“Remember the bridge that brought you across.”

That impassioned plea was uttered by pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement in 2008, as Barack Obama was securing the Democratic Party’s nomination, on his historic march to the presidency. The coalition of organizations and individuals constituting the group, Save Community Hospital, are the living embodiment of that noble sentiment.

The rich tapestry of resources which built, nurtured and sustained Richmond Community Hospital laid the foundation upon which the profound legacies of Maggie L. Walker and Oliver W. Hill were built. Preserving that campus is vital, as a tribute to the resilience of our local black community in rising above the intentionally dehumanizing policies of Jim Crow.

Virginia Union University’s entry into the housing market seems ill-advised at a time when the priority should be protecting the school’s accreditation, which is currently at risk. Education is at the heart of their mission and what their charter prioritizes. The claim that the proposed plan is intended to provide much-needed affordable housing is not backed by the numbers they themselves offer up. One-and two-bedroom units at $2,000 per month and above reeks of gentrification and suggests that the motive is corporate greed rather than local need.

KENNETH C. DECKER

Richmond