Labor Day, Gatling Family Reunion, #NSU Student Killed, BottomFest, Broadband, Youngkin Bus Tour Kickoff
🙋🏾♀️ Rep. Bobby Scott’s Labor Day Cookout, which kicks off the start of the political season in Virginia, is today at 3pm at 914 Shore Drive in Newport News.
🙋🏾♀️ Early voting in Virginia begins in 18 days on Sept. 22, 2023.
🙋🏾♀️ Senator Louise Lucas’ Afternoon on Crystal Lake is in 26 days on Sept. 30, 2023.
🙋🏾♀️ Election Day 2023 is 64 days on Nov. 7, 2023.
Labor Day History from the National Museum of African American History and Culture: This #LaborDay, we honor the heroic efforts of American workers participating in labor movements. In response to African American exclusion from labor organizations, Black workers created all-Black unions that championed their members’ class & racial interests. #ANationsStory
Big Annual Gatling Family Reunion
SUFFOLK, VA — The annual Gatling family Reunion took place again, as it does every Sunday before Labor Day, in the Buckhorn section of Suffolk. At least 60 members of the Gatling clan enjoyed endless food, music and the company of their friends at celebration that has spanned 40 years.
Loss of Fellow Spartan
Announcement on the website of Norfolk State University: The Norfolk State University family has suffered the loss of a fellow Spartan.
Jahari George🌹, a 20-year-old junior student from Maryland, was a victim of an off-campus shooting in the city on Saturday. The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. in the 2700 block of Gate House Road and George was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Police have apprehended a person of interest, and they are currently in police custody. The shooting is under investigation by Norfolk Police and the Norfolk State University Police Department.
Effective immediately, access to campus will be limited to only Gates #1 and #3 on campus. NSUPD have increased patrols on campus and at all off-campus hotel locations where students are residing. We ask the Spartan community to remain vigilant and to contact NSU Police if you see any suspicious activity. Police dispatch can be reached at (757) 823-8102.
The NSU Counseling Center will offer counseling and support for students who have experienced trauma or distress related to this event. Counselors will be available in the Student Center Lobby at Noon. The center offers a safe and confidential environment for Spartans to discuss their feelings with experienced professionals. If support is needed, please contact the center at (757) 823-8173, and after-hours at (757) 823-9000 to speak with an on-call counselor. For immediate assistance, students, faculty and staff can access support through TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being app for students, on Apple or Android devices.
3rd Annual BottomFest in Newport News
Yesterday, the third annual BottomFest took place in Southeast Newport News. The community event featured food trucks, DJs, vendors and elected officials on the Sunday before Labor Day. About 100 people sat at picnic tables and lawn chairs in the shade and enjoyed several DJs, cookout food and community conversation in King-Lincoln Park in Newport News at 600 Jefferson Avenue from noon to 5 p.m.
Vendors at BottomFest included Glo’s Eat & Go, which featured a line all day, and Newport News’ Black Flour Apparel.
Scott Applauds Virginia’s Plan to Allocate Broadband Funding from President Biden’s Infrastructure Law
Release: Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that Virginia finalized its plan for its $1.48 billion allocation from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Earlier this summer the Biden-Harris Administration allocated $42.45 billion to the states from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“I am pleased that Virginia has completed the statewide broadband deployment strategy to access the funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This historic $1.48 billion investment of federal funds for high-speed internet access throughout the Commonwealth is one of many reasons why I was proud to support President Biden’s Infrastructure Law. I am grateful that the Commonwealth is fully utilizing these funds for the betterment of all Virginians.”
Youngkin Bus Tour Kickoff
SUFFOLK, VA — Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin will kickoff a bus tour at a Labor Day cookout with other Republicans in Suffolk including State Senate candidate Emily Brewer and House of Delegates candidate Mike Dillender. Delegate Clint Jenkins is taking on Del. Brewer for Senate District 07 in what is expected to be a close race. Former Del. Nadarius Clark is taking on Dillender in HD84.
The bus tour kickoff today and recent flyers mailed reflects a complete flip in GOP views on early voting. Virginia Democrats have long embraced policy that makes it convenient and easy for eligible citizens to vote. Early voting, which begins on September 22, avoids the problem of voters standing in lines for hours as seen in other states where Republicans have blocked early voting laws.
RELATED: Biden has DNC plow $1.2M into Virginia amid Youngkin fundraising blitz (The Washington Post)
As Gov. Youngkin encourages Republicans to vote early in Virginia, former President Donald Trump and his associates are being prosecuted in Georgia for attempting to overturn the election results after Trump lost the 2020 presidential race to President Joe Biden by 8 million votes. Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was “stolen” or in some way “fraudulent” is a lie Trump has repeated and continues to repeat in the present day. Though there is no evidence voter fraud is a problem in U.S. elections, the branding by Virginia Republicans calling on their voters to “secure” their vote, as if to imply the balloting process was not secured in past elections is connected to Trump, and other MAGA Republicans, “big lie” political strategy.
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