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Looking back at 2019

The past 12 months have seen a lot of highs and lows, with the Richmond Free Press there documenting events and life in and around Richmond.

1/2/2020, 6 a.m.
The past 12 months have seen a lot of highs and lows, with the Richmond Free Press there documenting events ...

Photographers have captured through their work many of those ups and downs — from the newly named Arthur Ashe Boulevard to blackface and sex scandals that struck the state’s top three officials. Here are photos of some of the highlights of 2019.

Gov. Ralph S. Northam explains during a news conference in February that he is neither the person in blackface nor the person dressed in the Ku Klux Klan robe and hood that are pictured on his 1984 medical school yearbook page, despite his public apology a day earlier.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Gov. Ralph S. Northam explains during a news conference in February that he is neither the person in blackface nor the person dressed in the Ku Klux Klan robe and hood that are pictured on his 1984 medical school yearbook page, despite his public apology a day earlier.

Just days later, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, center, is swarmed by reporters inside the Capitol Rotunda as he responds to allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004 while he was a law school student. Following that allegation, Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announces he dressed in blackface at a fraternity party in 1980 when he was a student at the University of Virginia. All three men remain in office.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Just days later, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax, center, is swarmed by reporters inside the Capitol Rotunda as he responds to allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004 while he was a law school student. Following that allegation, Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announces he dressed in blackface at a fraternity party in 1980 when he was a student at the University of Virginia. All three men remain in office.

Virginia Union University’s award-winning Athletic Director Joseph “Joe” Taylor and his cousin, Annie Reese, receive special recognition from Richmond City Council in March for their accomplishments. Mr. Taylor, one of the nation’s winningest coaches, was saluted for his induction into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame for his stellar coaching career. Ms. Reese served 50 years as a member of the Richmond Police Department Crossing Guard Unit, helping schoolchildren cross the street safely as they traveled to and from school.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Virginia Union University’s award-winning Athletic Director Joseph “Joe” Taylor and his cousin, Annie Reese, receive special recognition from Richmond City Council in March for their accomplishments. Mr. Taylor, one of the nation’s winningest coaches, was saluted for his induction into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame for his stellar coaching career. Ms. Reese served 50 years as a member of the Richmond Police Department Crossing Guard Unit, helping schoolchildren cross the street safely as they traveled to and from school.

Capping the April installation of Dr. William Eric Jackson Sr. as the ninth pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, visiting ministers and church deacons participate in a “laying of hands” ceremony with Dr. Jackson, seated, in the sanctuary of the historic Church Hill congregation.

Photo by Ava Reaves

Capping the April installation of Dr. William Eric Jackson Sr. as the ninth pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, visiting ministers and church deacons participate in a “laying of hands” ceremony with Dr. Jackson, seated, in the sanctuary of the historic Church Hill congregation.

Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India create a sand mandala in May at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to share Tibet’s sacred visual and performing arts in conjunction with an exhibit at the museum.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India create a sand mandala in May at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to share Tibet’s sacred visual and performing arts in conjunction with an exhibit at the museum.

Richmond City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, center, unveils new Arthur Ashe Boulevard signs during a ceremony outside the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in June dedicating the new name of the street to honor the late Richmond native and tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. With her are Mr. Ashe’s nephew, David O. Harris Jr., left, and Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

Photo by Ava Reaves

Richmond City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, center, unveils new Arthur Ashe Boulevard signs during a ceremony outside the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in June dedicating the new name of the street to honor the late Richmond native and tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. With her are Mr. Ashe’s nephew, David O. Harris Jr., left, and Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

A flier bearing the picture of Markiya Dickson, 9, is posted near an entrance to Carter Jones Park where the third-grader was shot and killed at a community cookout during Memorial Day weekend.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

A flier bearing the picture of Markiya Dickson, 9, is posted near an entrance to Carter Jones Park where the third-grader was shot and killed at a community cookout during Memorial Day weekend.

Her family members grieve at a vigil in early June at the South Side park. They are from left, her father, Mark Whitfield Sr., who is holding young Mark Jr.; mother Ciara Dickson; sister Samaya Dickson; and uncle Dion Tuell.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Her family members grieve at a vigil in early June at the South Side park. They are from left, her father, Mark Whitfield Sr., who is holding young Mark Jr.; mother Ciara Dickson; sister Samaya Dickson; and uncle Dion Tuell.

Supporters of tougher gun laws in Virginia wave signs and banners during a rally in July at the Bank Street entrance to the State Capitol before a special General Assembly session called by Gov. Ralph S. Northam to deal with gun violence in the wake of the shooting death of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson in Richmond and the mass shooting in Virginia Beach that left 12 dead. The Republican-led General Assembly adjourned, however, without considering the governor’s package of bills.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Supporters of tougher gun laws in Virginia wave signs and banners during a rally in July at the Bank Street entrance to the State Capitol before a special General Assembly session called by Gov. Ralph S. Northam to deal with gun violence in the wake of the shooting death of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson in Richmond and the mass shooting in Virginia Beach that left 12 dead. The Republican-led General Assembly adjourned, however, without considering the governor’s package of bills.

Queen mothers from the Institute of Whole Life Healing in Kentucky anoint people during a sunrise cleansing and healing ceremony at Buckroe Beach in Hampton as part of the August events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first Africans arriving via slave ships in English North America.

Photo by Brian Palmer

Queen mothers from the Institute of Whole Life Healing in Kentucky anoint people during a sunrise cleansing and healing ceremony at Buckroe Beach in Hampton as part of the August events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first Africans arriving via slave ships in English North America.

Participants at the Black Lives Global Summit in August march in a line along the Richmond Slave Trail beside the James River in remembrance of the thousands of enslaved people led in coffles from the Old Manchester docks to markets in Shockoe Bottom before the end of the Civil War. Richmond was one of the largest markets in the South for the sale of enslaved people. The summit focused on emotional and psychological healing from the lingering impact of slavery.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Participants at the Black Lives Global Summit in August march in a line along the Richmond Slave Trail beside the James River in remembrance of the thousands of enslaved people led in coffles from the Old Manchester docks to markets in Shockoe Bottom before the end of the Civil War. Richmond was one of the largest markets in the South for the sale of enslaved people. The summit focused on emotional and psychological healing from the lingering impact of slavery.

“Voices from the Garden: The Virginia Women’s Monument” on Capitol Square features seven life-size bronze statues of noted Virginia women, with more to come. The monument was dedicated in October.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

“Voices from the Garden: The Virginia Women’s Monument” on Capitol Square features seven life-size bronze statues of noted Virginia women, with more to come. The monument was dedicated in October.

Members of Extinction Rebellion Richmond stage a silent die-in on the steps of City Hall in October to call attention to the need to act to abate climate change. Looking on are members who call themselves the “Red Rebel Brigade.”

Photo by George Copeland Jr.

Members of Extinction Rebellion Richmond stage a silent die-in on the steps of City Hall in October to call attention to the need to act to abate climate change. Looking on are members who call themselves the “Red Rebel Brigade.”

Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn touches the Kente cloth covering one of 17 boxes of human remains found in 1994 in a well on Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical campus. The remains, returned during a ceremony in November, will be stored temporarily by a state agency until a burial and memorial are held.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn touches the Kente cloth covering one of 17 boxes of human remains found in 1994 in a well on Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical campus. The remains, returned during a ceremony in November, will be stored temporarily by a state agency until a burial and memorial are held.

Ghazala F. Hashmi receives cheers and applause from supporters as she address the crowd at the Democrats’ victory party following her upset win in November in the Richmond area’s 10th Senate District. She is the first Muslim elected to the state Senate. Below, Stephanie A. Lynch celebrates her victory in November’s special election in the Richmond City Council 5th District contest.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Ghazala F. Hashmi receives cheers and applause from supporters as she address the crowd at the Democrats’ victory party following her upset win in November in the Richmond area’s 10th Senate District. She is the first Muslim elected to the state Senate. Below, Stephanie A. Lynch celebrates her victory in November’s special election in the Richmond City Council 5th District contest.

Stephanie A. Lynch celebrates her victory in November’s special election in the Richmond City Council 5th District contest.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Stephanie A. Lynch celebrates her victory in November’s special election in the Richmond City Council 5th District contest.

Richmond Firefighter John Lukhard works to remove a drape caught on the hair of Kehinde Wiley’s “Rumors of War” sculpture during an unveiling ceremony in December at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Photo by Regina H. Boone

Richmond Firefighter John Lukhard works to remove a drape caught on the hair of Kehinde Wiley’s “Rumors of War” sculpture during an unveiling ceremony in December at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.