News

Virginia Lawmakers to Boycott Trump’s Attendance at Commemorative Meeting

WASHINGTON INFORMER — Several Democratic Virginia lawmakers have threatened to boycott at least one of the 400th anniversary celebrations in Jamestown if President Donald Trump shows up. The legislators, who had been poised to attend the commemorative event on July 30 marking the anniversary of the day in 1619 when the Virginia General Assembly first met, claim Trump doesn’t represent their values.

Published

5 years ago

August 1, 2019

Oakland Post

By WI Web Staff

Several Democratic Virginia lawmakers have threatened to boycott at least one of the 400th anniversary celebrations in Jamestown if President Donald Trump shows up.

The legislators, who had been poised to attend the commemorative event on July 30 marking the anniversary of the day in 1619 when the Virginia General Assembly first met, claim Trump doesn’t represent their values.

“We will not be attending any part of the commemorative session where Donald Trump is in attendance,” according to a statement issued Friday by the leadership of the Virginia House and Senate Democratic Caucuses. “The current President does not represent the values that we would celebrate at the 400th anniversary of the oldest democratic body in the western world.”

The statement which was supported by House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax; Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax; House Caucus Chairwoman Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria; and Senate Democrat Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, added, “We offer just three words of advice to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation: ‘Send Him Back’ ”

While Democrats chanted the “send him back” message to Trump, reminiscent racist tweets the president leveled at four female legislators, Republican Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment described the decision by leading Virginia Democrats to boycott the event as “disappointing and embarrassing.”

The meeting, part of a weeklong observance of the state’s colonial past, also commemorates the arrival in Virginia of the first enslaved Africans.

The White House has yet to officially confirm if Trump will attend the meeting.

This post originally appeared in The Washington Informer.

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.