Services for Lois McClellan and Greg Beckwith; Closer Look at Home Arlington Board Wants to Take; Senator Locke at Boysko Event; UVA Mass Shooting Settlement
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Eminent Domain: Will Arlington Take the Home of a Black Family?
ARLINGTON, VA — Below is a closer look at a home owned by a Black family at 1802 Columbia Pike in Arlington, Va. In March, Arlington County was “seeking permission to exercise eminent domain to take the property and compensate its owner” as reported by ArlingtonNow.
A signature drive has been started by the family who owns the home.
A March Arlington County Board resolution, stated that acquiring the property is “a public necessity” for the sake of improving “public safety.”
On May 29 the Arlington NAACP President Michael Hemminger wrote to Arlington Board Chair Libby Garvey and County Manager Mark Schwartz and others demanding to, STOP ALL EFFORTS to take an elderly disabled Black Woman’s long-time family home at 1802 Columbia Pike.
RELATED: Arlington NAACP to Arlington County Board: Hands Off Black Owned Home (Black Virginia News)
“Taking the home of anyone against their will—not least a home in an historically Black neighborhood, owned by generations of a Black family for almost a hundred years—should never be anything more than a last resort. There are other options for accomplishing the County’s safety goals that the County has not explored or exhausted. We therefore demand that the County put an end to their attempt to take the home at 1802 Columbia Pike,” the Arlington NAACP President wrote in his May 29, 2024.
Settlement of Students Murdered at UVA
The University of Virginia agreed to a settlement in the murders of three students on campus during a mass shooting on November 13, 2022. UVA will pay $9 million in a settlement related to the shooting.
UVA will pay $2 million each to the families of the estates of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr.
The three were murdered on the night of November 13, 2022, by UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22. Jones was under investigation at UVA in September 2022 regarding concerns he owned a firearm. UVA will also pay $3 million total to two students wounded by Jones. UVA’s Office of Student Affairs reported previous concerns before Nov. 2022.
RELATED: ‘Urgent’ meeting before UVA withheld shooting report, police shooting video released (Virginia Mercury)
UVA has been secretive about the details related to the murders.
Senator Mamie Locke, Phil Thompson Back Sen. Boysko for Congress
LEESBURG, VA — State Senator Mamie Locke drove three hours from Hampton on May 31 to speak at a meet and greet in support of her Senate colleague Sen. Jennifer Boysko. Boysko is running for Congress in Virginia’s tenth district after the announcement of her former State Senate colleague Rep. Jennifer Wexton’s retirement as she battles a health challenge.
Joining Senator Locke in support of Boysko were former Loudoun NAACP President and attorney Phil Thompson and Loudoun County Board of Supervisor Juli Briskman. The Boysko meet-and-greet was held at the historic Frederick Douglass High School in Leesburg.
The competition for Virginia’s 10th district is fierce. Delegate Michelle Maldonado, Del. Dan Helmer, former Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler Corn, former candidate for House of Delegates Travis Nembhard, State Senator Suhas Subramanyam and Vietnam veteran Marion Devoe are all competing for votes.
Senator Locke spoke on speaking out against a resolution offered in the Virginia Senate during her freshman year (2004) to make April “Confederate History Month.” The resolution failed shortly after Sen. Locke gave an impassioned speech against it.
“I’ve seen that kind of passion in Jennifer when she gets something — she will not let go,” Sen. Locke said speaking about Boysko.
“My wife and I are very fond of Senator Boysko because she’s always there. No matter what event we do. We do a lot of events that involve the minority community — the Black community — which isn’t the biggest community in Loudoun County but if we’re doing an event Senator Boysko is there. She’s always there. I’ve worked with her on some very special legislation. The first time I brought this bill to her for an apology on medical harm that was done to African Americans in this state she didn’t even hesitate. She said “yes I’m in.” And that’s the type of person she is and that’s the type of person we need in Congress. Not just a person who knows AI and national security but a person who knows Loudoun,” said Thompson, a prominent Loudoun attorney and U.S. Marine veteran who was President of the Loudoun NAACP.
The primary is June 18 and early voting began started on May 3.
The family of Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan is dealing with the passing of two much loved family members in the same week. The Congresswoman’s mother, Lois McClellan, and her brother-in-law Greg Beckwith.
Greg Beckwith
Memorial services for Richmond Athletics Hall-of-Famer 🌹 Greg Beckwith, who died on May 24, have been announced.
VISITATION IS TODAY: Sunday, June 2 at 2 PM - 6 PM - Bliley's Funeral Home
3801 Augusta Avenue, Richmond, Virginia.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Monday, June 3, 1 PM - Cannon Memorial Chapel, University of Richmond. Parking for the Celebration of Life will be in Lot C61 at the Robins Center. Shuttles will run from in front of the Robins Center to and from Cannon Memorial Chapel to transport guests across campus. A reception will be held following the service in the Robins Center.
Monday's Celebration of Life service will be streamed live on the Richmond Athletics YouTube page. 🌹 Sympathy cards and notes should be sent to: The Beckwith Family, Department of Athletics Administration, Robins Center, 365 College Road, University of Richmond, VA 23173
🌹🌹🌹
Services for Lois McClellan 🌹 A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held for Lois Dedeaux McClellan on Wednesday, June 5 at 1:00 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Petersburg, Virginia. A graveside service will take place at Sunset Memorial Park in Chester followed by a Repass, starting at 4:00 pm, at the President's House on the campus of Virginia State University. There will be a Viewing/Visitation on Tuesday, June 4 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Wilkinson Funeral Home in Petersburg, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Lois D. McClellan to the Delta Community Service Foundation, Post Office Box 853, Petersburg, Virginia 23805.
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