past few days as “the best week ever” for President Obama. That’s in large measure because of landmark rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal Affordable Care Act and legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

While the president finally can exhale and smile because of these progressive rulings, the real victors are the people.

Millions of people in Virginia and across the nation have benefited from Obamacare — the president’s signature policy accomplishment — since its enactment five years ago. The high court’s affirmation of subsidies for low- and moderateincome Americans using the federal marketplace to purchase coverage under Obamacare now gives them security.

By expanding health care to the nation’s uninsured, Obamacare has lifted the lives, health and fortunes of people who have suffered through the high cost of no health insurance. Many had gone years without annual preventive checkups, delaying diagnosis and treatment of serious and treatable illnesses and diseases.

In Virginia alone, more than 285,000 people are eligible for tax credits toward the purchase of coverage through health insurance marketplaces.

Obamacare also is a win for people who are covered by insurance through their jobs. Many previously had been cut off from insurance because of pre-existing conditions like cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, or reached the maximum coverage amount insurers were willing to pay.

Insurers no longer can cut people off for those reasons.

Even greater, Obamacare has eliminated out-of-pocket costs for everyone when it comes to preventive services, including certain cancer screenings, immunizations, contraception, smoking cessation and obesity screening. That provision affects nearly 4 million people in the Commonwealth.

These changes ultimately will improve the health of and access to care for Virginians. It also will reduce health care costs, including for hospitals in metro Richmond and beyond that previously were uncompensated for providing emergency room and other care for so many people lacking insurance.

We hope this ruling will put an end to Republican attempts to defund, discredit or upend Obamacare.

And we urge Republican lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly to change their obstructionist, regressive ways and endorse the expansion of Medicaid in the Commonwealth to ultimately cover an estimated 300,000 more of our fellow citizens.

We call on Gov. Terry McAuliffe to renew his efforts to push Medicaid expansion when the legislature convenes in January, hopefully with a more enlightened contingent of senators and delegates.

In the meantime, we challenge readers to make Medicaid expansion a litmus test for candidates seeking your vote in the November elections for the state Senate and House of Delegates. Pledge not to support those who would block Medicaid expansion. Use your pen, your phone, your computer and your voice to hold candidates and elected officials accountable to accomplish the expansion.

No going back We are pleased with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling expanding the legal right of same-sex couples to marry nationwide.

Virginia has allowed gay couples to marry since October, thanks to a ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This new decision from the nation’s highest court, which was met with jubilation, eliminates the checkerboard approach to gay marriage that called into question the legal rights of gay couples just moving from state to state.

The ruling also eliminates any guesswork about whether a same-sex partner can be covered under family health insurance or receive survivor’s benefits or a pension.

Unfortunately, there are baulkers and foot-draggers in corners of the South and Bible Belt who continue to resist what is now the law of the land. They insist their recalcitrance is on religious grounds.

While no one is making a church marry anyone — just like the Catholic Church refuses to marry someone who

Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

The White House is illuminated last Friday with rainbow colors in commemoration of the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

has been divorced — the reaction smacks of the resentment that greets African-Americans today, decades after public accommodations laws opened restaurants, hotels and retail shops to black people.

We still are fighting the actions of people and companies that don’t want African-Americans around. Think of Denny’s and other restaurants that have been sued; think of the “black tax” the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, N.C., added during the CIAA tournament; think of the way African-Americans are followed when they shop in some retail stores; and think of redlining by the nation’s largest banks to prevent AfricanAmericans for qualifying for home loans to keep us out of certain neighborhoods.

We, more than most, understand the feelings of embarrassment, hurt and stress these demeaning situations engender.

And we continue to advocate in the courts and the streets to create a society that treats people equally.

So we call on the community to embrace the change historically written into law by the Supreme Court that gives gay couples the same right to wholeness afforded heterosexual couples.

The clock has turned. No one should have to go back.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Economic clout can create change There’s a lesson to be learned from the Confederate flag quickly and unexpectedly falling into disfavor following the murder of nine Bible-studying AfricanAmericans, including the pastor, at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. The lesson is that the economic clout of African-Americans and their progressive allies can be used to pressure businesses to do the right thing, which in turn can keep the far right wing in check.

First, it’s necessary to understand the role businesses played before and after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, reversed her long-held position and advocated for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the State Capitol in Columbia.

According to the New York Times, “The chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of

Commerce, an old friend of Gov. Haley’s named Mikee Johnson, polled his 56 board members about the future of the flag. Everyone who responded was of the same opinion. He called Gov. Haley and told her: If she was ready to bring

George E. Curry down the Confederate banner, they were behind her.

There were business reasons that motivated this change.

“They were tired of explaining why a symbol of the American Confederacy lingered at the capitol of a state that wanted to lure workers from all over the world,” the Times explained.

“To many of them, it was a source of embarrassment that the NCAA would not pick South Carolina to host championship events because of the flag, and in the college-sports-crazy state, coaches said it was an obstacle to recruiting.”

To be clear, African-Americans were at the forefront of this movement long before the business community belatedly flexed its muscles.

On July 15, 1999, the NAACP announced a boycott of South Carolina because it refused to remove the racially offensive flag from the Capitol.

Five days later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s old organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, voted to move its 2000 national convention from Charleston.

The floodgates were opened when Gov. Haley pronounced on June 22: “Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state without ill will, to say it’s time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds. A hundred and fifty years after the end of the Civil War, the time has come.”

Within hours, a stampede of businesses, led by Walmart and Sears, announced they no longer would sell Confederate memorabilia. Other retailers fell in line, including Amazon, eBay, Target and Etsy.com.

This was old-fashioned capitalism at work. Why risk alienating a large base of consumers for the sake of a small segment of lunatics who not only wanted to turn back the clock, but wanted

A cue from Frederick Douglass As our nation prepares for its annual celebration of Independence Day, I re-read Frederick Douglass’ Fourth of July speech delivered 163 years ago in R o c h e s t e r, N.Y. I look at it with a specific eye toward what we can learn from it in the wake of the recent tragedies of Charleston and North Charleston, S.C.; Cleveland; New York City; Ferguson, Mo; and Sanford, Fla. Frederick Douglass observed, “Oppression makes a wise man mad. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression…The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation’s history—the very ringbolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny…Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance.

“I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ringbolt to the chain of your nation’s destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and

death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn…What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. he is the constant victim.”

We are still mourning. This time, in Charleston, S.C., for the racially motivated murders of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight others at Emanuel A.M.E. Church. But our spirit and our determination to be free will not be broken even after centuries of cruelty and oppression. Giving up out of fear or giving in to injustice are not and will not be in our menu of options. The spirits of David Walker, Denmark Vesey and Frederick Douglass live on within us.

Mr. Douglass’ intellectual imperatives are quite appropriate to reject the contemporary tolerance of poverty, injustice and ignorance. We have to move beyond removing the symbols of racism and oppression, such as the Confederate flag, to removing the substantive structures and policies that deny equal opportunity to advance and improve the quality of life of all Americans.

The issue today is not what the Confederate flag represents.

The real issue should be what does the American flag represent to African-Americans and others who yearn for freedom?

How are American businesses and institutions of higher learning making a difference for millions of people throughout the country who aspire to prosper and to make our world a better place for all people?

An appropriate response to Mr. Douglass’ admonitions would be: (1) Education— maximizing high quality equal education for all without discrimination or restriction because of race, color, gender, creed or any other form of social exclusion. (2) Criminal justice reform and overcriminalization—There are simply too many people imprisoned in America, more than 1 million disproportionately AfricanAmerican and Latino American.

(3) Principled entrepreneurial development—with a particular emphasis on economic equality and inclusiveness in the global marketplace.

The words of Frederick Douglass reverberate today with a renewed sense of urgency and commitment to organize and mobilize a new, bipartisan coalition to bring about real change in America.

The executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government now appear poised finally to begin to work together in the interest of empowering all people. But we must not be silent witnesses. We must be vocal. We must stand without fear. It is time once again, in the spirit of Mr. Douglass, to speak truth to power to empower!

The writer is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

The Free Press welcomes letters

The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you. We invite you to write the editor. All letters will be considered for publication. Concise, typewritten letters related to public matters are preferred. Also include your telephone number(s). Letters should be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, 422 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23261, or faxed to: (804) 643-7519 or e-mail: letters@richmondfreepress.com.

to turn back the calendar? Leaders throughout the South got the massage.

Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe decided Virginia will no longer sell license plates that honor the Old Confederacy. Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley ordered four different Confederate flags at the state Capitol be promptly removed. In Mississippi, House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Republican, called for changing the state flag, which incorporates the Confederate insignia.

Black spending power reached $1.1 trillion in 2014, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia. It’s time to exercise that clout by putting pressure on businesses, compelling them to apply pressure on Republican lawmakers who work against our interests.

The writer is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service.

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Richmond Free Press

July 2-4, 2015

A7

Letters to the Editor

Free Press founder was right about Monument Avenue I remember when Raymond H. Boone, honoring iconic Richmonder and newspaperman John Mitchell Jr. three summers ago, said this about our community: “When we look at Monument Avenue, this is very perverted. Where else do you know a city, a country that would glorify villains, a country that would glorify people that would try to destroy this country and would try to keep black people enslaved?”

With due respect to our cautious and “practical” city and state political leaders, Mr. Boone was correct then and he is correct today. Relegating historic relics to museums and ending the Lee-Jackson holiday are obvious steps forward. These things should be easy.

Finding the money required to provide the opportunities which were destroyed by slavery, Jim Crow and segregation will take vision, courage and many years of labor. But, political leaders and fellow citizens, that is the course we must pursue.

BEN RAGSDALE Richmond

Public Notice The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 3:00 PM For their regular board meeting at 107 South Fifth Street, Richmond, VA 23219 2nd floor Room 203

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Eradication of Confederate flag ‘should give every Southerner pause’ Re “We shall overcome,” June 25-27 edition: Given the recent vandalizing of a Virginia monument, I can’t help but be concerned for the future of the Commonwealth. The history of the Confederacy is everywhere and the attempts to erase it, as several Southern states have proposed to do, should give every Southerner pause.

In this eradication of Confederate memorabilia, history is in danger of either being erased or pushed into the mythical “other.”

When that happens, history is more likely to repeat. What’s more, the South is stripped

of its culture and character of people who have overcome adversity through failure to win on an evil disposition.

To stop this, we need not look to the “stars and bars” as a symbol of hate and racism, but a symbol of freedom and victory. The Confederate flag is a reminder and a relic of a past conquered, those streets and monuments are reminders of those men who lost on a bad idea, and the winners may now walk on them.

We can celebrate that, within a matter of hours, a man was captured for killing in the name of that flag, instead of getting

away or being patted on the back. That is because we can say it is our flag, our reminder that the Charleston shooting is not an everyday occurrence in the former Confederate states, but a rarity because people like the shooter don’t start with the flag to feed their hatred, but appropriate it to justify their hatred. Just as we can appropriate it to justify our victory, remember our history and preserve our culture in the South.

CARMEN SMITH Bumpass

Origin of student civil rights group clarified Re “Student civil rights workers recall efforts,” June 25-27 edition: We appreciate the Richmond Free Press devoting an article to the Civil Rights Movement and the 50th reunion of the Virginia Students’ Civil Rights Committee (VSCRC). There is

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one point that we would like to clarify about the origins of the VSCRC and its relationship to other groups active at that time.

Following the Mississippi summer of 1964, two groups were working in the fall of 1964 to energize Virginia students — the Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Virginia College Council on Human Relations (VCCHR). The VSCRC was formed to focus on the needs of Virginia, where our members lived and attended school, rather than to travel to the Deep South.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, meanwhile, made plans to recruit

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students from all over the United States to work across the South, including in the counties of Virginia’s Black Belt in their SCOPE project. There was an atmosphere of cooperation between the participants in the two groups as there were many shared goals and objectives, but VSCRC was not sponsored by the SCLC. We are indebted to the wisdom and experience that the members of SNCC shared with the VSCRC as a fledgling civil rights group, but VSCRC was not a part of SNCC either.

The VSCRC also realized that the NAACP was an organization that we needed to work with because it already was functioning in each county that we entered. The NAACP was the civil rights organization of record. So we worked with

their leaders. We only sought to develop that relationship; we were not intent on forming chapters of VSCRC in the counties where we were invited.

We only mention this because we realize that many readers today may not recognize the subtle differences that existed between groups. They also may not know about the spirit of cooperation that existed in rural areas, where those differences were not as important as points of agreement and the realization that folks needed to work together if they were to survive or make progress.

BRUCE SMITH DOTTIE EDWARDS LUCIOUS “DUKE” EDWARDS The writers are members of the VSCRC 50th Reunion Organizing Committee.

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Richmond Free Press

A8 July 2-4, 2015

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

De Grasse racing toward ‘world’s fastest man’ title

Former St. Augustine’s runner headed to China competition

When the throne for “world’s fastest man” eventually has a vacancy, Andre De Grasse seems primed to fill the seat.

Since 2008, the “world’s fastest” title has been held by Usaian Bolt of Jamaica, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 100- and 200-meter races.

De Grasse, 20, is among those who might challenge Bolt’s status this summer and, most importantly, at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Competing in June at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., De Grasse emerged as the “world’s fastest collegian.”

The 5-foot-10, 159-pound De Grasse hails from Markham, Ontario, in Canada, near Toronto, and is a rising senior at the University of Southern California.

At the NCAA’s, De Grasse was spectacular in winning the 100- and 200-meter events, just 50 minutes apart.

De Grasse’s clocked 9.75 second in running 100 meters, the second fastest time ever by a college athlete.

His 200-meter time of 19.58 seconds was the fastest ever recorded by a collegian. Due to a modest wind of about 5.5 mph — just above 4.7 mph maximum winds are allowed — his marks are unofficial.

Both his 100-meter and 200-meter times rank among the 10th fastest

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson has passed the last hurdle to head to Beijing, China.

Jackson, a former athlete at CIAAmember institution, St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C., has qualified in the 400-meter hurdles for the World Track and Field Championships Aug. 22 through 30 in Beijing.

At 32, Jackson won the U.S. Championship in his specialty event June 27 with a time of 48.29 seconds in Eugene, Ore. Jackson, who ran for legendary Coach George Williams at St. Augustine’s, was the 400-meter hurdles bronze medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

ever worldwide. Not surprisingly, he was named NCAA and Pac-12 Track Athlete of the Year.

A busy slate awaits him. First, De Grasse will race in the Canadian National Championships July 3 through 5 in Edmonton.

Next are the Pan Am Games July 10 through 26 in Toronto and the World Championships Aug. 22 through 30 in Beijing, China.

In Toronto and Beijing, De Grasse figures to challenge Bolt and also American Justin Gatlin, who has the world’s fastest 100-meter time — 9.74 seconds — this year.

Gatlin, 32, won the 100-meters in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and took the bronze medal in the race in the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I feel I can run with those guys if I put my mind to it,” De Grasse told the media following his victories in Oregon.

“I can’t be afraid just because of their Olympic gold medals. I have to go out there and make a name for myself as well.”

Bolt’s world records of 9.58 in the 100 and 19.19 for the 200 were set in 2009 in Berlin. Now 28, Bolt hasn’t been very active this season.

Other Jamaicans in conversation for “fastest man” are former Olympians Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake.

On a meteoric rise, De Grasse is clearly the new kid on the block.

He preferred basketball and didn’t take up track until May 2012. He competed for two seasons at Coffeyville, Kan., Community College before transferring to USC. For now, De Grasse has amateur status and may compete another season at USC. However, he has been offered some seven-figure shoe endorsement contracts and may turn professional.

He is in hot demand north of the border.

Although Canada has a history of great sprinters, the most famous were Caribbean imports who established Canadian citizenship as adults.

Donovan Bailey, the 1996 gold medalist in the 100 meters in Atlanta, was born in Jamaica. Bruny Surin, a member of gold medal 4x100 relay team in Atlanta, came from Haiti.

Donovan and Surin, both retired, share the Canadian record in 100 meters of 9.84 seconds.

Ben Johnson, a native Jamaican who competing for Canada, won the 100-meters gold medal in 1998 in Seoul, but his title was revoked for doping.

De Grasse is the son of Canadian Beverley De Grasse and Alex Waithe, a native of Barbados who works for a Toronto radio station.

VCU’s Graham trying his luck in NBA Summer League Treveon Graham hopes for a change in his basketball luck in the mecca for gambling, Las Vegas.

After not getting picked in last week’s NBA Draft, the former Virginia Commonwealth University star has signed to play for San Antonio in the Samsung NBA Summer League at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

The July 10-20 league is an audition, of sorts. It is comprised mostly of recent draftees and non-draftees, second-year NBA players and others who have been competing overseas.

Graham, the 6-foot-6 All-Atlantic 10 forward, built a strong case for being drafted while at VCU, scoring 1,882 points and winning MVP honors at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Also, Graham was invited to the NBA PreDraft Combine in Chicago. He was projected to be a possible second round draft selection.

In Las Vegas, Graham will be joined on the Spurs’ roster by another non-draftee, 6-foot-8 Darion Atkins from the University of Virginia.

Atkins was ACC Defensive Player of the Year last winter. If Graham fails to make the Spurs’ regular season roster, he will likely play in the NBA Development League or sign a contract overseas.

Two other former VCU players will try their luck in the NBA Summer League in Orlando.

Looking back The first African-Americans selected in the NBA draft were Chuck Cooper and Early Lloyd, both in 1950.

Cooper, who starred at Duquesne University in his hometown of Pittsburgh, was the 12th overall selection by Boston.

Lloyd was taken 100th overall by the Washington Capitals after starring at segregated Parker-Gray High School in Alexandria and West Virginia State.

In 1951, Indiana University’s Bill Garrett was the 16th overall pick by Boston.

The first African-American chosen with the first overall pick was Temple University guard Guy Rodgers by Philadelphia in 1958.

Juvonte Reddic will play for the Brooklyn Nets, while Bradford Burgess will suit up for the Orlando Heat. Both played professional basketball in Europe this past winter. Reddic played in Italy; Burgess, in Belgium.

Receiving happier news on draft day were U.Va.’s Justin Anderson, plucked in the first round by Dallas, and William & Mary’s Marcus Thornton, who was selected by Boston in round two.

Anderson entered the draft with a year of eligibility remaining in Charlottesville. The

6-foot-6 wing from Montross becomes U.Va.’s eighth first-round pick.

Others were Barry Parkhill, Wally Walker, Jeff Lamp, Ralph Sampson, Olden Polynice, Bryant Stith and Cory Alexander.

U.Va’s Joe Harris was a second-round pick last year.

Thornton left W&M as the program’s all-time scorer — 2,178 points — after four historic seasons.

Coincidentally, Boston had another player named Marcus Thornton this past season before trading him to Phoenix for Isaiah Thomas.

Thornton is the first W&M player drafted since Keith Cieplicki in 1985. The only W&M players ever to play in the NBA were Andy Duncan (1949-51) and Brandt Weiner (1984).

Failing to hear his name called on draft day was Jarvis Threatt, a former Highland Springs High School and University of Delaware star who played last year in the NBA Development League.

Threatt averaged 13 points, four rebounds and five assists for the Rio Grande Vipers in Texas.

The 6-foot-2 guard drew attention by winning the D-League Slam-Dunk Contest in Brooklyn, N.Y., and by registering the highest vertical leap — 43 inches — at the D-League Pre-Draft mini-camp in Chicago.

VSU football team includes area freshmen Departed Virginia State University football Coach Latrell Scott, who is now at Norfolk State University, has left his successor with a tough act to follow.

Coach Byron Thweatt inherits a revved-up program that has gone 19-4 during the past two seasons, with 15 straight victories over CIAA foes.

The Trojans won the CIAA title in football last fall, upending perennial juggernaut Winston-Salem State University. The team also tacked on the university’s first-ever NCAA Division II playoff victory over Long Island University- Post before bowing to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in the NCAA playoffs’ second round.

Coach Thweatt’s first edition of the blue and

orange will open at home Sept. 5 at Rogers Stadium against California University of Pennsylvania that is coming off an 8-2 season.

VSU lost to California 33-24 at Pennsylvania in its opening game in 2014.

The Trojans’ other nonCoach Thweatt CIAA games are at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., on Sept. 12 and at home against Kentucky State University on Sept. 19.

VSU will kickoff CIAA play Sept. 26 against invading Fayetteville State University.

Coach Thweatt is a former Matoaca High

School and University of Virginia football star who most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Richmond. His first VSU recruiting class features numerous local athletes.

Incoming freshmen include tailback Stephen Mines from State 5A champ L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield County, receiver Khylil James from Chesterfield’s Meadowbrook High School, lineman Daishawn Woodson from Hermitage High School in Henrico County and running back Malik Van Brussel and defensive back Isaiah Kneeland from J.R. Tucker High in Henrico County.

Other newcomers will be lineman D.J. Peterson from Monacan High School in Chesterfield County and running back Ramon James from Benedictine in Goochland County.

James Haskins/Richmond Free Press

Virginia State University Trojans 2015 football schedule Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10

Oct. 17

Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21

California University of Pa. at Tusculum College Kentucky State University Fayetteville State University St. Augustine’s University at Elizabeth City State University Bowie State University (Homecoming) at Lincoln University at Chowan University Virginia Union University CIAA Championship NCAA playoffs

Note: California University kickoff 1 p.m.; other home games kick off at 2 p.m.

Williams sisters advance at Wimbledon Free Press wire reports

Venus Williams

LONDON Superstar sisters Serena and Venus Williams are one win away from facing off against each other in the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London.

They advanced to the third round Wednesday with straight-set wins.

Serena, 33, dispatched Timea Babos of Hungary 6-4, 6-1. Venus, 35, edged Yulia Putinseva of Russia 7-6, 6-4.

Both are scheduled to play again Friday and will face off against each other in the fourth round Monday if they are victorious in the matches that are broadcast on the ESPN TV network.

Meanwhile, the Williams’ sisters

have withdrawn from doubles competition at Wimbledon for the second consecutive year.

Serena, ranked No. 1 in the world and at Wimbledon, said she withdrew to concentrate on winning the singles title. She is seeking her sixth Wimbledon championship.

“I’ve always loved playing doubles with Venus, particularly here at Wimbledon where we’ve had so much success over the years,” Serena said.

“And so I’m really sorry to have to withdraw this year.”

The Williams sisters have won the women’s doubles title five times — in 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2012.

They abandoned their secondround match last year after Serena

fell ill and could not compete.

After already winning the U.S., Australian and French Open grand slam titles in the past year, Serena is looking to win Wimbledon to complete the “Serena Slam” to hold all four major titles at the same time.

“I would never have expected at this time in my career to win three grand slams in row. This for me is unbelievable,” Serena said after winning her 20th major at the French Open in early June. “I’ve got a Serena Slam and I’m close to another.”

Serena won her first round match 6-4, 6-1 Monday against unseeded foe Margarita Gasparyan of Russia. Venus romped 6-0, 6-0 overAmerican Madison Brengle in her first round match.

Serena Williams

July 2-4, 2015 B1

Richmond Free Press

Section

Happenings

B

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Personality: Suzanne D. Hall Spotlight on Thomas Jefferson Award winner from PRSA Richmond Chapter Suzanne D. Hall proudly calls it a “pinnacle moment” — winning the Thomas Jefferson Award in Public Relations from the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

“I am deeply humbled by this lifetime achievement award, a nomination by my peers and the highest honor in our field,” Ms. Hall, 62, says.

The award adds an exclamation mark to conclude Ms. Hall’s 30-year career at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where she most recently served as chief communications officer. She retired June 1.

Adding icing to the cake, she accepted the PRSA’s top award for excellence in public relations at a ceremony held in the museum’s impressive Marble Hall.

“What a thrill to be the prom queen of PRSA this year, and in this museum that has been my career and my passion for the past 30 years,” she told the audience in her acceptance speech.

“The VMFA has been the focus of my energy and the source of countless agendasetting opportunities for communicating the importance and value of this institution to enhance lives, distinguish the Commonwealth and gain insights from timeless works of art,” she added.

Ms. Hall says she was tasked at VMFA with “shaping all strategic communications, and for many years, all of the marketing communications as well.

“I initiated VMFA’s social media program, an area that has transformed our field in the past decade,” she further explains.

She adds it was her honor to represent the museum “throughout the Richmond region, as well as nationally and internationally” through media relations and her longtime engagement on the national board of the American Alliance of Museums and as a peer reviewer for that organization.

Ms. Hall says she will miss

communications professionals is “Together we are better.” Ours is a field of collaboration, and this interdependence and connectivity is actually true throughout our lives, regardless of our profession.

The role I took when I joined the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: Public affairs manager.

Most noteworthy change at VMFA: The transformative 2010 expansion and all the changes that we introduced at that time that have made VMFA one of the most accessible museums in the nation. most the museum’s “5,000 years of world-class art, of course, and my colleagues — passionate professionals whose commitment to protect, preserve and interpret the art assures that VMFA is relevant and inspirational for everyone.”

Next up: She is taking her “post-retirement dream job” as director of stewardship and development at St. James’s Episcopal Church in Downtown, where she has been a member for more than 40 years.

“It will be a continuation of a career of service and communications about something powerfully important to me,” Ms. Hall says. “I have been richly blessed in my career.”

Here’s a look at this week’s Personality, Suzanne D. Hall: Date and place of birth: March 2 in Belmont, N.C. Alma mater with degrees: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Family: Husband, Joe Willis; adult daughters, Sloan Crawford, Jennifer Willis and Larkin Willis Nash; and son, McKendree Crawford.

What motivates me: My message to that audience of

Principles I always follow when I give advice: Personal integrity, honesty and transparency.

Difference between a news professional and a public relations professional: PR professionals accurately and efficiently provide information, access and tools to media who then report the news to their audiences.

How I see the world: Full of potential and inspiration. But to whom much is given, much is expected.

Advice to people interested in public relations field: Consume the news and write clearly and concisely. Be a good storyteller. Know your field, and remember that journalists are always looking for a good story and are on deadline.

How I start the day: I begin each morning with Bible study and meditation with the birds in my backyard.

How I unwind: Running, hiking, cooking, gardening, loving my family and five grandchildren. I also enjoy all kinds of artistic expression.

I place top value on: Family, friends and community. And kindness.

Favorite late-night snack: Trader Joe’s Ginger Snaps or

BUILD ON A PROUD TRADITION

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When people first meet me they think: I hope they sense my passion for life. I know my energy is apparent.

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African-Americans have played a critical role in the history of the American Red Cross, and in just a few short minutes, a blood donor can help change the course of history for a sickle cell patient in need, right here in our community.

You can help by hosting a blood drive at your place of work or worship. Contact the Red Cross to learn how. www.redcrossblood.org/interest

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Book that influenced me the most: Poetry by Mary Oliver.

I have all of her books.

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What I’m reading now: “Crafting A Theology of Stewardship” by Joel Mikell and Ben Stroup and “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage” by Haruki Murakami.

My next goal: To support my church by giving up myself to God’s service.

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REMAKING VIRGINIA

TRANSFORMATION THROUGH EMANCIPATION An Exhibition at the Library of Virginia July 6, 2015–March 26, 2016 GALLERY HOURS: MONDAY–SATURDAY, 9:00 am –5:00 pm

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ee th

emaking Virginia offers a look at the changing world Virginians faced during Reconstruction. What challenges did African Americans face in their struggle

to achieve what they believed freedom would bring them? What obstacles blocked their efforts to gain citizenship? How successful were African Americans during Reconstruction in claiming their objectives? Did the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution significantly aid them in their struggles?

For more information and to find out about related events, please visit our website (www.lva.virginia.gov).

800 E. Broad St. | Richmond, VA 23219 | w w w.lva.virginia.gov | 804.692.3592

Richmond Free Press

B2 July 2-4, 2015

Happenings

Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated Press

From left at the BET Awards: Janet Jackson accepts the inaugural Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award; Smokey Robinson, honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, performs a medley of his hits; and Nicki Minaj poses with her awards for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Viewers’ Choice.

Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated Press

Richard Shotwell/Invision/Associated Press

BET Awards brings out top stars parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, who were seated at the front of the Los Angeles arena.

In the main awards of the night, rapper Nicki Minaj won for best female hip-hop artist and the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award, and Kendrick Lamar, who performed atop two graffiti-covered police cars, took home best male hip-hop artist.

Though she was absent, Beyoncé won three awards, including video of the year for “7/11,” best female R&B/pop artist and video director of the year, while Tappahannock native Chris Brown, who performed multiple times, won best male R&B/pop artist and the Fandemonium award.

“A lot has changed in my life, a lot of mistakes, a lot of lessons learned,” Mr. Brown said. “The best thing I’m most thankful for is my daughter,”

Free Press wire reports

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs took a tumble, Janet Jackson made an emotional appearance and the BET TV network paid tribute Sunday to campaigners across the United States demanding better police accountability after a troubled year.

Combs fell through a hole in the stage at the BET Awards show during a 20th anniversary celebration of his Bad Boy record label that reunited hip-hop artists including Lil’ Kim, Faith Evans and 112 in a celebration joined by Pharrell Williams.

Diddy quickly got up and carried on with the performance, appearing unhurt.

The BET Awards pay tribute to the leading music, acting, sports and entertainment figures in the United States of the past year.

Current political events were never far away at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

Actor Michael B. Jordan, star of the 2013 film “Fruitvale Station,” gave a speech on behalf of the cable network recognizing the thousands of Americans who have marched and demonstrated over the deaths of young black men at the hands of police in the past 12 months.

“BET is shining a light on you for taking to the streets and insisting that black lives matter. We see you and applaud your unbreakable, unshakeable strength,” Mr. Jordan said, referring to deaths in Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore and New York.

In one of the most hotly anticipated moments of the almost four-hour ceremony, Janet Jackson was presented with the inaugural Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award.

Janet, 49, announced last month that she would release her first album of new material since “Discipline” in 2008 and embark on her first world tour in four years.

“It’s been a very long journey to this mo-

Phil McCarten/Reuters

Hip-hop artist Ciara and her boyfriend, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson of Richmond, made their red carpet debut at the BET Awards, wearing coordinated ensembles. During the ceremony, Ciara joined Jason Derulo and Tinashe in a tribute to Janet Jackson.

ment. My heart is so full,” Janet said, dressed in a white jump suit.

The youngest member of the Jackson family singing clan, Janet thanked her fans and her

Reconstruction exhibit opens at Library of Virginia It’s called “Remaking Virginia: Transformation through Emancipation.”

And it examines “the changing world Virginians faced during Reconstruction,” according to Jan Hathcock, a spokesperson for the Library of Virginia.

The exhibit opened Wednesday, July 1, and will continue through March 26 at the library at

he said onstage. “I’m so thankful and happy to have the loyal fans ... and everybody here that knows me, to know me is to love me.”

Smokey Robinson received the Lifetime AchievementAward, performed a medley of his hits and earned a standing ovation from the audience when he spoke about Hollywood and humility.

Anthony Hamilton and Gary Clark Jr. performed while photos of celebrities who died in 2014 appeared on screen. A montage of the nine people who were gunned down at a church in Charleston earlier this month closed the performance.

“Black-ish” actorsAnthonyAnderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, hosts for the star-studded evening, won over the crowd with back-to-back jokes, including one about Rachel Dolezal, the former president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP.

800 E. Broad St. in Downtown.

Using personal stories from the collections at the Library of Virginia, the exhibition focuses on “how African-Americans made the change from property to citizens and examines the societal transformation experienced by all Virginians through topics including labor, church, education, families,

political rights, military service, and violence,” according to a release from the library.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information on the exhibit: www.lva.virginia.gov/ news or (804) 692-3500.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Chief jailbird “Help me make bail — I’m an MDA jailbird.” That was the good-natured Facebook post from Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham, who was locked up at a Downtown restaurant last Thursday. His crime: “Having a Big Heart.” The chief and 75 other Richmond community leaders went behind bars at various locations, with their “bail” money pledged by people in the community raising more than $65,000 to help send 55 children to the Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp in Wakefield, according to MDA officials. The donations also will support MDA’s clinical services at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The chief had raised more than $2,400 in donations by Tuesday.

Black lawmakers’ descendants celebrating reunion Monday

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Topping off history Officials gathered at the future home of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, pictured above, for a “Topping Off” ceremony last Thursday. Dr. Leonard Edloe, left, a member of the museum’s board of directors, watches as former museum CEO Stacy L. Burrs, right, signs his name on the last beam that will be placed atop the building at 122 W. Leigh St. in Jackson Ward. Mr. Burrs currently serves on the museum board and is overseeing construction of the $8 million project at the site of the historic Leigh Street Armory.

The new site is scheduled to open in December.

Descendants of the African-American members of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868 and of African-American legislators in the General Assembly during Reconstruction are scheduled to converge on Richmond for a “Family Reunion” on Monday, July 6.

They will participate in a daylong series of activities culminated with an evening panel discussion on the legacy of their ancestors.

The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868 was held as a condition of the state’s readmission into the Union following the Civil War. Virginia was required by Congress to create a reconstructed government, hold a state convention and establish a new constitution.

The Constitutional Convention was called the Underwood Convention for federal Judge John Underwood, who served as the convention’s president. It was the first legislative body in the history of Virginia that included AfricanAmericans delegates — 25 in all.

The Underwood Convention created a new Virginia Constitution ratified in 1869 that gave all men — including African-American men — the right to vote. Women did not get the right to vote until 1919.

It also established Virginia’s first statewide system of public schools.

As a result of the new Constitution, about 100 African-American men served in the Virginia General Assembly between 1869 and 1890.

Since 1967, and the election of Dr. William Ferguson Reid to the House of Delegates, about 35 African-Americans have served in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

Descendants of those history-making del-

egates are scheduled to participate in reunion activities Monday. From 8:30 to 10 a.m., they will take the Slave Trail Walk, then tour the State Capitol.

From 1 to 5 p.m., they will have the opportunity to view an exhibit called “Remaking Virginia: Transformation through Emancipation” at the Library of Virginia at 800 E. Broad St. in Downtown.

The exhibit examines “the changing world Virginians faced during Reconstruction,” according to library officials.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a panel discussion will examine the legacy of the descendants’ ancestors in House Room 3 at the State Capitol.

Panel members are to include Viola O. Baskerville, former state secretary of administration and a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates; Ajena Rogers, a supervisor ranger for the Maggie L. Walker National Historical Site and a descendant of the Honorable James Apostle Fields, an African-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1889 to 1890; Sen. Mamie E. Locke, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus; and Juanita Owens Wyatt, a descendant.

Dr. Lauranett L. Lee, curator of AfricanAmerican history at the Virginia Historical Society, will moderate the event that is free and open to the public.

The event is co-sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission, the Library of Virginia, the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia.

For more information on the event: http:// mlkcommission.dls.virginia.gov.

Richmond Free Press

July 2-4, 2015

B3

Richmond Free Press

B4 July 2-4, 2015

Faith News/Directory

Former Richmond pastor faces life sentence

By Joey Matthews

Mr. Aguilar immediately was taken into custody and transferred to the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth. He is being held without bond as his attorneys plan an appeal.

He faces life in prison when he is sentenced

by Judge Louis E. Sturns.

The judge asked for a pre-sentence report within 80 to 90 days.

Prosecutor Eric Nichols said he will seek a sentence that guarantees Mr. Aguilar will never get out of prison — perhaps life plus 20 years.

The jury reached its verdict after a week of testimony from dozens of witnesses.

The sisters testified that Mr. Aguilar had engaged in sex with them for more than a year, beginning in 1996, and played games such as strip poker to seduce them.

At the time, according to testimony, Mr. Aguilar, then 26, lived with the sisters’ family in Fort Worth, Texas, and was affiliated with New Beginnings International Church there. The sex started when Mr. Aguilar slept in a bed between the girls, according to testimony.

In other testimony, Jamie Chasteen, who was Mr. Aguilar’s personal assistant at the Richmond church, testified that she wired hush money to the victims’ mother.

She also testified that she carried on a 10-

Geronimo Aguilar once walked into services at the packed former Richmond Outreach Center worship services like a rock star. He waved to excited congregation members as about a half-dozen muscular security team members surrounded him.

Known as “Pastor G,” the pastor drew lofty praise from politicians, business leaders, educators, law enforcement, faith leaders and ordinary citizens alike for leading the South Side church’s 24/7 mission to help the downtrodden.

He is now a pariah to many of those same people after he was convicted in Texas last week on seven charges of sexual assault of a minor and indecency with a child.

Mr. Aguilar, a 45-year-old husband and father of five, looked like a broken man as the 12-person jury announced its verdict June 24 in the Tarrant County, Texas, courtroom.

He bowed his head and was visibly shaken after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two sisters, ages 11 and 13, in the mid-1990s while he was a youth pastor at their Texas church.

Behind him in the courtroom, members of the victims’ families and their friends exchanged hugs and shed tears as the verdict was read.

Mr. Aguilar

year affair with Mr. Aguilar.

Mr. Aguilar resigned from the church, known as the ROC, in June 2013 after its board of directors said it learned that he had multiple affairs with Richmond church members and staff.

His wife, Samantha, testified that she knew about some of the affairs, but didn’t want to know everything, so she ignored them.

Just days before the start of Mr. Aguilar’s Texas trial, the Richmond church was renamed Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry, and a new pastor was announced.

After his conviction, Celebration Church issued a statement in response to a Free Press query: “This is a time for us, as a church, to respond in prayer, especially for the victims who have suffered deeply,” the statement read. “We are doing that. The church is stronger than the actions of any one individual.

“As a church, Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry is moving forward and asking God to help us act justly, love mercifully and walk humbly before him. We intend to stay focused on our mission to be a place of redemption and hope for the people in the city of Richmond and beyond.”

Prior to Saturday night’s regular worship service at the church at 5501 Midlothian Turnpike, Tim Thornton, a longtime church attendee, was asked to respond to the verdict.

“It is what it is,” he said. “I looked at him (Mr. Aguilar) mostly for what good he has done.

“Justice prevails,” he added. “And, of course, the Lord prevails.”

New Episcopal Church leader has Richmond link Free Press staff, wire reports

The first African-American to be elected as the U.S. Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop has ties to Richmond.

The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, 62, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, was elected the church’s 27th presiding bishop last Saturday at the denomination’s general conference in Salt Lake City.

He was elected by a 121-53 vote by his peers in the House of Bishops. His election was the first in that body to require only a single ballot. Eighty nine votes were required for him to win.

His election then was affirmed 800-12 at the House of Deputies meeting at the General Convention.

“This is a good and wonderful church, and we are good and wonderful people. I thank God to be one of the baptized among you,” Bishop Curry said in addressing the audience that broke into sustained applause with his entry. “My heart is really full.”

“We’ve got a society where there are challenges before us and there are crises all around us. The church has challenges before it,” Bishop Curry said.

“Nothing can stop the movement of God’s love in this world.”

He replaces outgoing Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who was the first female to lead the Episcopal Church, a branch of the 80 millionmember worldwide Anglican Communion.

Bishop Curry’s nine-year term will begin with a liturgy Nov. 1, on All Saints Day, at Washington National Cathedral.

Bishop Curry has been a popular speaker in Richmond in recent years at the Community Lenten Series at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Downtown. Faith leaders are invited to speak at lunchtime services during Lent.

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Bishop Curry

Bishop Curry has spoken eight times at the series since 1994, most recently in 2014, St. Paul’s Rector Wallace AdamsRiley told the Free Press.

“He brings such wow, such power, such spirit, such humanity and such authenticity,” said Rev. Adams-Riley. “You know he’s always going to bring the truth and talk about what needs to be talked about.

“He is very personable, very warm, welcoming and a great conversationalist,” he added “He’s someone with a big spirit and a ready laugh.”

As for Bishop Curry’s historic election, Rev. Adams-Riley said, “I rejoice in the election of the first African-American as our first presiding bishop. It’s overdue. Thank God for it.”

The Very Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf, rector at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on North Side, attended the Utah convention in an unofficial capacity. She beamed with pride at Bishop Curry’s historic election.

“It’s humbling and gratifying that our gifts and skills and talents are recognized and

Zion Baptist Church

acknowledged by the larger church,” the African-American rector told the Free Press from the convention Monday.

“And also, although the Episcopal Church in the United States is predominately white, the 80 million members around the world are predominately people of color. I think he will be welcome on the world stage in ways that perhaps our previous presiding bishops have not been.”

Rev. Roaf said she believes Bishop Curry was elected because of his tremendous leadership skills, impressive body of work and his determination to more aggressively evangelize throughout the world.

“What it signals is that the church is more ready to focus on evangelism and not being ashamed to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Rev. Roaf

said. “His election is a clear mandate we’re going to go outside the four walls of the church and bring people into the church.”

Bishop Curry was one of four candidates up for election to lead the church, which has about 1.86 million members in the United States. The other three candidates were The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio; The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut; and The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith, bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

Bishop Curry has been North Carolina’s 11th diocesan bishop since he was ordained and consecrated on June 17, 2000. He was rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Baltimore when he was se-

Ebenezer Baptist Church 1858

“The People’s Church”

216 W. Leigh St. • Richmond, Va. 23220 • Tel: 804-643-3366 Fax: 804-643-3367 • Email: ebcoffice1@comcast.net • web: ebcrichmond.org Vacation Bible School July 6 - July 10 5:00 P.M. - Dinner 5:45 P.M. - Classes Sunday Worship Sunday Church School Service of Holy Communion Service of Baptism Life Application Bible Class Wednesday Meditation & Bible Study Thursday Bible Study



11:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Every 3rd Sunday 2nd Sunday, 11 a.m.

Mon. 6:30 p.m.

Wed. 7:45 p.m.

Thurs., 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Levy M. Armwood, Pastor  Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

everence e with elevanc R ing Dr. Morris Henderson, Senior Pastor bin m o ❖ C SUNDAYS Church School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. ❖

2006 Decatur Street Richmond, VA 23224

WEDNESDAYS Bible Study 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

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Dr. Robert L. Pettis, Sr., Pastor Sunday Service 10 a.m.

Church School 8:45 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7p.m.

Transportation Services 232-2867 “Reclaiming the Lost by Proclaiming the Gospel”

Broad Rock Baptist Church 5106 Walmsley Blvd., Richmond, VA 23224 804-276-2740 • 804-276-6535 (fax) www.BRBCONLINE.org



MONDAY-FRIDAY Nutrition Center and Clothes Closet 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 226-0150 Office www.31sbc.org

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lected on Feb. 11, 2000. He is the current chair of Episcopal Relief & Development’s Board of Directors.

The general convention, held every three years, wraps up July 3. Among the issues to be explored are the church’s directives on gun violence, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and same-sex marriage, according to the official agenda.

A legislative session erupted in applause last Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 5-4 ruling that the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law means that gay couples have the legal right to marry, the Episcopal News Service said.

The Episcopal denomination approved a rite for the blessing of a same-sex relationship at its 2012 convention.

This year, resolutions under consideration would expand gay and lesbian inclusion in the church, including a modification to the canonical definition of marriage as between only a man and woman, according to the agenda.

Episcopal Church members also will consider several resolutions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with one proposal calling on the church to divest from Israel or companies that do business with Israel because of what it calls “Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.”

Bishops, priests and church members also are taking part in traditional church rites such as the Eucharist and holding sessions to discuss poverty, access to health care and how to reduce gun violence in the United States.

Mission Statement: People of God developing Disciples for Jesus Christ through Preaching and Teaching of God’s Holy Word reaching the people of the Church and the Community.

“The Church With A Welcome”

Sharon Baptist Church 22 E. Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219 • 643-3825 thesharonbaptistchurch.com • Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

Sunday, July 6, 2015 No 8:00 a.m. Service 9:30 a.m. ...... Sunday School 11:15 a.m. ..Morning Worship Holy Communion

WEDNESDAYS 6:00 p.m. ...... Prayer Service 6:30p.m. ...... Bible Study

FirstM iBaptist Church dlothian

13800 Westfield Dr., Midlothian,VA 23113 804-794-5583 • www.fbcm1846.com

Service Times Sunday

Church School 9:45AM Worship 11:00AM

Tuesday

Bible Study 12 Noon

Wednesday Youth & Adult Bible Study 7:00PM Prayer & Praise 8:15PM

Van Transportation Available, Call 804-794-5583

Rev. Pernell J. Johnson, Pastor

Triumphant

Baptist Church

2003 Lamb Avenue Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622 Church School - 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:15 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday - 9 a.m.

Wednesday - 7 p.m.

Prayer Services: Wednesday (1st & 3rd ) 7 a.m.

Every Wednesday 8 p.m.

Communion - 1st Sunday

Sixth Baptist Church Theme for 2015: Becoming a Five-Star Church of Excellence I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

We Are Growing In The Kingdom As We Grow The Kingdom with Word, Worship and Witness

SUNDAY, July 5, 2015 Happy Independence Day 9AM The Family Altar (A time for meditation, healing, and deliverance)

To advertise your church:

10:40AM Worship & Praise

Early Morning Worship ~ 8 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ~ 11 a.m.

4th Sunday Unified Worship Service ~ 9:30 a.m.

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Radio Ministry: Sunday: 9:30 a.m. {1540 AM}

Worship Service • Gospel Concert Vacation Bible School Homecoming • Revival

11AM Divine Worship Message by Rev. Inga Green

call 804-644-0496

Now Registering For Summer Camp, 2015 SBC Is The Place To Be

“MAKE IT HAPPEN”

Richmond Free Press

Pastor Kevin Cook

We care about you and Richmond.

Twitter sixthbaptistrva

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

(804) 359-1691 or 359-3498 Facebook Fax (804) 359-3798 sixthbaptistrva www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

Richmond Free Press

July 2-4, 2015

B5

Faith News/Directory

Jehovah’s Witnesses district conventions start July 3 at Coliseum The annual district conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are coming to Richmond beginning this weekend, officials have announced.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the conventions, which will be held five consecutive weekends at the Richmond Coliseum. The first is Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5.

The workshops will revolve around the theme “Imitate Jesus!” and are divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

The other conventions are to take place July 10-12, which will be a Spanish language convention, with three English language conventions to follow July 17-19, July 24-26 and July 31-Aug. 2.

An American Sign Language convention with the same theme

will be held Aug. 7-9 at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 5607 Midlothian Turnpike on South Side.

The conventions are free and open to the public.

The district events are among 453 conventions of the denomination taking place across the United States.

For more information: www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/ conventions.

2-day gospel music festival next weekend Dozens of gospel artists from across the nation are scheduled to perform at The East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest.

It’s billed as “one of the biggest gospel music weekends on the East Coast.”

And it’s returning to Richmond next Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, according to Richmond radio personality Sheilah Belle, one of the event’s organizers.

The event will be held at two locations, according to Ms. Belle — Fifth Baptist Church and Dogwood Dell.

The event kicks off at Fifth Baptist Church, 1415 W. Cary St., in the West End from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 11.

Music workshops and classes are scheduled in the morning, including a consortium led by Bryan Andrew Wilson, Dr. Larry D. Reid and music industry executives.

A praise party will be held at 6 p.m., with performances

by Dr. Reid, Peggy Britt & Unison, Donté McCutchen, Zion’s Voice, Mel Holder, Kim Robinson and others.

The event is free to the public.

The 6th Annual Gospel Music Fest will follow the next day at 5 p.m. July 12 at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park.

Performers will include gospel legend Dorothy Norwood; The Brooklyn All Stars; Larry Bland and the Volunteer Choir Reunited, featuring his quartet “Promise;” James Johnson and the Voices of Cedar Street; Minister Earl Bynum; the Virginia Aires; and Petula Beckles.

The concert is free.

For more information: www.thebellereport.com.

Angelic praise dance Members of Roses and Wings Girls Mentoring Program perform a praise dance to “Amazing Grace” last Saturday at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church on South Side. The occasion was the 6th Annual Roses and Wings Graduation and Youth Fashion Show. Twelve girls, ages 6 to 16, completed another year with the Richmond-based nonprofit program led by Margaret S. Johnson, right. Through positive activities, the program seeks to instill self-confidence in girls and equip them with life skills. The event also featured a fatherdaughter dance and a lunch buffet.

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223-6624 • Office: (804) 644-1402 Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You” Tuesday Sunday 10:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Church School 6:30 PM Church-wide Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Men's Bible Study (Each 2nd and 4th) (Holy Communion Thursday each 2nd Sunday) Wednesday (Following 2nd Sunday) 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting

11:00 AM Mid-day Meditation

2300 Cool Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23223 804-795-5784 (Armstrong High School Auditorium)

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Come Join Us! Reverend Dr. Lester D. Frye Pastor and Founder

St. Peter Baptist Church

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, Pastor

Worship Opportunities Sundays:

Morning Worship Church School Morning Worship

Rev. Darryl G. Thompson, Pastor

Unity Sundays (2nd Sundays)

8 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 11 A.M.

Summer Worship

Church School Morning Worship

2015 Theme: The Year of Moving Forward

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8:30 A.M. 10 A.M.

8775 Mount Olive Avenue Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 (804) 262-9614 Phone (804) 262-2397 Fax www.mobcva.org

Vacation Bible School July 13-17, 2015 ~ 5:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Everyone from preschool aged children to adults are encouraged to join us!

There will be lots of fun with snacks, teaching crafts and games!

Schedule

Sunday, June 7, 2015 Sunday, September 13, 2015

… and Listen to our Radio Broadcast Sundays at 10:15 a.m. on WCLM 1450 AM

To empower people of God spiritually, mentally and emotionally for successful living.

Worship Service 10:00 AM Sunday School and New Members Class 8:30 AM

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church

2015 Theme:

1701 Turner Road, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23225 (804) 276-0791 office (804)276-5272 fax www.ndec.net

“Shining Star: You are the light of the world!” Matthew 5:14. Everyone wants to be a Star, and with the Shining Light of Jesus Christ, they can do it!

Come Come Join Join Us Us For For Vacation Bible School 2015 Come Join Us

2040 Mountain Road • Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 www.stpeterbaptist.net

Moore Street Missionary

Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street • 358-6403

Dr. Alonza Lawrence

Remember...

At New Deliverance, You Are Home!

See you there and bring a friend.

For2015 Vacation Bible School Come Vacation Bible School 2015

Join Sunday Us Come July 5, 2015 Sunday For Join Church School 8:30 A.M. 8 a.m. Sunday School Dr. Jeffery O. Smith, Pastor Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service Vacation Bible 2015 Us School Dr. Jeffery O. Smith, Pastor Wednesday Services Vacation For Senior Citizens Garland Avenue Baptist Church Bible School Noonday Bible Study July 6th - July 10th 2700-2704 Garland Avenue Vacation Bible School 2015 Every Wed. 12noon -1 p.m.

Richmond, Virginia 23222-3602 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Garland Avenue Baptist Church Pastor

SPREAD the WORD To place church advertising in the

Richmond Free Press call 804/644-0496

Bishop G. O. Glenn D. Min., Founder Mother Marcietia S. Glenn First Lady

Bible Study Count: noonday Wednesday night 7 p.m. Prayer 7:15 p.m. Bible Teaching

Garland Dates: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 –2700-2704 Friday July 17,Avenue 2015

Dinner: 6:00 p.m.Richmond, – 6:30 p.m. Virginia 23222-3602 Session Start: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Dates: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 – Friday July 17, 2015

Theme: What’s Love

Sanctuary - All Are Welcome!

Got To Do With It?

Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.Dr. Jeffery O. Smith, Pastor Session Fellowship with Us Start: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

8:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer

Garland Avenue Baptist Church Garland Avenue Baptist Church Dates: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 – Friday July 17, 2015

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Theme: What’s Love 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p. m.

Got To Do With It?

At Our Fellowship with Us Community Picnic Saturday, July 18, 2015 Location: 2700 Block of Garland 2:00Avenue p.m. - 5:00 p. m.

Dr. Jeffery O. Smith, Pastor 2700-2704 Garland Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23222-3602

You can now view Sunday Morning Service “AS IT HAPPENS” online!

Also, for your convenience, we now offer “full online giving.”

Visit www.ndec.net.

2700-2704 Garland Avenue At Our Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Richmond, Virginia 23222-3602 Community Picnic Session Start: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: 2700 Dates: Block of Wednesday, Garland Avenue July 15, 2015 – Friday July 17, 2015

Theme: What’s Love

Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

- Matthew 4:23

Got To Do With It?

Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrew 12:14 (KJV) Tune in on Sunday Morning to WTVR - Channel 6 - 8:30 a.m.

Sunday TV Broadcast WTVZ 9 a.m. Norfolk/Tidewater Thursday & Friday Radio Broadcast WREJ 1540 AM Radio - 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.

THE NEW DELIVERANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (NDCA)

ENROLL NOW!!!

Accepting applications for children 2 yrs. old to 3rd Grade Our NDCA curriculum also consists of a Before and After program.

Now Enrolling for our Nursery Ages 6 weeks - 2yrs. old.

For more information Please call (804) 276-4433 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Richmond Free Press

B6 July 2-4, 2015

Sports Plus

9 inducted into Petersburg High Sports Hall of Fame

By Fred Jeter

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Petersburg High School has inducted its first Sports Hall of Fame class.

The inaugural induction ceremony was held at a reception and banquet in mid-June at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Petersburg.

Here are thumbnails of the inductees: 1. Marvin Bass (Class of 1932, football): Mr. Bass earned All-American gridiron honors for Petersburg High and The College of William & Mary. He later coached at William & Mary, University of North Carolina, Georgia Tech, University of Richmond and South Carolina and with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

2. Roland Day (coach): Mr. Day coached virtually every sport for the Crimson Wave from 1926 until 1970.

3. Ricky Hunley (Class of 1980, football): After leading Petersburg High to the State AAA title in 1979, Mr. Hunley went on earn AllAmerica honors at the University of Arizona

and play seven seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, the Phoenix Cardinals and the Los Angeles Raiders. He competed in two Super Bowls with Denver.

4. Robert Kilbourne (coach, administrator): Mr. Kilbourne accumulated 268 basketball coaching victories at Petersburg High between 1944 and 1970. He was instrumental in the integration of Petersburg Public Schools in the 1960s.

5. William Lawson Jr. (coach): Mr. Lawson recorded 452 basketball coaching victories at Petersburg High between 1976 and 1999.

In all, he had 626 victories, counting stints at Matoaca and George Washington Carver schools in Chesterfield.

6. Moses Malone (Class of 1974, basketball): Mr. Malone sparked the Crimson Wave to back-to-back State AAA titles in 1973 and 1974. During that run, Petersburg High went 50-0. From high school, Mr. Malone jumped straight to the NBA’s Utah Jazz and is now a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.

7. Eric Tipton (Class of 1935, baseball): Following an outstanding career on the diamond for the Crimson Wave, Mr. Tipton went on to star at Duke University and play professionally with the Philadelphia A’s and the Cincinnati Reds from 1939 to 1945.

8. Paul Webb (Class of 1948, baseball and basketball): Mr. Webb was a two-sport star for Petersburg High and also for The College of William & Mary. He went on to score 511 basketball coaching victories at Randolph-Macon College and Old Dominion University.

9. Mark West (Class of 1979, basketball): The 6-foot-10 Mr. West helped the Crimson Wave win the Central Region title in basketball.

He then went on to star at ODU. He played in the NBA for eight different teams from 1983 to 2000, scoring 6,259 points.

For more information on the Petersburg High School Sports Hall of Fame, contact Petersburg High Activities Director William Lawson III at (804) 862-7144.

Legal Notices/Classifieds City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2015-147 To amend Ord. No. 2013135-131, adopted Jul. 8, 2013, which closes to public use and travel, a portion of right-of-way known as the 8th Street Connector located in the block bounded by South 8th Street, Basin Bank Street, South 9th Street and East Canal Street, consisting of 16,337± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions, to extend the time period within which the conditions of the closing must be fulfilled.

Ordinance No. 2015-148 To amend and reordain City Code §§ 114-456.11, 114-1045.13, 114-1050.5, and 114-1140, concerning the requirements for the posting of public notices on property related to community unit plans, conditional use permits, special use permits and changes in the boundaries of a zoning district, for the purpose of making the Department of Planning and Development Review responsible for such posting instead of the applicant.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at www.Richmondgov. com and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jean V. Capel City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MICHAEL BODRICK, Plaintiff v.

VERNELLE BODRICK, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000763-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who has been served with the Complaint by posted service appear here on or before the 29th day of July, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER MARIA SALGADO CIRILO, Plaintiff v.

VICENTE ALVAREZ ZAVALA, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15001190-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

Continued from previous column

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the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 22nd day of July, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND iN rE: destini monique parker OrDEr Of puBLicatiON The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Tiffany Lorraine Parker (Mother), Robert Turner (Father), and Unknown Father (Father) of Destini Monique Parker, child, DOB 5/15/2014, “RPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Tiffany Lorraine Parker, Robert Turner, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before August, 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

Kate D. O’Leary, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of thE city Of richmOND iN rE: KEITH O. BROWN, JR., ANGELO S. and Theshawn c. williams and andrew cole OrDEr Of puBLicatiON The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“RPR”) of Angela N. Williams (Mother), of Keith O. Brown Jr., child, DOB 12/4/2002, Angelo S., child, DOB 7/16/2009, Theshawn C. Williams, child, DOB 2/24/2011 and Andrew Cole, child, DOB 6/18/2014 and James F. Willis Jr., (Father) of Angelo S. Williams, child, DOB 7/16/2009 and Theodore R. Cole (Father) of Theshawn C. Williams, child, DOB 2/24/2011 and Andrew Cole, child, DOB 6/18/2014, “RPR” means all rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Angela N. Williams, James F. Willis Jr. and Theodore R. Cole appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before June 22, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

Kate D. O’Leary, Esq. 730 E. Broad St., 8th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-646-3493

Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, DAVID F. KATZ, SHELLY A. KATZ, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before AUGUST 14, 2015, and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7940

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

Case No.: CL14-3356-1 TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., a Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, et al., Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as “919 Chimborazo Boulevard (formerly 34th Street), TaxMap/GPIN# E000-0965/018, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owner of record, TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owner, TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, has not been located and has not filed a response to this action; that OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICE, INC. a/k/a OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., A Terminated Virginia Corporation, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 7, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 9, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-791, has not been and has not filed a response to this action, or its devisees, assignees or successors in title; that OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICE, INC. a/k/a OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., A Terminated Virginia Corporation, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, has not been and has not filed a response to this action, or its devisees, assignees or successors in title; that BARRY WEISS, As to part of a $50,000.00 Interest and ELIZABETH N. PULLY, As to part of a $50,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holders of a $50,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that DAVID GROSSMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of DAVID GROSSMAN, As to $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holder/s of a $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said

property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that SHIRLEY GROSSMAN, As P/O/D for $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holder of a P/O/D for $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, has not been personally located and has not filed a response to this action, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title; that SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, and RICHARD D. KRIDER, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, have not been personally located and have not filed a response to this action; that THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of THEODORE SELLMAN, who may be creditor/s with an interest in said property, have not been located and have not filed a response to this matter; that DAVID F. KATZ and SHELLY A. KATZ, who may be creditors with an interest in said property, who are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have not filed a response to this matter; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that TOWER BUILDING PROPERTIES, L. L. C., A Cancelled Virginia Limited Liability Company, OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICE, INC. a/k/a OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., A Terminated Virginia Corporation, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 7, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 9, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-791, or its devisees, assignees or successors in title, OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICE, INC. a/k/a OLD DOMINION FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., A Terminated Virginia Corporation, which may be the holder of a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, or its devisees, assignees or successors in title, BARRY WEISS, As to part of a $50,000.00 Interest and ELIZABETH N. PULLY, As to part of a $50,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holders of a $50,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, or their heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, DAVID GROSSMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs, Devisees, Assignees or Successors in Interest of DAVID GROSSMAN, As to $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holder/s of a $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 08-1738, SHIRLEY GROSSMAN, As P/O/D for $10,000.00 Interest, who may be the be the holder of a P/O/D for $10,000.00 Interest in a certain Note secured by a Balloon Deed of Trust dated January 18, 2008, with respect to said property, recorded January 22, 2008, in Instrument Number 081738, or her heirs, devisees, assignees or successors in title, SHERRIE BECKER, PATRICK BECKER, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, JAY S. SCHWARTZ, As Trustee for the JAY SCHWARTZ TRUST U/A 11/6/1992, RICHARD D. KRIDER, THEODORE SELLMAN, Who May Be Deceased, and the Heirs,

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VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER HAROLD ELLIOTT, Plaintiff v.

LUCIA ELLIOTT, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15001254-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 22nd day of July, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER LINWOOD COX, Plaintiff v.

TENA COX, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15001191-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 22nd day of July, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER AGUSTIN HOLDER FULA, Plaintiff v.

LESLY RIOS SANTOS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL15000922-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 29th day of July, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure Counsel for Plaintiff VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re AMELIA LYNN Roberson; CHRISTY LEE WILSON v. TRACY LYNN ROBERSON UNKNOWN FATHER AKA “MARIO” Case No. JJ085932-01-00; JJ085932-02-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine custody and visitation of Amelia Lynn Roberson (DOB: 12/12/06), whose mother is Tracy Lynn Roberson, pursuant to Va. Code 16.1-241 (A3).

It is ordered that the defendant Unknown Father AKA “Mario” appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 23, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.

Stephen Bloomquest, Esq. 5913 Harbour Park Drive Midlothian, Virginia 23112 804-396-3329 virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Bryson Allen Ford, JUDY Simmons (-01) WAYNE SIMMONS (-02) v.

SHALANE FORD & KEVIN JONES Case No. JJ085911-01-00, JJ085911-02-00 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine custody of Bryson Allen Ford (DOB 9/13/13), whose mother is Shalane Ford, pursuant to VA Code 16.1-241A3.

It is ordered that the defendant Kevin Jones appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 4, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

Lindsay G. Dugan, Esq. Friedman Law Firm, P.C. 9620 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 101 Chesterfield, VA 23832 804-717-1969

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND

virgiNia: iN thE JuvENiLE aND DOmEstic rELatiONs District cOurt Of Chesterfield Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Derek R Groves; Erika D. Groves Misty D. Simpson Groves v. Sharon and Chris Dunn Case No. JJ048620-03-01; JJ048621-03-01 OrDEr Of puBLicatiON

The object of this suit is to: Determine/amend custody of Derek Groves (DOB 2/19/02) and Erika Groves (DOB 2/19/02), whose mother is Misty D. Simpson Groves, pursuant to VA Code 16.1-241A3.

It is ordered that the defendant Rufus Gordon Groves, Jr. appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Stephen Bloomquest, Esq. 5913 Harbour Park Drive Midlothian, Virginia 23112 804-396-3329

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CUSTODY

PROPERTY

DRIVER’S: Quality Home time!

Earn over $1250+ per wk. + Monthly Bonuses!

Excellent Benefits.

No-Touch!

CDL-A 1yr exp.

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PULPIT VACANCY: FULL-TIME PASTOR Opening Date: June 20, 2015 Closing Date: August 20, 2015

An application can be obtained from www.graylandbaptist.org

Director of Exceptional Education Posting #0003618 Manager of State and Local Grants Posting # 00003694 For application and full job description, access www.richmond.k12.va.us.

Richmond Public Schools will conduct a background investigation, tuberculosis screening and drug/alcohol testing as a condition of employment. EOE.

855-454-0392

Now Hiring Van Drivers!

Get Paid Every Friday!

Benefits,Vacation avail.

3,000+ miles/wk.

Join us: Driver Appreciation BBQ!!

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eric.emde@goutsi.com, 910-691-1780 www.driveuniversal.com

FT Security Outpatient treatment facility downtown Richmond.

Must be DCJS certified.

Email resumes to brendaw@hricorp.org or marym@hricorp.org or fax 804-644-6310. EOE.

TransiT sysTem

DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT

SALARY: COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE Closes: July 10, 2015 GRTC Transit System in Richmond, Virginia seeks a professional to provide leadership and direction to the Risk Management department under the general direction of the CEO and COO. A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is strongly preferred. Three years of prior experience in Safety and Risk Management is required.

The position requirements, qualifications and application process are available at www. ridegrtc.com. Resumes may accompany the application but cannot be substituted. The selected candidate must pass a pre-employment drug test and criminal background check.

GRTC Transit System is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment that values diversity in the workplace.

Counselor FT Outpatient treatment program. Downtown Richmond. Must have Bachelor’s degree and CSAC or prepared to sit for exam. Email resumes to brendaw@hricorp.org or marym@hricorp.org or fax 804-644-6310. EOE.

Neurologist in Richmond, VA

Diagnose, treat, & help prevent diseases/disorders of the nervous system.

Mail resume to: D. Slayden VCU Health System Authority 701 E. Franklin St., 9th Floor Richmond, VA 23219

The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions: Automotive Mechanic II 29M00001099 Department of Public Works Apply by 7/12/2015 Communications Officer 87M00000059 Department of Emergency Communications Apply by 7/19/2015 Construction Service Technician 35M00000456 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 7/12/2015 Intern – Fall 2015 City of Richmond Internship Program Apply by 7/26/2015 Investigative Coordinator 25M00000049 Department of Finance Apply b: 7/12/2015 Operations Manager-Policy 27M00000400 Department of Social Services Continuous

To advertise in the

Richmond Free Press call

644-0496 Freelance Writers: The Richmond Free Press has immediate opportunities for freelance writers.

Newspaper experience is a requirement. To be considered, please send 5 samples of your writing, along with a cover letter to newsrichmond freepress.com or mail to: Richmond Free Press, P. O. Box 27709, Richmond, VA 23261 No phone calls.

Project Management Analyst-Human Resources Liaison 06M00000026 Council Offices Apply by 07/12/2015 Revenue Manager 25M00000096 Department of Finance Apply by 7/19/2015 Revenue Manager – Audit & Cash 25M00000047 Department of Finance Apply by 7/19/2015 Trades Supervisor I, Gas Maintenance 35M00000728 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 7/12/2015 Trades Supervisor II, Gas Distribution 35M00000239 Department of Public Utilities Apply by 7/12/2015 ****************** For an exciting career with the City of Richmond, visit our website for additional information and apply today! www.richmondgov.com EOE M/F/D/V