"They don't want our history to be taught..." Bagby, Rallies on Youngkin Race/DEI Probe; Portsmouth Meeting on Transportation
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Senator Bagby Leads Rally Regarding Youngkin “Racial Literacy” Investigation at Virginia Schools
On Saturday, April 6, Virginia Black Caucus Chair State Senator Lamont Bagby, Del. Mike Jones and Del. Rae Cousins joined VCU students in protest of the Governor's request to review racial literacy requirements at several of Virginia’s colleges.
"They don't want our history to be taught — they know the power of it,” Senator Bagby said during the rally.
Related to the issue, the Virginia NAACP Youth & College Division released a statement on April 1:
NAACP Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) Youth & College Division unequivocally denounces Governor Youngkin's recent demand to review the syllabi for Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Racial Literacy Requirement courses. This action is not isolated, as the Youngkin administration has similarly targeted educational initiatives promoting racial awareness at other institutions, such as George Mason University. These demands represent a troubling overreach into academic freedom and a targeted attack on courses aimed at promoting racial tolerance and literacy.
The Virginia NAACP Youth & College Division is calling on Governor Youngkin to respect the autonomy of educational institutions that foster environments conducive to learning and growth by discontinuing his required review of classes designed to analyze systemic and structural racism. VCU’s Racial Literacy Requirement plays a crucial role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and address issues of race and discrimination in today's world.
“We believe that Governor Youngkin's insistence on scrutinizing syllabi for courses designed to educate students about racial issues is not only unnecessary but also threatens to undermine progress toward fostering an inclusive and understanding society”, stated Ty’Leik Chambers, President of Virginia NAACP Youth & College Division.
“We are unaware of any efforts by our governor to review course syllabi that do not have a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) emphasis. Like Mayor Brandon Scott of Baltimore, our Y&CD is acutely aware of how “DEI” has been weaponized to dismantle diversity efforts by nefariously discrediting their purpose and power. We call upon all supporters of racial justice and academic freedom to join us in defending the integrity of programs like the Racial Literacy Requirement at VCU.”
The Virginia NAACP Youth & College Division stands in full solidarity with VCU's students and faculty in resisting any attempts to censor or dismantle initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. We firmly believe that education should empower individuals to confront and challenge systemic injustices rather than suppress discussions on vital topics such as racial literacy.
The Virginia NAACP Youth & College Division will continue to advocate for racial justice in higher education.
Delegate Cousins’ on Gov. Youngkin’s Veto of Bill to Hold Landlords Accountable
Freshman Delegate Rae Cousins’ bill to hold landlords accountable for making repairs was vetoed by Governor Youngkin last week.
“Too many Richmonders go without air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter because they have landlords who refuse to make repairs. We need to hold landlords who fail to upkeep their properties accountable, and this bill simply protects tenants’ access to currently available remedies in the court system,” Del. Cousins said.
“With this veto, Governor Youngkin is denying tenants access to the court system, allowing landlords to continue to collect rent while avoiding accountability for failing to provide safe and habitable housing,” she added.
Landlords are required to maintain safe and habitable rental properties under the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act. According to Cousin’s office, “HB1251 would have removed the requirement that tenants be current on rent to file a tenant’s assertion, strengthening tenants’ ability to access the judicial system and enforce their right under the VRLTA to live in a safe home.”
Va.’s Public Education Accountability System Overhaul
New system slated to improve transparency, carries possible risks for low-performing schools
By Nathaniel Cline for the Virginia Mercury - When something is not working, change it.
The Virginia Board of Education is proposing that kind of transformative change for its new accountability framework, by splitting up the state’s accreditation system into two parts: an accreditation system, to assess whether schools are meeting all requirements laid out in state laws and regulations; and an accountability system, to provide “timely and transparent information on student and school performance.”
This is another means for Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration to completely overhaul the system, which is vague in defining how it constitutes student achievement. Some education advocates support it, saying the changes could raise the state’s standards and improve transparency. Others fear the revisions could have long-term negative effects on low-performing schools. Read entire
Lawmakers Meet in Portsmouth on Transportation Changes after Maryland Key Bridge Accident
On April 5, federal, state and local leaders met in Portsmouth to hear the details of changes at the Port of Virginia. The collapse of the Key Bridge in Maryland on March 26 after a cargo ship struck it will mean increased container ship traffic at Virginia’s ports and increased truck traffic on the roads. Rep. Bobby Scott, State Senator Louise Lucas, State Senator Angelia Williams Graves, Del. Jackie Glass and other attended the meeting with Gov. Youngkin and transportation leaders.
June 15: Juneteenth Commemoration
The Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia will host its 19th Annual Juneteenth Commemoration on Saturday, 15 June at 2:00pm. We invite you to join us for an historic and inspiring virtual program. "Because YOU Voted - Democrats DID THAT!"
Featuring history making Blacks Elected as Virginia's Leadership! Hear their successes and struggles. Plus meet other Virginia Officials and Candidates! More information to come!
Listen to the latest episode of Pod Virginia with Lauren Burke and Michael Pope:
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