Army Lt. Caron Nazario, #Reparations, NoVA Scholarship, Tavorise Marks on #Vote Lawsuit
🚩 COULD THERE BE A NEW TRIAL FOR LT. CARON NAZARIO AFTER THE $3,685 INSULT? — On Dec. 5, 2020, Army Lt. Caron Nazario was stopped by two members of the Windsor Police Department. The Army second Lieutenant was stopped allegedly because his permanent license plate was not on his vehicle. The trivial stop would end up making national headlines after the body worn cameras of police showed Lt. Nazario being pepper sprayed — in his Army fatigues — in a commonwealth known for respect and regard for members of the military.
In 2021, Army Lt. Caron Nazario sued Windsor Police Officers Joseph Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker for $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages. On Jan. 9, 2023 the trial began in federal court in Richmond Virginia and a week later a jury ruled that Lt. Nazario should only receive $3685.
His attorneys are asking for another trial. Whether they will receive one is currently unknown but many are wondering why the Army Lieutenant received so little in damages.
🚩 REPARATIONS COMMISSION? — Following the lead of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and the late Congressman John Conyers decades before, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Virginia’s Tim Kaine are introducing a bill to set up a Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. The commission would study proposals for reparations for African American who are descendants of slavery. Other groups damaged by government policy have received reparations. But when it comes to African Americans endless talking is a typical strategy used to delay real change.
“African American communities in Virginia and across the country continue to face the deep and lasting effects of centuries of slavery,” said Kaine. “This bill is critical as we look for ways to dismantle the systemic racism that is the tragic legacy of slavery.”
The other sponsors: Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
Mark Warner?
🚩 ATTENTION : SCHOLARSHIPS. The Northern Virginia Delta Education Community Service (NVDECS) is offering scholarships totaling $14,000 for Northern Virginia graduating High School Seniors!
🚩 DEADLINE: MARCH 5, 2023 — The Northern Virginia Delta Education and Community Service (NVDECS) Foundation is accepting applications for the 2023 Friends and Family Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors who are planning on pursuing a post-secondary education at either an accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Applicants of the Northern Virginia area are encouraged to submit a completed application by Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm.
🚩 BLACK LAWYERS BRUNCH - FEBRUARY 20. Northern Virginia Black Lawyers Association.
🚩 TAVORISE MARKS + PAUL GOLDMAN REACT TO FEDERAL YOUNG — On Jan. 18, Judge Roderick Young declined to provide injunctive relief to plaintiff who filed suit against Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Democratic Party for holding a 7-day primary with eight polling places to nominate a Democratic nominee after the death of A. Donald McEachin.
One of the voters in the district, Tavorise Marks, who was also a candidate for the Dec. 20, 2022 “firehouse primary,” made a statement after the judges decision on Jan. 18, 2023. His statement is below:
“Today the preliminary injunction filed in federal court in relation to the December 20, 2022, 4th Congressional District Democratic Firehouse Primary was denied. Justice for disenfranchised voters of the 4th district may have been delayed today, but it will not be denied. I will continue to fight for the right to vote for all citizens of the Commonwealth, regardless of what type of election the voter is voting in. District Judge Roderick Young referenced the Purcell Principle during his ruling to justify the grounds for his ruling.
The fight now moves to the General Assembly as our elected officials can right this wrong during this session, to ensure that what happened during the shortest election in Virginia history - never happens again.
ALL elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia should be conducted by the Virginia Department of Elections. PERIOD! District Judge Roderick Young stated today that “the Democratic Party of Virginia is not a government agency and has broad authority to conduct an election how they want. The party is not governed by the Constitution. It’s a private third party.” Essentially giving any political party the authority to disenfranchise and discriminate against any demographic of voters it so pleases.
I beg you to ask yourself - if voting is a constitutional right… why in the hell are we allowing a private third party, that DOES NOT HAVE TO OBEY THE CONSTITUTION, the right conduct ANY ELECTION WHERE VOTES ARE CASTED BY REGISTERED VOTERS?!
We MUST fix this.
🚩 JONES TOWN HALL. New Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones is holing a town hall on Feb. 2, 2023.
Virginia Symphony Orchestra SOAR High School Band and Orchestra Program starting next week — Virginia Symphony Orchestra is again taking part in the SOAR program, where musicians will come in during the school day to work with all PPS high school music programs. This successful collaboration with the school division has been in place for a number of years, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra provides this service to teachers and students at no charge to the school division. Musicians will be at the three high schools at select dates beginning Thursday, Feb. 2 through Thursday, April 6. For a complete list of available times to cover, please call 757-393-8743.
PPS partnering with Richmond Ballet for ‘Minds in Motion’ — Richmond Ballet staff will be teaching classes at both Douglass Park Elementary and Park View Elementary Feb. 2-Feb. 16 as part of the Minds In Motion program. The program was created by Richmond Ballet to engage children, particularly those living in lower socioeconomic communities, in a high quality arts program that offers sustained interaction with professional dancers and artists and exposure to the arts. The program will end with performances by the students showcasing what they have learned. For more information, please call 757-393-8743.
PPS Health Sciences Lunch and Learn 2023 coming Feb. 7
Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and Eastern Virginia Medical School are partnering together to take part in the PPS Health Science Lunch and Learn 2023. The event, which will take place at Churchland High School, will offer students the opportunity to meet medical personnel directly and talk about their interest in a specific health science career. The Lunch and Learn will go from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 757-393-8743
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