Thursday, April 27
Sheriff Irving continues to lose deputies amid reports of recent inmate stabbing
‘We don’t know what else we can do,’ says councilwoman
The issue of inmate and staff safety inside the Richmond City Justice Center continues to bubble as Sheriff Antionette V. Irving’s roster of deputies keeps shrinking.
For Heat, the legend of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ continues to grow
Jimmy Butler insists that “Playoff Jimmy” — the moniker that he has now, whether he wants it or not—isn’t a thing. His play shows otherwise. He has scored 45 or more points five times in his NBA career, and three of those games have come in the playoffs — the most recent one coming Monday in a performance for all time. Butler scored 56 points, tying the fourth-highest playoff scoring effort in NBA history, and carried the Miami Heat past the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 to take a 3-1 lead in that Eastern Conference first-round series.
Rockets hire ex-Celtics coach Udoka as new coach
Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets, a source familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
Why do Christians create structures that hurt trans children?, by Candice Benbow
There are currently 44 states with anti-trans legislation. They run the gamut from banning drag performances to prohibiting care to trans youths to restricting the use of public restrooms and facilities.
Music series on track at Main Street Station
Arriving at Main Street Station next week is the venue’s first concert series, featuring local artists known for their R&B, reggae and jazz sounds. While the historic building has been the backdrop for many public events, this is the first time the station’s back patio area will be used.
Lemon squeezed out at CNN, Carlson canned
CNN fired longtime host Don Lemon on Monday following his short and disastrous run as a morning show host, a little over two months after he apologized for on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being “past her prime.”
Lizzo protests anti-drag rule with drag queens
In a concert Friday night in Knoxville, Tenn., pop singer Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens in a glittery protest against the state’s legislation designed to restrict drag performances in public.
Whitehead named VSU band director
Virginia State University announced this week that Dr. Taylor Whitehead is its new director of Marching and Pep Bands.
Richmond R&B singer hospitalized
The family of local R&B singer and producer Marlon Cox is asking for financial assistance to cover the 49-year-old’s medical expenses. Mr. Cox, who released his debut CD “Ain’t Dat Da Truth,” in 2006, was admitted to the hospital on April 4 after a “medical emergency,” according to the gofundme.com page created by his brother, Rafael Cox.
It’s Met Gala time again — here’s what we know so far
Last year, it took 275,000 bright pink roses to adorn the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, the biggest night in fashion and one of the biggest concentrations of star power anywhere.
Places To Go, People To See
Looking for something to do or new experiences in the months ahead? Here are just a few of the upcoming fun events and adventures:
VMHC welcomes students to State History Day competition
Elementary, middle, and high school students from across the Commonwealth will compete this weekend in the Virginia History Day State Contest at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Derby Day returns
A Richmond-based foundation once again will be throwing a benefit bash to accompany the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6.
Richmond entrepreneur to host black dress event
With the word “reimagine” as a catalyst, spiritual coach, motivational speaker and author Rita Ricks’ “Little Black Dress Day Affair,” event last year enabled women to dress up and celebrate their spirit and each other.
Tucker following in Bradley’s footsteps
Prince George High School has produced at least one major league baseball player in Jackie Bradley. Will Tevin Tucker be another?
VSHF’s first regional version will debut in 2024, highlight local inductees
A regional version of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is coming to Henrico County in the spring of 2024.
Williams brings HBCU talent to Squirrels
HBCU alumni are rare in professional baseball, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels have one.
Wilson breaks college record
Former Richmond-area athlete Britton Wilson has raced to the top in the NCAA track and field record book.
Black QBs in hot demand
It looks like a Black quarterback will be selected first in this year’s NFL draft. The question is which Black QB?
Second grand jury to probe fatal police shooting in Virginia
A prosecutor has requested a special grand jury to investigate the fatal police shooting of an unarmed shoplifting suspect outside a Northern Virginia shopping mall after an earlier grand jury refused to issue an indictment.
The Kamala Harris I saw in Africa, by Errin Haines
In many ways, Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Africa in late March and early April was not unlike her stops in cities across the United States: She made a pitch to communities, touted an administration policy backed with funding, and reaffirmed the White House’s commitment to an issue while acknowledging the work left undone. But in every way, it was totally different.
Clarence Thomas does not belong on Supreme Court, by Svante Myrick
It’s been over 30 years since Justice Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court seat once held by the great Thurgood Marshall, and it’s safe to say that his reputation for unethical behavior – which was poor to start with – has only gotten worse.
Attacks on Black people cause lasting trauma, by Julianne Malveaux
All Ralph Yarl was trying to do was pick up his siblings in Kansas City. He went to a home on 1100 NE 115th Street instead of 1100 NE 115th Terrace, an understandable mistake that could have been easily rectified had the homeowner, who opened the door with a gun instead, said “wrong address” and provided directions to the right one. Instead, the rabid white man shot the 16-year-old in the head and the arm.
Bench warmers
When statues of traitorous Confederate leaders were removed by concerned volunteers from the public and the remainder by city officials in 2021-2022, it was a good look for the city.
Fort Lee to be renamed in honor of two Black officers
Fort Lee, named for Confederate leader Robert E. Lee, will take on a new name that honors two Black Army trailblazers. The Prince George county fort will honor Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, the U.S. Army said in a statement on Tuesday. \
City builds Confederate shrine for sole citizen’s use
A resident asked for it. That’s why the Richmond Department of Public Utilities spent upward of $16,000 to create a shrine to Confederate soldiers on the grounds of a utility substation located in the 2400 block of Wise Street in South Side, according to City Hall’s No. 2 official.
VSU alumnus to deliver commencement address
Virginia State University announced this year’s spring com- mencement speaker will be Stockton, Calif., city manager and former City of Richmond official Harry Black. Mr. Black, a VCU alumnus, served in several executive postings, including as chief financial officer for the City of Richmond from 2005 to 2008. He has published and presented in subjects such
E-Cycle Day on the way
If you were inspired by Earth Day to start disposing of your old electronics and unwanted items correctly, here’s your chance to follow through on that idea. On Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Richmond residents dispose of electronic and hazardous household waste at the Broad Rock Sports Complex, on 4825 Old Warwick Road.
Council says ‘no’ to ‘warehouse creep’ proposal
City Council on Monday night rejected a nonprofit housing group’s plan to build a warehouse in South Side to assemble affordable modular replacements for worn-out mobile homes that mostly Latino residents occupy in the city.
Chief sounds off on noise ordinance
The noise ordinance that Richmond City Council passed five months ago replaces criminal charges with significant fines for people who disturb their neighbors with loud parties and audible disruption. It may sound like good intentions, but the new rule is tone deaf on enforcement, according to Acting Police Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96
Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment gi- ant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.
City police officer convicted for vehicle fatalities
Richmond Police Officer Richard Johnson was responding to a burglary call on April 7, 2022, when he ran a red light and slammed into a car advancing on the green light at Bells and Castlewood roads in South Side. The crash resulted in the deaths of the two teenage occupants, Jeremiah Ruffin, 18, and Tracey Williams, 19, and left the officer with a traumatic brain injury. Now Officer Johnson is facing prison time as a result of those deaths.
Review: A different kind of underdog story in ‘Air’
The new movie “Air” is technically about a shoe. There is nothing especially extraordinary about this shoe. As the Q-like Nike designer Peter Moore (Matthew Maher) explains, the last significant change to footwear was made some 600 years ago when the decision was made to differentiate the right and left feet. The Air Jordan is, at the end of the day, just another shoe.
William U. Booker Sr., entrepreneur, civic and spiritual leader, dies at age 95
Hard-working, honest, wise, industrious, caring’ were his trademarks
William Ulysses Booker Sr. sought to seize the opportunities that came his way.
Personality: Sonja Branch-Wilson
Spotlight on AMMD Pine Grove Project president
Sonja Branch-Wilson’s interest in learning about community and the importance of preserving one’s history began as a child.
Biden bats away questions about age, polls; launches 2024 campaign ad
President Biden rolled out the first ad of his 2024 reelection campaign on Wednesday, casting himself as a warrior in defense of freedom, but immediately found himself grappling with questions about his advanced age and droopy poll numbers.
It’s a deal
City and RVA Diamond Partners finalize $2.44B agreement; council vote comes next
The Diamond District – Richmond’s biggest ever development – is now at the starting gate after seven months of negotiations between the city and RVA Diamond Partners LLC (RVADP), the private developer.
Thursday, April 20
Carter Aldrete’s promising start for Squirrels
From the same college that produced the likes of Reggie Jackson and Barry Bonds comes Carter Aldrete.
Tyson employees eye opportunities at job fair
For Mechanicsville resident Casper Brown, learning that the job he had worked in for over 20 years would suddenly end in little over a month was a shock and presented a new challenge in his life. But it’s a challenge that he’s taking in stride.
Council finalizing City budget
Ambulance trip costs rise, City Hall offices primed for upgrades
Richmond Public Schools must live with the $21 million increase from city taxpayers, and retired city employees, for now, will not get an anticipated 5 percent bonus. Also, there will be no new funding to aid the city in battling climate change. However, the Richmond Ambulance Author-
Ralph Yarl making stunning recovery, family lawyer says
Ralph Yarl was shot at point-blank range in the head by a white homeowner but miraculously survived the bullet to his skull, the attorney for the family of the Black teenager said.
Personality: Beatrice Squire
Spotlight on Virginia State Association of Parliamentarians president
As a retired federal worker, Beatrice Squire currently volunteers for several organizations in which a guiding hand is needed to handle deliberations for assemblies throughout the state.
Holy Rosary celebrates 50th year for Knights of Columbus 6457
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the oldest African-American Catholic congregation in Richmond, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Father Charles G. O’Leary Knights of Columbus Council 6457 on Saturday, April 29, beginning at 4 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by a dinner and program.
JM’s Jason Rivera-Torres says choosing Vanderbilt ‘just felt right’
The arrows on Jason Rivera-Torres’ basketball map are pointing toward Nashville.
Richmond playwright presents comedy/gospel musical
Richmond native Glennis Singleton Crosby wants you to laugh and sing along when “Hypocrite the Musical” hits the Carpenter Theatre stage at Dominion Energy Center on April 30.
Play well
The LEGO Group broke ground April 13 on its new carbon-neutral run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond.
Closing of area shelters leave many without shelter
Joe Barrett is back to living on the street. Left paralyzed on his left side by a stroke, the 62-year-old Richmond native is among more than 130 homeless people who lost their shelter beds Saturday.
GRTC drives starting pay by 43 percent
GRTC boosted starting pay for bus drivers by a whopping 43 percent, effective immediately, with double-digit increases for most current drivers as well.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
VMFA screens Black press film
The stories of the men and women who were the pioneers of the Black press, newspapers that delivered news to African Americans starting in the 1800s, continue today.
RPS students show minimal progress with math, reading scores
Richmond public school students in the third to eighth grades continue to struggle with reading comprehension and with understanding math concepts, according to results from the state-mandated Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA).
City plans to purchase Mayo Island
Richmond is moving rapidly to complete the purchase of Mayo Island, which a 2012 city plan described as the “green jewel” of the Downtown riverfront.
Henrico DMV office moves to Ashland
A new, larger DMV office is about to open in Ashland, replacing the service center at 9015 Brook Road in Henrico County, which will shut down on Saturday, April 22, it has been announced.
UR announces commencement speaker
University of Richmond alumnus Greg Morrisett will speak at the school’s commencement ceremonies on May 7. He is currently the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech and a faculty member in the computer science department at Cornell University.
Tyre Nichols’ family sues Memphis Police over beating, death
The family of Tyre Nichols, who died after a brutal beating by five Memphis police officers, sued the officers and the city of Memphis on Wednesday, blaming them for his death and accusing officials of allowing a special unit’s aggressive tactics to go unchecked despite warning signs.
Swansboro Baptist partners with nonprofit to offer free meals
For Kevin Alston and dozens of other hungry South Side residents struggling with food costs, Swansboro Baptist Church is now the place to go for a free hot lunch.
Credit Union tours city
The Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, the largest Black-owned financial institution in the city, marks its 87th anniversary with a tour of the city to celebrate the expansion of its ATM network, it has been announced.
Men can teach, too
Anyone who’s been inside a public school knows there aren’t large numbers of male teachers in classrooms. In fact, male minority teachers make up less than 5 percent of all educators in the country, according to recent data. In 2020, Richmond Public Schools created a program called RVA Men Teach to address this disparity, retain and recruit male minority teachers and highlight them as educational experts and eliminate barriers that keep them out of classrooms.
Something in the water
Speaking of teaching, producer and singer Pharrell Williams is a shining example of a Black male role model who, despite his fame, fortune and talent, stays true to himself, his home and values.
Community colleges are the gems of America’s higher education system, by Dr. Linnie S. Carter
I have been blessed to serve four community colleges – two in Virginia, one in North Carolina and now one in Pennsylvania.
To be equal: ‘Tennessee Three’ fiasco, by Marc H. Morial
“We won’t be bent, we won’t be bowed, and we won’t be ordered to ignore the hearts and minds of the people who elected us, demanding commonsense gun safety in a state that has nearly none. The GOP of the Tennessee House of Representatives attempted to obstruct me and my colleagues from these goals and to shred our democracy. Instead, Republicans have only fanned the flames of hope that illuminate our movement, helping it to grow more powerful and glow more brightly.” – Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson
Fire Department mum about plans for training site
The Richmond Fire Department apparently will have to find another location for its planned fire training facility.
Women veterans get new health center
Richmond’s women veterans will have access to a range of health services with the opening of the new Women Veterans Health Center in Building 520, 1201 Brock Road Blvd.
Crisis center opening at St. Joseph’s Villa
A regional center for youths suffering a mental health crisis is on the way.
Virginia Tech’s Traylor and Soule WNBA bound
Two Virginia Tech women’s basketball stars are taking their talents to the WNBA.
Trinity Thomas vaults to her 28th perfect score
On a scale of one to 10, Trinity Thomas is about as close to a 10 as there is.
Sweet
Michael Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ shoes sold for millions
Sotheby’s auction house announced April 11 that a pair of Air Jordans worn by Michael Jordan during his final championship run with the Chicago Bulls has sold at auction for $2.2 million, surpassing the record for the most valuable sneakers ever sold, reports CBS News.
Music that’s beneficial
Nine performers will be featured at “The STEM ‘Mad Scientist’ Benefit Concert” that a Richmond group stages to raise money to increase Richmond youths’ access to science learning.
ICA at VCU to celebrate 5 years of art and community
The Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU will celebrate its fifth anniversary with an evening of casual conversation, music, performances, new works and more on Friday, April 21, starting at 5:30 p.m. Steven Holl, who designed the ICA building, along with project architect Dimitra Tsachrelia and ICA’s executive director Dominic Willsdon will lead a conversation about the institute. The 2022 Fall season’s program “Mis- read Unread Read Re-read Misread Un- read Re-read (MURRMUR) will launch newly commissioned works from Richmond residents Sam Taylor and nicole killian along with New York-based artist Riley Hooker. New works from artists in residency will be unveiled for the ICA’s ongoing exhibition “So it appears” — an intricate kaleidoscopic work by Australian born artist Tricky Walsh and an audio response to the exhibition by audio artist Sharon Mashihi. Another feature of the evening will be Richmond-based artist Vivian Chiu presenting some of her “sketches” created over the past decade. The evening is free. For more informa- tion or to RSVP to attend the anniversary celebration, visit https://icavcu.org/. The Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU is located at 601W. Broad St.
Oakwood Arts to launch apprenticeship program
Virginians age 18 and older who want to get into the state’s movie and television industry have a new opportunity as Oakwood Arts is preparing to launch the first registered apprenticeships.
Connecting the past to present
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will host a book talk and signing as part of its Isaac Julien Speaker Series.
Science Museum’s spin on Earth Day
The Science Museum of Virginia appears to have a monopoly on Earth Day festivities in Richmond this year.
Serious sisters
Washington’s MLK Jr. Library opens Black feminism exhibit
A new exhibit, “We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC” recently opened at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
NFL reviewing Commanders sale agreement
The NFL is now reviewing the sale agreement of the Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because details of the sales process are not being publicized.
Damar Hamlin cleared to play 4 months after cardiac arrest
Having spent the past several months meeting President Biden, raising millions of dollars for his charitable foundation and promoting the benefits of CPR training, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin can focus now on the next big objective in his life: returning to football.
Darrell Stith football standout dies at 62
Darrell Stith, among the finest athletes in Petersburg High and Virginia State University history, died Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Thursday, April 13
Rams lose their ‘Ace’ in the hole
The arrival of several new VCU players is imminent
The Ace Baldwin era is over at VCU. The Rams’ star point guard is heading to Penn State to join former VCU Coach Mike Rhoades.
Mo’s coming home to VCU
Mo Alie-Cox is returning to Richmond not so much to talk about basketball or football, but to talk about the game of life.
Help is on the way for VUU
Virginia Union University has landed one of the state’s elite high school basketball stars.
Bonds looks forward to NFL draft
Long ago, droves of HBCU football players were drafted by the NFL and many went on to All-Pro and Hall of Fame careers.
Embiid goes back to back
Joel Embiid has done it again. For the second straight season the Philadelphia 76ers’ center is the NBA scoring champ.
Squirrels feast on ‘M&Ms’
The Richmond Flying Squirrels opened their season with “M&Ms” at the top of the batting menu. Not the candy kind; this is about leadoff hitter Ismael Munguia and second-in-order Luis Matos.
PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE
Whether it’s art and poetry or films and music, Richmond and surrounding communities offer a lot to everyone in the coming weeks.
Federal grant to benefit low-income families
A trio of Richmond-based financial operations have been collectively awarded $10.5 million from the U.S. Treasury to advance their service to low- and moderate-income communities.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
What dreams come true
City’s ownership of Mayo Island appears within reach
City Hall is jumping to buy a major James River island that the city has dreamed of owning for 40 years to expand parkland.
Margaret Elizabeth Cooper Osei remembered for her selfless roles in civic, social and church organizations
For more than 30 years, Margaret Elizabeth Cooper Osei helped root out discrimination against employees in Virginia government offices as an Equal Employment Opportunity investigator for the state Department of Human Resources Management. But Ms. Osei was better known for assisting people with securing good-paying jobs, her family said.
Jeffrey Osborne keeps holding on, flying high
Blessed with one of the most distinctive voices in modern R&B, it didn’t take Jeffrey Osborne long to establish a solo career after departing the funk band L.T.D. (Love, Togetherness and Devotion) in the early 1980s. After years of playing drums in the group known for the hits “Holding On (When Love Is Gone)” and “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again, he stepped out front with his self-titled debut in 1982, produced by George Duke.
Panthers rejoice! Byers is coming back
Spoiler alert: VSU-VUU season finale is renamed
Virginia Union University football fans can take a deep breath. Jada Byers is staying put.
How Black clergy are reframing approach on abortion with congregations
For the Rev. Irene Prince, discussions around reproductive choice start in Bible study.
Personality: Sharon Parham Blount
Spotlight on Shalom Farms board chair
Sharon Parham Blount is bringing a new kind of peace to Richmond’s hungriest residents.
Expelled Black lawmaker Pearson to return to Tennessee House
The second of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House will return to the legislature after a Memphis, Tenn., commission voted to reinstate him Wednesday, nearly a week after his banishment for supporting gun control protesters propelled him into the national spotlight.
Supply and demand
City’s ‘housing crisis’ calls for 23,000 affordable living spaces
Seeking to put fresh emphasis on an issue that has been on the agenda for at least a decade, City Council on Monday followed through and joined Mayor Levar M. Stoney in “declaring a housing crisis in the city of Richmond.”
Restoring votes for returning citizens
Members of the New Virginia Majority, Virginia NAACP, League of Women Voters of Virginia, Virginia Organizing, ACLU of Virginia, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, along with Del. Don Scott, House Minority Leader, and Sen. Mamie Locke participated in a press conference at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square to speak against the current rights restoration process of the current administration.
Virginia legislators considering Youngkin amendments, vetoes
The politically divided Virginia General Assembly has convened in Richmond to work through scores of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed amendments to legislation during a one-day session.
Street Knowledge: Local leaders honored with signs
A ceremony to unveil an honorary street sign recognizing the late Richmond religious leader Dr. Paul Nichols will take place noon Friday, April 14, at 28th and R streets.
City approves scholarship program with Reynolds
City Council on Monday cleared the way for a pilot Pathways scholarship proposed by Mayor Levar M. Stoney that would cover tuition and provide a monthly stipend to Richmond high school graduates attending Reynolds Community College.
City hires first woman for top legal post
Laura K. Drewry is the new city attorney and first woman to hold City Hall’s top legal post.
Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher indicted by grand jury
A grand jury has indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family’s home, a prosecutor said Monday.
Bon Secours details plans to increase medical access in city’s East End
Bon Secours Richmond welcomed the positive statement from the Richmond Health Coalition about its plans to improve health care in the East End, which the Free Press reported in the April 6-8 edition. “Bon Secours appreciates the coalition’s willingness to have private, meaningful conversations with us about our ‘Community Today, Community Tomorrow: Pathway to Wellness in the East End’ initiative,” spokeswoman Jenna Green stated in response to a Free Press request for comment on the statement Brian Bills, a coalition leader, issued on behalf of the coalition.
Summit to address Black women, birthing and reproductive health
In Virginia, Black women are three times more likely to die than white women during childbirth or due to pregnancy-related causes, according to Birth in Color RVA, a birth, policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on raising awareness surrounding maternal health and reproductive justice.
Clarence Thomas and high court’s low ethical standards, by Clarence Page
It must be more than a little embarrassing for a Supreme Court justice to lament that he took some bad legal advice. But the embarrassment will be worth it for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas if it helps him to get out from under the bigger embarrassments reported by the investigative news service ProPublica.
Another lynching in Tennessee, by Julianne Malveaux
The abolitionist journalist Ida B. Wells’ quest to document lynchings began when three of her friends, Tommy Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Will Stewart, were lynched because white people were envious of their economic success.
Curbing gun violence demands focus on stronger laws, helping those who’ve been hurt, by Thomas P. Kapsidelis
When Republicans in the Tennessee House were challenged on gun control after three 9-year-old children and three adults were slain at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., they responded by expelling two Black representatives who led a protest on the chamber’s floor. A white legislator survived the outrageous ouster.
Thursday, April 6
President Biden says tech companies must ensure AI products are safe
President Biden said Tuesday it remains to be seen if artifi- cial intelligence is dangerous, but that he believes technology companies must ensure their products are safe before releasing them to the public.
Why are we ignoring our chidren?, by Julianne Malveaux
The recent massacre of three students and three adults in Nashville, Tenn., is alarming. How and why did a former student invade the school locked and loaded with an automatic weapon and ruthlessly kill innocent students and their caretakers?
Equal justice, even for Trump, by Clarence Page
Yusef Salaam, whom you may remember as one of the exonerated Central Park Five, had only one word to tweet to those who wanted to know his feelings about the indictment of Donald Trump: “Karma,” he offered. Karma? I’ve heard about it. Drawn from concepts of re- birth in Indian religions, I’ve been advised to think of kar- maasaformof cosmic justice: Good deeds and intent lead to good karma and happier re- births while bad karma may lead to times that are not so jolly. Mr. Salaam was one of five Black and Hispanic teenagers wrongfully imprisoned for the 1989 rape of a white woman in New York’s Central Park, a case that later was explored in a 2019 Netflix series “When They See Us” and a PBS documentary “The Central Park Five.” In 1989, before any of the five teens had been tried, Mr. Trump, then a major Manhat- tan real estate developer with a bottomless appetite for self- promotion, took out full-page newspaper ads calling for the death penalty to be reinstated in New York. Adding kerosene to public anger at the time, the ads were reported to have played a major role in securing a conviction. So did false confessions, it turned out, since no DNA linked them to the crime scene and their descriptions of the victim didn’t match. Mr. Salaam served nearly seven years in prison before he and the other wrongfully accused teens—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise—were Clarence Page exonerated in 2002. Serial rapist Matias Reyes, already in prison, confessed to the assault and DNA confirmed his admission. Ah, how the mighty have fallen. The presumption of inno- cence until proved guilty seemed almost nowhere to be seen in Mr. Trump’s world when the Central Park Five case raged across the headlines and boiled over into a national media frenzy. Yet, as Mr. Salaam mentions in his tweet, Mr. Trump—for whom “apologetic” is not part of his brand—never has apologized. Still, he seeks the presumption of innocence he has denied to others. So be it. Let’s see how well his innocence claims hold up. For now, Mr. Trump’s chants of “Lock her up” in his 2016 race against Hillary Clinton come to mind. Now that it is he who faces what has been reported to be more than 30 counts related to business fraud in a sealed indictment from a Manhattan grand jury, I wonder: Can chants of “Lock HIM up” be far behind? Still, the stress test to which the former president has put our crimi- nal justice system offers a valuable opportunity to view fairness in our system with new eyes. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the ultraconservative Repub- lican from Georgia, suddenly has become a major advocate for inmates of the District of Columbia jail, now that their ranks were joined by detainees from the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Interesting, I said to myself. Since the alleged insurrectionists are mostly white and the D.C. jail’s traditional population is overwhelmingly Black, maybe now they can see how the other half lives. Unsurprisingly, they were shocked. The jail’s conditions, were so bad that 34 of them sug- gested in a letter to federal court last fall that they would rather be moved to Guantanamo Bay. Detainees, through their lawyers, raised concerns that included threats from guards, standing sewage, and skimpy food and water. A federal judge held top jail officials in contempt after they delayed prompt medi- cal care for a Capitol defendant in their custody. Things have gotten better, spurred partly by Rep. Greene and other congressional visitors. But the irony of how it took 40 or so Capitol rioters to get more attention and action than the jail’s roughly 1,400 total inmates is not lost, especially on the inmates of color. Rep. Greene, seldom known for understatement, visited the jail and likened the rioters inside to “prisoners of war,” implying that they were being punished for their politics. Actually they’re being held for a lot more than that. Don’t forget the physical assaults on Capitol Police with pepper spray, bear spray and riot shields, just for starters. Equal justice for all is a cherished ideal in the American system, a system they tried to disrupt. We must do all that we can to preserve that ideal, even for those who try to destroy it. The writer is a syndicated columnist and senior member of the Chicago Tribune edito- rial board.
Say Amen, somebody
In delivering the eulogy for Irvo Otieno’s funeral on March 29 at Richmond’s First Baptist Church’s Chesterfield location, civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton promised retribution for Mr. Otieno’s death at the hands of law enforcement and Central State Hospital employees.
Maymont’s spring break includes baby goats and three little chicks
April in Maymont means loads of activities for Richmonders to enjoy. On Friday, April 7, the Maymont Mansion and The Robins Nature Center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to take in the arrival of five baby goats and three Brahma chicks to the Maymont Farm.
City’s first Black pastor of a ‘megachurch’ and others still largely unknown
The Rev. James Henry Holmes remains one of the unsung notables of Jackson Ward who has not been recognized with a City Council resolution and honorary street sign.
City leaders, groups propose housing crisis solutions
Following months of rising rent costs, a high number of evictions and growing housing scarcity, Richmond officials have declared that the city is in an affordable housing crisis.
Henrico to offer free instruction on CPR, AEDs
Henrico County will hold a series of open houses from April 15 through 26 to teach residents to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to potentially save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the U.S. each year, according to the American Heart Association.
Planning Commission rejects fire training facility
A controversial proposal to install a training facility for Richmond firefighters on a major section of lawn at the Hickory Hill Community Center again has been rejected.
Community advocate raises concerns about City’s new Confederate shrine
Even as Mayor Levar M. Stoney and City Council revive a citizen commission to help Richmond eliminate slavery-defending Confederate names from streets and bridges, the city Department of Public Utilities has created a new shrine to fallen Civil War rebels.
Autopsy finds cause of death for Irvo Otieno was asphyxia
Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man whose death last month at a Virginia mental hospital has sparked outrage and led to second degree murder charges against 10 defendants, died of “positional and mechanical asphyxia with restraints,”’ a medical examiner’s office said Monday.
Affordable housing for whom?
Next week, City Council plans to declare an affordable housing crisis in Richmond as rents and house prices soar, leaving many with below average incomes unable to afford housing. However, neither the council nor Mayor Levar M. Stoney who has pushed the resolution to be voted on Monday, April 10, plan to mention the ways he and the governing body have quietly reduced funding to support development of housing for families with incomes of $40,000 or less a year.
From Senate subcommittee to Easter sermon: Raphael Warnock on life as a pastor-politician
Raphael Warnock, U.S. senator and Baptist pastor, was wrapping up his time on Capitol Hill before heading back to his native Georgia in time for what is perhaps the busiest week of the year for Christian clergy.
‘It’s been a long time coming’
VSU hopes its All-Steinway School designation will attract ‘high caliber’ piano players
After 20 years, more than $1 million, and nearly 40 pianos, Virginia State University has elevated its approach to music education. The university has replaced many of its old pianos with new instruments from the Steinway & Sons piano company.
Personality: Ryan Andrew Dickinson
Spotlight on Miss Gay United States challenging perceptions of drag performers
“Shocked, and overwhelmingly crippled.” That was the reaction of Ryan Andrew Dickinson, aka Bianca Blake Starr, to his victory in the 2023 Miss Gay United States Pageant last Sunday. As the 18th drag performer to win the title, Mr. Dickinson’s new role comes with a large platform and several responsibilities.
Trump charged with 34 felony counts in hush money scheme
A stone-faced Donald Trump made a momentous courtroom appearance Tuesday when he was confronted with a 34-count felony indictment charging him in a scheme to bury allegations of extramarital affairs that arose during his first White House campaign.
Hope for healing
7 months after New York Times exposé, healthy equity advocates, Bon Secours report progress
Bon Secours Richmond is starting to receive positive feedback from advocates who had harshly criticized the hospital system for allegedly failing to re-invest income from a federal discount pricing program into low-income communities, most notably Richmond Community Hospital and low-income residents living nearby.
Nationals’ rebound likely depends on CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray
Looking to recover from three poor seasons in a row, the Washington Nationals hope to bounce back with an impressive list of young prospects.
Game changer: Attendance, ticket sales surge since Squirrels arrival
The Richmond Flying Squirrels had a good season on the field in 2022 and a great season at the ticket booth.
Rites of passage
Rites of passage ceremonies traditionally mark important transitional periods in a person’s life, such as birth, puberty, marriage, having children, and death. In recent weeks, Richmond and surrounding communities have witnessed far too many rites of passage for young Black men whose lives were cut short by horrific tragedy.
NFL’s John Brockington, 74, dies
John Brockington, among the NFL’s top running backs in the early 1970s, died Friday, March 31, 2023, in San Diego. He was 74.
John Marshall loses to Central Cabarrus 67-65 in ATL
John Marshall High’s magical ride on the basketball court hit a patch of turbulence and fell back to Earth in Atlanta.
Ryan Odom replaces VCU’s Mike Rhoades
VCU’s basketball forecast has gone from sunny and bright to overcast and complicated.
VUU’s Osborne is HBCU Player of the Year
Robert Osborne is going to need to expand his trophy case to handle all of his awards from the most recent season.
LSU ends season winning 102-85 over Iowa in NCAA finals
Jasmine Carter leads scoring with 22 points
One of the first things Kim Mulkey did upon becoming women’s basketball coach at LSU was to study the available talent in the transfer portal. She obviously made some wise personnel decisions.
When making exceptions for Ramadan is no longer the exception, by Dilshad D. Ali
Scrolling Twitter on the first evening of Ramadan 2023, I was greeted (well, as all Muslims were) by Elmo. “Ramadan Mubarak to all of Elmo’s friends!” the red toddler Muppet said. “Elmo loves you!”
