FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 16, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT
Deja Cromartie
pr@intelmediagroup.com 

Virginia NAACP Launches the “Ensuring Justice & Demanding Accountability Campaign

RICHMOND – The Virginia State Conference NAACP is urging Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to use his authority to request the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute occurrences General to investigate and occurrences of law enforcement-involved shootings in the Commonwealth’s circuit courts.

Since March 2021, the Virginia NAACP has been in discussions with Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring about the ongoing issues of law enforcement accountability and the necessity for independent investigations. 

Despite the Virginia NAACP’s meetings with Governor Northam and Attorney General Herring, they have failed to take any significant action. Governor Northam has shifted his focus to the legislature, while AG Herring has remained silent, refusing to ask the governor for authorization. 

The goal is to compel the Governor and Attorney General to both utilize their authority to encourage better policing through better practices, encouraging transparency, and bringing the full weight of the law against bad actors who act with impunity in violating the rights of citizens. 

“After months of conversations, multiple staff-level meetings, and principal-level meetings, we have reached the point where we must take further action to ensure justice & demand accountability,” says President Robert N. Barnette Jr.

The Virginia NAACP is making the following demands of Governor Northam: 

• The Governor should exercise his executive authority as stated in the Code of Virginia § 2.2-511 to request the Attorney General to prosecute incidents of law enforcement involving shootings in the circuit courts of the Commonwealth. (Gov. Northam’s top legal counsel has affirmed the governor’s authority to do so.)
• The Governor should implement policies for the Virginia Compensation Board and Criminal Justice Services Board that provide financial incentives for local law enforcement agencies to adopt policing standards that prioritize adopting standards for training, certification, and accountability that builds upon the model of standards and transparency under development with the Virginia State Police.
  
  
• The Governor should leverage the Virginia Compensation Board and Criminal Justice Services Board to have local law enforcement officers prioritize the reexamination of its policing standards so that it can become a model of accountability,  transparency, and culturally responsive policing practices for other law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 2, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
804-972-3310
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Legal Advocacy Leads to Favorable Supreme Court of Virginia Decision In Confederate Monument Case

Following the Virginia NAACP Amicus Brief filing, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that the Robert E. Lee Monument can finally come down.

RICHMOND – The Virginia State Conference NAACP celebrated today’s unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Virginia that clears the way for the removal of a confederate monument on state-owned property. Today’s court decision comes after the Virginia NAACP filed an amicus brief in the case earlier this year.

The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that the Commonwealth of Virginia has the authority to finally remove the Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond, Virginia. The Supreme Court of Virginia has also dissolved the injunction that was keeping the statute up, meaning that it can now come down.

“Following the Virginia NAACP’s legal advocacy efforts, today’s court decision moves us one step closer to finally bringing down the Robert E. Lee monument for good,” said Robert N. Barnette, Jr., President of the Virginia NAACP.  “I look forward to seeing the monument finally come down.”

Sands Anderson PC was retained to represent the Virginia State Conference NAACP on this matter.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org.

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On behalf of the Political Action Committee, please see below the custom voter registration links for each branch.

 Branch Voter Registration Links

Inbox

Da’Quan

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director,

804-972-3310
press@naacpva.orgV

RICHMOND – Virginia State Conference NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. issued the following statement:

“The Virginia NAACP applauds today’s announcement of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam granting posthumous pardons for the Martinsville Seven, a group of young Black men executed by the Commonwealth for the alleged rape of a white woman in 1951.

Decades after the Commonwealth tried and executed these young men without due process, today’s long-overdue announcement is a step in the right direction towards justice.”

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 12, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
804-972-3310
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Statement on U.S. Census Bureau Data Release

RICHMOND – Virginia State Conference NAACP Political Action Chair Gaylene Kanoyton released the following statement in response to the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census data release earlier today:

“Today the U.S. Census Bureau released 2020 census data, starting a 45-day window for the Virginia Redistricting Commission to draw district maps for the next decade.

While we will analyze the public data in the coming weeks, the Virginia NAACP urges all Virginians to make their voices heard through public comment and testimony to the Virginia Redistricting Commission. 

The Virginia NAACP remains committed to ensuring that Virginia maps are drawn in a manner that does not dilute the voting power of Black and Brown Virginians.”

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP

Founded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org.

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