Lucas Backs Franklin and JD Spain; Rep. Scott Secures $5M for Health Care Centers in Hampton Roads; McClellan, Locke, Jones on Students Protests
🚩 Early voting starts tomorrow 🏃🏼♂️ May 3, 2024.
🚩 There are 47 days until the June 18, 2024 primary.
🚩 There are 187 days until Election Day November 5, 2024.
Senator Lucas Endorses Margaret Franklin for Congress and JD Spain for Arlington County Board
Knee surgery isn’t slowing the most powerful woman in the Virginia General Assembly from endorsing candidates before early voting begins in Virginia tomorrow. Two highly competitive races for Congress are underway after two Democratic incumbents on congressional districts seven and ten announced their retirement.
On May 1, Senate Finance Chair State Senator L. Louise Lucas announced she is backing Margaret Franklin for Congress. Franklin is currently a member of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
“I have been impressed by what Margaret has accomplished as a county supervisor, from expanding access to affordable housing to reducing gun violence. I’m proud to endorse Margaret because she has consistently delivered for Virginia families, and I know she will do the same in Congress.”
Franklin has also been endorsed to be the next U.S. Representative from Virginia’s seventh by State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy, North Carolina Congresswoman Alma Adams, former Florida Congressman Al Lawson, Prince William County Supervisor Victor Angry and former Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni.
Also in the competitive race to win the Democratic nomination for the seventh are Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey and Del. Briana Sewell.
Marine veteran and Arlington NAACP President JD Spain, who is running to be on the Arlington County Board, also has Lucas’ endorsement. Spain is also backed by former Delegate Jay Jones, former Virginia State Senator, Arlington County Board Member & Arlington School Board Member Margaret Whipple and State Senator Barbara Favola.
Scott Announces $5.6 Million In Funding for Community Health Centers in Hampton Roads
Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $5,622,328 in grant funding to two Community Health Centers in Hampton Roads. The Peninsula Institute for Community Health was awarded $3,476,851 and the Portsmouth Community Health Center was awarded $2,145,477. Funding for the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Center Program was included in the recently enacted FY2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
“This grant funding announcement from HHS is a big win for Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Third Congressional District. Our local community health centers provide critical services and ensure everyone in our communities have access to care. Congress finally wrapped up the appropriations process for FY 2024 last month which included large amounts of grant funding for community health centers across the country. I will continue supporting similar funding opportunities for community health centers as well as other legislative priorities to improve access to health care,” Congressman Scott said in a statement.
Statements on Student Protests and Freedom of Speech from Rep. McClellan, Senator Locke, Herb Jones
In a statement this morning at The White House, President Biden stated that peaceful protests are permitted under the U.S. Constitution — but violence is not OK. Biden also made it clear that intimidating people is not “peaceful protest” and that there is “no right to cause chaos.”
“I understand people have strong feelings and deep convictions… but it doesn't mean that anything goes,” President Biden said. He also re-stated that he will always “stand for free speech.”
In Virginia, at several college campuses including Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Mary Washington and the University of Virginia there have been calls for a cease in Gaza. Students have been protesting in various ways.
Students have been arrested at University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University.
In an April 30 statement on the student protests at Virginia Commonwealth University, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan wrote, “throughout our nation’s history, college campuses have been safe havens for critical thought, robust dialogue, and social and political activism. University officials have a responsibility to cultivate and maintain an environment that facilitates public discourse on complex issues while also protecting students’ ability to pursue their education free from fear of intimidation and harassment.”
College presidents across the country are grappling with the issue of student protests as war in the Middle East continues. Students are building encampments in an attempt to bring attention to over 34,000 Palestinians being killed by Israeli Defense Forces since Oct. 2023. Israeli has been responding to a murderous terrorist attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas killed over 1,500 Jewish people in what the American Jewish Committee has defined as “the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.”
On the night of April 30, students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond were pepper sprayed by Richmond Police. The video was shown on Good Morning America.
On the morning of May 2 State Senate Mamie Locke wrote, “watching what is happening at UCLA. Old enough to remember Kent State, Jackson State, South Carolina State and the dog whistles of “law and order”, “outside agitators.” So reminiscent of 1968.’”
On May 1, Senator Locke wrote, “the core values of free speech and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of our democracy. Historically, student-led protests on college campuses have been powerful catalysts for change, with young voices boldly speaking against the pressing issues of their times. Today, this fundamental right is under threat, yet it remains essential to the fabric of this nation and must be protected at all costs.
The recent peaceful protest at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) stands as a testament to the vibrant and engaged spirit of our students, who exercise their rights to highlight issues important to them. It is their right to voice their opinions, without resorting to violence. With that being said, I must express concern regarding the response of law enforcement to these demonstrations. Freedom of speech must not be repressed, and it is the duty of law enforcement to uphold, not undermine this freedom.
The actions of those tasked with public safety must embody restraint and a deep respect for civil liberties. The First Amendment guarantees the right of every individual to express their views without fear of undue force or coercion, and I am unwavering in my belief that these constitutional rights must be upheld, not just in letter but in spirit."
Senator Locke’s statement emphasizing first amendment rights was echoed days earlier by a group of younger members of the Virginia General Assembly including State Senator Saddam Salim and Delegates Josh Cole and Rozia Henson. It was also echoed by former Army Colonel Herb Jones.
“I am watching with sadness and consternation the scene unfolding at VCU. Sending in police in riot gear to break up a peaceful student protest on campus is completely unacceptable, those certainly are not the values I spent a lifetime in uniform fighting to defend,” wrote Jones on April 30.
“I’m calling on President Rao to take immediate action to end this conflict and allow the campus community to continue to peacefully express themselves,” Jones, who is a Democratic candidate for Congress competing to run against Rep. Rob Wittman.
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