Category Archives: News

VIRGINIA STATE CONFERENCE NAACP



November 13, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT

Karen E. Jones, (540) 449-4742 | kjones@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Encourages the Election of an African American Majority Leader in the Senate of Virginia

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – Virginia NAACP is encouraged by the impending historical event of having an African American Speaker of the House, Speaker-Designee Don Scott, while simultaneously having an African American majority leader in the Senate. Senator Mamie Locke, who, based on her seniority and her demonstrated leadership in the Senate as the Senate Caucus leader, her appointments as chair of the Rules, Virginia Housing Commission, and Freedom on Information Advisory Council, is the apparent choice for Senate Majority Leader. The path to equity and equality in the Commonwealth has been a steady but oftentimes slow and inconsistent journey.  The attainment of political, economic, social, and educational rights for all people, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, or gender, has a clearer path when political leadership reflects the entirety of the Commonwealth’s residents. 

Rev. Cozy Bailey, President, stated: “In the post Reconstruction era, Virginia has in the past elected an African American governor and two African American lieutenant governors.  On the eve of this next great historical event, we are given hope for an even greater future.”

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ABOUT THE NAACP Virginia State Conference
Chartered in 1935, the NAACP Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth. The NAACP Virginia advocates, agitates, and litigates for civil rights due to Black Virginians. Representing over 100 NAACP adult branches, youth councils, and college chapters, together, we fight to build the social and political power required to abolish racial discrimination in localities throughout Virginia. To learn more about the work of the Virginia NAACP and the issues we advocate for, visit naacpva.org.

NAACP Condemns SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action



Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued extreme decisions reversing decades of precedent on affirmative action. The court’s rulings in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina jeopardize hard-fought progress for Black Americans in classrooms and beyond.

NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson released the following statement reaffirming the Association’s commitment to tools that support equal access to higher education for Black students:

“Today the Supreme Court has bowed to the personally held beliefs of an extremist minority. We will not allow hate-inspired people in power to turn back the clock and undermine our hard-won victories. The tricks of America’s dark past will not be tolerated. Let me be clear – affirmative action exists because we cannot rely on colleges, universities, and employers to enact admissions and hiring practices that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. Race plays an undeniable role in shaping the identities of and quality of life for Black Americans. In a society still scarred by the wounds of racial disparities, the Supreme Court has displayed a willful ignorance of our reality. The NAACP will not be deterred nor silenced in our fight to hold leaders and institutions accountable for their role in embracing diversity no matter what.”  
  
 
At noon, NAACP National Director of Youth & College
Wisdom Cole, led a group of students and activists in a mobilization
starting at the Supreme Court steps. Cole said of today’s decision:

“This is a dark day in America. Affirmative action has been a beacon of hope for generations of Black students. It stood as a powerful force against the insidious poison of racism and sexism, aiming to level the playing field and provide a fair shot at a high-quality education for all. Students across the country are wide awake to the clear and present danger encroaching on their classrooms. We will continue to fight, organize, mobilize and vote against all attempts to hold us back. We will hold the line against this clear pattern of hate. We will thrive!”

Thriving Together,

Derrick Johnson
@DerrickNAACP
President and CEO
NAACP

JOHN HENRY JAMES MOTION

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE INRE:                                           JOHN HENRY JAMES                                                         CASE NO.:

MOTION

Comes now the Commonwealth’s Attorney, James Hingeley, and presents the following motion, saying as follows:

  1. On July 11, 1898 an African American man, John Henry James, was accused of assaulting a white woman, Julia Hotopp, in Albemarle County. The Commonwealth believes this was a false accusation.
  • Following his arrest, John Henry James was placed into custody at the Albemarle County jail, but then was transferred to a jail in Staunton to protect him from a mob that was forming around the Albemarle County jail.
  • On July 12, 1898 John Henry James was on a train returning from Staunton to Albemarle County when an armed and unmasked mob of white men seized Mr. James by storming the train when it slowed for a scheduled stop at Wood’s Crossing in Albemarle County.
  • John Henry James was taken from the train and hanged from a nearby locust tree. After his death, the lynch mob fired dozens of bullets into Mr. James’ body. There were published reports that Mr. James professed his innocence while he was being murdered.
  • At the time John Henry James was being lynched, a grand jury was meeting in Albemarle County Circuit Court to consider indicting Mr. James on the charge of assaulting Julia Hotopp. Micajah Woods, the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney, presented evidence to the grand jury.
  • Despite having learned of the death of John Henry James while they were meeting, the grand jury proceeded to return a posthumous indictment charging Mr. James with rape. The indictment is attached hereto, marked as Exhibit 1.
  • The indictment presented in these circumstances should be without legal effect. Nevertheless, the indictment has remained in the court record, where it stands as an official, but wholly unjust, accusation of John Henry James.
  • No action of this Court can undo the injustice of the racial terror lynching that took place in Albemarle County 125 years ago, but this Court can and should purge the record that unjustly gives official credence to the charge against John Henry James.
  • No action of this Court can make amends for the failures of the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Micajah Woods, and the Albemarle County Sheriff, Lucien
  • Watts, (who was present at the lynching and could have identified people in the mob), to bring charges against the perpetrators. The perpetrators of this racial terror lynching acted with impunity because they knew that the Albemarle County authorities would not hold them accountable.
  1. It is in the interest of justice, healing, and restoration for the Court to make an accounting on the record disavowing the actions that caused the death of John Henry James on July 12, 1898 and acknowledging the complicity of those law enforcement officials who countenanced the racial terror lynching in Albemarle County.
  • The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked under Va. Code § 17.1-513 providing that Circuit Courts shall “have original jurisdiction of all indictments for felonies.”

WHEREFORE, the Commonwealth moves this honorable Court 1) to consider such evidence as may be heard in open Court on July 12, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., 2) to strike the indictment of John Henry James from the record, and 3) to grant such other and further relief as may be appropriate.

Please note that a hearing on the motion is scheduled in Albemarle County Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 12, at 4:00 p.m., and I am hoping NAACP members will be interested in attending.  July 12, 2023 is the 125th anniversary of the lynching of John Henry James.  //Jim Hingeley j

James Hingeley

Commonwealth’s Attorney

410 East High Street

Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 972-4072

(434) 972-4073 fax

jhingeley@albemarle.org

h

CANDIDATES’ FORUM – JUNE 12, 2023

ALBEMARLE-CHARLOTTESVILLE NAACP 7057B

CANDIDATES’ FORUM –  ZOOM PRESENTATION

The Political Action Committee will be hosting a virtual candidates’  forum at the June 12th branch meeting: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

     7-7:45pm: Creigh Deeds and Sally Hudson (11th Senatorial District)

     7:45-8:30pm: Amy Laufer and Kellen Squire (55th House of Delegates seat)

ZOOM LINK:

Topic: Alb-Cville NAACP’s Zoom Meeting – CANDIDATES’ FORUM

Time: Jun 12, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87544811055?pwd=V3dhZzRWZ2dDdDR3SmoySWMxdkpYZz09

Meeting ID: 875 4481 1055

Passcode: 282951

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Meeting ID: 875 4481 1055

Passcode: 282951

CANDIDATES’ FORUM

  • Virginia Candidates forum – May 8 –
  • 54th House of Delegates confirmed participation: Katrina Carlsen, Bellamy Brown, Dave Norris.
  • The forum is open to the public and will begin at 7 pm.
  • Use the link below to join:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83603532497?pwd=blhTL3gwd3JIME1iekVNTDV0RFFOdz09

Meeting ID: 836 0353 2497
Passcode: 457467
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REMEMBERING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Remembering DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Today, January 15, would have been Dr. King’s 94th birthday.

Dr. King’s holiday is celebrated on  Monday, January 16, 2023.

Dr. King was assassinated at the age of 39, in Memphis Tennessee. The holiday will be a time when many observe it as a day of service in the community.

Dr. King’s belief in non-violence would be something that the nation as a whole could pause and reflect upon .For those of us who will observe the holiday, simply remembering the man himself, and what he stood for, would in itself be a way to pay tribute to Dr. King.

Janette B. Martin, President

Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP