February 20, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Strongly Condemns Racist Dog Whistle Remarks of Senators Peterson and Saslaw And Demands An Apology to Virginia’s Black Students

RICHMOND – The Virginia State Conference NAACP (Virginia NAACP) strongly condemns the racist dog-whistle remarks made by Senators Chap Petersen and Dick Saslaw during last Thursday’s Senate Education Committee meeting. 

HB2305, patroned by Del. Roslyn Tyler, would have required the Virginia Board of Education to issue guidance on the governance of academic year Governor’s Schools, including communication and outreach practices, admissions policies, and guidelines on diversity, equity, and inclusion training. The bill was defeated due to the votes of the following Senators: Cosgrove, Dunnavant, Edwards, Lewis, Newman, Peake, Petersen, Saslaw, and Suetterlein.

Virginia NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr., said: 

“During a heated debate on House Bill 2305, Senators Petersen and Saslaw made disparaging remarks aligned with racist stereotypes of racial inferiority of Virginia’s Black students.

Rather than supporting this important bill to add much-needed diversity in Virginia’s Governor’s School program, Senator Petersen insinuated that there aren’t more Black students in Virginia’s Governor’s School program because Black students don’t focus on their academics. 

Sadly, Senator Dick Saslaw’s comments were no better. In addition to lumping together Latinos and Black students, he insinuated that Black and Latino students hadn’t done everything they could to improve their situations.

While some may interpret these senators’ remarks as simply standing up for one group of students, we don’t buy it. The Virginia Senate is no place for peddling racist dog whistles; all Virginia students deserve better than that.

The Virginia NAACP demands an immediate, public apology by Senators Peterson and Saslaw. Their undoubtedly insensitive remarks is one of the primary reasons that HB2305 is needed in the first place.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FROM VSC PRESIDENT BARNETTE, JR.

RICHMOND (February 17, 2021) – Virginia State Conference NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s passage of Senate Bill 1369 in the House Committee on General Laws Subcommittee on Open Government/Procurement:

“The Virginia NAACP is outraged that the House Committee on General Laws Subcommittee on Open Government/Procurement moved forward SB1369 yesterday. This legislation dilutes the legal definitions of SWaM (Small, Women, and Minority-owned businesses), leading to “cooperative associations” to circumvent the SWaM certification process.  

SB1369 directly contradicts the goals of increasing women and minority owned businesses in the procurement process. Virginia’s already-dismal record of government contracts with SWaM businesses will be falsely inflated and mom and pop businesses will have to compete with big businesses for local procurement contracts.

We demand that the House General Laws Committee vote NO on this legislation. Virginians need real reform to support SWaM businesses.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Disturbed by Senators Saslaw, Peterson and Surrovell who stand in the Way of Critical Housing Protections for Virginia Families

RICHMOND (February 15, 2021) – Virginia State Conference NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. issued the following statement today in response to Virginia Senators Saslaw, Peterson and Surrovell’s NO vote on HB2014 earlier this afternoon:

“The Virginia NAACP is extremely disturbed by Senators Saslaw, Peterson and Surrovell, who each voted NO to HB2014 earlier this afternoon. This critical housing legislation will protect Virginia renters who have experienced hardship.  This legislation both makes sure that hardworking Virginia families can remain in their homes and that the landlord is made completely whole.  

We see absolutely no reason for this legislation to not be passed and urge the Virginia Senate to pass this bill without further delay.”

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting VSCNAACP.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Extremely Concerned About Recent Events At Bluefield College

RICHMOND (February 11, 2021) – Virginia State Conference NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. issued the following statement today in response to the today’s statement issued by Bluefield College President Dr. David Olive:

“The Virginia NAACP is extremely concerned about the recent actions of Bluefield College that appear to suppress the nonviolent, silent protests of its student-athletes. Rather than supporting their Black players, Bluefield College chose to punish them in an attempt to silence their valid concerns.

The Virginia NAACP is actively monitoring the situation.”

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting VSCNAACP.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Expresses Outrage in Failed Qualified Immunity Reform Efforts

Richmond, Virginia – The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP (Virginia NAACP) set forth its legislative priorities for 2021. This week, the Virginia NAACP saw both success and failure in the General Assembly. The House of Delegates passing the resolution to Declare Racism as a Public Health Crisis recognizes the inequities and systemic racism that permeates our everyday lives. The Constitutional Amendment further defines the qualifications of voters and will protect voters by ensuring that restrictive, unethical and racially biased laws cannot be enacted or enforced. Strengthening voter protections is a win for all Virginians. Providing localities the opportunity to extend voting to Sundays, allows them to determine how best to ensure all eligible voters in their communities have the opportunity to vote. These actions ensure that Virginia will be a better Virginia for Black people, people of color, the underserved and all of the Commonwealth.

We fully support the passing of Automatic Expungement of Criminal Offenses with no barriers and no petitions. Virginians must be offered the opportunity for a real second chance. Providing the path forward is a great step to real criminal justice reform. It is also time that mandatory minimum sentences are eliminated. Judges should be afforded the right to use discernment and other factors in sentencing individuals.

The Virginia NAACP is outraged that bills to end qualified immunity failed to pass in the House and the Senate. Protecting police officers at the detriment of the citizens of Virginia only serves to further diminish the trust needed between law enforcement and our communities.

President Robert N. Barnette, Jr states, “It is disappointing to say at least that the bills to end Qualified Immunity failed. Too often, law enforcement is allowed to break standards of decency. This only makes it harder for Black people, people of color and quite frankly all Virginians to turn to the police when needed.” 

The bi-partisan failure of House Bill 2045 Qualified Immunity is indicative of our legislators not prioritizing our citizens. We must have policies which hold law enforcement officers accountable for their behavior towards all of the communities they are sworn to protect and serve. The Virginia NAACP will continue to advocate for the end to qualified immunity.

Abolishing the death penalty, is long overdue in the Commonwealth. Research has proven that not only does the death penalty not deter crime, but it is disproportionally applied to Black people and people of color. Today’s passing in the Senate is an immensely huge step forward in ending this inhumane practice.

December 28, 2020

The Sentara Move2Health Equity Coalition has awarded a grant in the amount of $10,000.00 to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the NAACP for the purpose of addressing vaccine hesitancy in communities of color.

The grant tasks the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the NAACP, in partnership with Blue Ridge Health District, UVA Health, Sentara Martha Jefferson, and religious leaders to develop a communication and information sharing plan that would address the concerns of communities of color regarding the reluctance of being vaccinated.

Our focus will be to host listening sessions and town hall meetings (virtual and socially distanced in-person if safely possible) in the communities of color to understand the barriers of being vaccinated, and to receive feedback on the roll out as well as to inform/influence a vaccination strategy.

The product of this endeavor is to produce a factually accurate and transparent video/Public Service Announcement (PSA) to be shared via all forms of media (YouTube, Face Book, local TV stations and religious leader) to educate communities of color and positively impact the acceptance of being vaccinated.