Two Justins Unite Against Gun Violence @SITW, Don Scott Endorses Foy, Richard Stewart's Legacy, J.D. Spain at Candidate Forum
GUN VIOLENCE IS #1 ISSUE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson was in Virginia Beach with another Justin, Virginia’s 41st Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, to put policy attention on the gun violence issue during the Something in the Water music festival. The young “Tennessee Three” member was ejected from the Tennessee House of Representatives, which the GOP controls by a super-majority, on April 6, along with his colleague Rep. Justin Jones.
The offense? Joining protesters in favor of stricter gun laws after the murders of six people in Green Hills, Tennessee at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023. The Covenant School killer used an AR-15 in that mass murder. Jones and Pearson were re-instated as members of the Tennessee legislature by a municipal board days later.
The latest mass murder in Tennessee was followed by several others. On April 28, five people were shot dead in “execution style” by a man with an AR-15 style rifle in Cleveland, Texas. Gun violence is ranking at the top of polls as an issue of concern for many Americans — particularly young people.
Former Delegate Alex Askew, who is in one of the most important races of the 2023 cycle because it’s one of the seats (HD95) that will decide who will control the Virginia House, greeted Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Virginia Beach on April 30 hours before a local weather emergency cancelled day 3 of Something in the Water.
Several other community leaders including Virginia Beach power brokers Gary McCollum and Bruce Smith were also on hand for many events during #SITW before the weather emergency on Sunday, April 30 cancelled day 3 of #SITW.
Leader Don Scott endorsed former Delegate and 2021 Gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy on May 1. Foy is in a primary with former Rep. and 2021 Lieutenant Governor candidate Hala Ayala for Senate District 33. The race is easily in the top 10 most compelling going in to the June 20 primary. Early voting begins on May 5.
🚨Also, Leader Scott and Black Caucus Chair Lamont Bagby will be at a rally for Timothy Johnson today in Fairfax. Johnson, 37, was shot to death by a Fairfax Police Officer on Feb. 22 after allegedly stealing a pair of sunglasses at Tysons Mall.
A spokesperson for Fairfax Police informed media on March 23 that the officer who killed Johnson, Sgt. Wesley Shifflett, was given an "administrative separation" for "failure to live up to our expectation." Translation: He was fired.
Below: Karen Keys-Gamarra, who is a candidate for House of Delegates in HD07, which covers Oakton, Reston and Herndon, shared the news of the rally for Johnson that will take place today.
🚩 TODAY at 3PM IN FAIRFAX!
DON’T FORGET ABOUT POCAHONTAS ISLAND. The pressing question after the death of Petersburg historian Richard Stewart: Where will his artifacts go? Greg Schneider of The Washington Post, has an update on the artifacts and collection of the late Richard Stewart.
For at least 20 years, Stewart collected thousands of objects in a homemade Black History Museum of Pocahontas Island, the historic community where he grew up. Photographs, books, Klan robes, slave shackles, even a mysterious locked trunk that was too heavy to lift — he had a story for everything. READ ENTIRE AT WAPO
J.D. SPAIN, KSB and NATALIE ROY. Candidates for the Arlington County Board and other local offices participated in a candidate forum at the Walter Reed Community Center in Arlington on Sunday. Candidates, including former Arlington NAACP President J.D. Spain, Kevin Saucedo-Broach, candidate for House of Delegates District 2 and long time Chief of Staff of Del. Alfonso Lopez and Arlington County Board candidate Natalie Roy, among others, took questions for hours. Dozens of Arlington residents conducted a speed-dating style Q&A forum that allowed citizens to ask candidates questions one-on-one.
Everything from affordable housing to the corporate vacancy rate in Arlington to crime was asked during the lengthy and comprehensive forum.
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