Father’s Day
Meet the Morrisseys
Richmond Free Press © 2016 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 25 NO. 25
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
June 16-18, 2016
Grief unifies nation Richmond mourns in solidarity following Orlando massacre
when such tragedies occur, they are discussed for “two or three days” and then forgotten, he said. Mr. Harrison wants Diversity Richmond to begin conversations about how Richmond can become more unified. He also believes that the presence of Imad Damaj, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth
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University who is president and founder of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs, will help increase understanding between the gay and Muslim communities. According to the coalition’s Facebook page, its goal is “to foster proper understanding of Islam and Muslims” in the Richmond region and across Virginia.
Mr. Mateen left behind a tangled trail of possible motives for the massacre. He also called police during his rampage to voice allegiance to various militant Islamist groups. Federal investigators have said Mr. Mateen was likely self-radicalized and there is no evidence that he received any Please turn to A4
McEachin, Wade on Nov. ballot By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Richmond’s next congressman will either be Democrat A. Donald McEachin or Republican Michael L. “Mike” Wade. As expected, both men easily overcame rivals to win their respective party’s primary election Tuesday. They gain the right to carry their party’s banner into the November general election to represent the refashioned 4th Congressional District in Washington. Overshadowed by the presidential race and the
massacre in Orlando, the congressional primaries drew less than 5 percent of the 490,000 voters in the district that stretches from Richmond to Chesapeake. The current 4th District congressman, seven-term Republican Rep. J. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake, did not run for re-election in the district. Instead, Rep. Forbes jumped into the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District centered in Virginia Beach. He lost the contest to Scott Taylor, a former Navy Seal who now represents the beach city in the House of Delegates.
Free Press staff, wire report
In the 4th District Democratic primary, Sen. McEachin, an attorney and state senator from Henrico County, won the primary by a 3-1 margin over Ella P. Ward, a retired educator and member of the Chesapeake City Council. Sen. McEachin garnered 11,837 votes, or 75 percent, to 3,981 votes, or 25 percent, for Dr. Ward. Sen. McEachin lost to Dr. Ward in her home base of Chesapeake and Suffolk. He won overwhelmingly
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Gov. Terry McAuliffe and several elected officials were among the crowd of nearly 1,000 people who gathered Tuesday night at Diversity Richmond in North Side to show their support for the people of Orlando.
“This type of violence — we’ve become almost numb to it,” said Mr. Harrison, adding that such incidents “still hurt.” Mr. Harrison said Diversity Richmond’s vigil, which drew nearly 1,000 people, sought to promote healing and building bridges. Vigils are just one step in trying to stem gun violence based on race, religion or sexual orientation, he said. Too often
Trump rally sinks under weights Donald Trump was expected to pack the Richmond Coliseum when he visited the city last week. After all, he has packed arenas in other cities. But in battleground Virginia, and this Democratic-friendly city, the presumptive Republican nominee ended up addressing a half-full building Friday evening. A Richmond minister who led the rally’s opening prayer estimated that 6,000 to 7,000 people were on hand in a space that can hold up to 13,000 individuals. Pastor Steven A. Parson Sr., founder and former pastor of the Richmond Christian Center, called the attendance impressive given the “one-day confirmed notice.” A staunch Trump supporter, Pastor Parson believes more people would have come if much of the advance media coverage had not focused on the likelihood of a heavy police presence aimed at preventing disruption from Trump “protesters,” whom the minister described as “young people who are paid or go by the race card the Democrats have played for years.” Despite all the talk, only about 200 protesters gathered and there was minimal disruption. Richmond Police reported detaining five people; one for disorderly conduct. However, for others, the relatively small attendance for the Trump rally could be a signal that interest in the GOP candidate has peaked and could be on the decline, at least in Virginia, a state seen as a mustwin for any contender for the presidency. The Richmond rally took place after Mr. Trump came under fire for bashing the U.S.-born federal judge who is
Free Press staff, wire reports
In what has become all too common, several Richmond churches and community groups gathered this week to hold vigils and pray for victims of gun violence. This time, the songs of solace and tears of despair were for the slaughter unleashed Sunday morning when 29-year-old gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub frequented by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patrons. Numerous reports have stated that Mr. Mateen, who was shot and killed by police during the three-hour ordeal, targeted the club based on his allegiance to the Islamic State and hatred of gays. Other reports stated that Mr. Mateen struggled with his own sexual identity. Diversity Richmond, which advocates that members of the LGBTQ community be treated with fairness, dignity and respect, held a vigil Tuesday night at its Sherwood Avenue location in North Side. Still shaken by the shootings, Bill Harrison, the organization’s president and executive director, said that while such violence is “horrific,” even more horrifying is the nation’s seeming acceptance of such tragedies.
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Combating summer slide
‘The Books Brothers’ mobilize for book giveaway at Holton By Bonnie N. Davis
Linwood Holton Elementary School students Jace and Jazz Miles enjoy reading so much that they wanted to spread their passion throughout the school. Thanks to some quick brainstorming by their mother, Otesa Middleton Miles, and Holton’s librarian, Diane Glover, the youngsters’ wish was granted in the form of a daylong “Book Bonanza” — a giveaway Wednesday in which each of the 600 students at the West Laburnum Avenue school in North Side went home with two or more books to call their own. “It was amazing to see students squealing and jumping at the chance
to choose books,” said Mrs. Miles, a communications consultant for a major health care company whose flurry of action with her boys netted about 1,400 books for the event. “If we can help students stay academically active and nurture a love of reading and learning, we’ve succeeded. Parents, students, neighbors, teachers and friends made this a success.” With firefighters from Richmond Fire Stations No. 14 and No. 16 to help youngsters make their selections, Holton students received new and gently used books with appealing titles and subjects, including several from the Harry Potter series and Caldecott Medal winners. With Jazz, 10, and Jace, 7, including
their younger sibling, Just, 5, in the effort, they dubbed themselves “The Books Brothers” when they canvassed the block of their North Side neighborhood for book donations. Within four weeks, the boys collected about 1,200 books with the help of neighbors, Barnes & Noble, the main branch of the Richmond Public Library and the Lower School Library at Collegiate School. Monetary donations from a couple of Mrs. Miles’ friends went toward the purchase of new books through Scholastic, which provides literary resources for schools, teachers and families. The Miles brothers also donated books from their own library. Please turn to A5
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Brothers Jace, 7, left, and Jazz Miles, 10, show off some of the 1,400 books they collected to give to their fellow students at Richmond’s Linwood Holton Elementary School. The boys’ efforts mean that Holton’s 600 students will have at least two books of their own to read during summer break.
Ali laid to rest in send-off ‘fit for a king’ By Yvonne Coleman Bach Louisville Defender Editor
Muhammad Ali’s family takes part in the traditional Muslim service last Thursday at Louisville’s Freedom Hall for The Champ. They are, from left, Khalilah Ali, Mr. Ali’s second wife; Lonnie Ali, his wife of the last 30 years; and daughter Laila Ali.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. The world watched as the life of boxing champion Muhammad Ali was celebrated last week in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. Services last Thursday and Friday, both filled to capacity, and a procession through the streets of Louisville highlighted the send-off fit for the king he was. Mr. Ali, a world boxing legend who
“America must never forget that when a cop and an inner-city kid talk to each other, miracles can happen,” — Lonnie Ali at the public memorial service for her husband, Muhammad Ali.
won the heavyweight title a record three times between 1964 and 1978, died Friday, June 3, 2016, at age 74. More than 14,000 people attended a traditional Muslim service last Thursday at Freedom Hall, while an interfaith memorial
service was held last Friday in Downtown Louisville. Although Mr. Ali touched the lives of people throughout the world, the people of Louisville knew what others did not know. The procession route included a stretch of Broadway Street, where, in earlier days, Mr. Ali would drive his big recreational vehicle when he returned home to Louisville after winning his fights. Sometimes Please turn to A4