Call To Action:

Once again we must answer the call to action. The owner of Belmead, Jeff Oakley is seeking to use this historic site to house and display “all or as many as possible,” Confederate statues in Powhatan County. The Powhatan Anti-Racism Coalition Inc. categorically rejects this suggestion. We regard such a request as ignorantly disrespectful at best, and blatantly racist at worst. To propose that statues erected in honor of slave-owning Confederate leaders be placed on a property built by enslaved people and later used to educate and empower members of the Black community would unravel the decades of healing and progress championed by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Morrell family. Furthermore, it is an insult to the men and women educated on those grounds, as well as to the present-day members of the Black community in Powhatan. In short, Confederate statues have no place at Belmead.

Belmead was the location of both the St. Francis de Sales school for girls (1899-1970) and the St. Emma's Industrial and Agricultural Institute (1895-1972). Both of these sites have deep historical significance for African American people within the Commonwealth of Virginia.In addition to the historical significance, Mr. Oakley’s proposal causes us great concern regarding present-day issues as well. If the Confederate statues were to be moved to Powhatan County, it is very likely that our area would become a national flashpoint for negative media attention and a hotbed for civil unrest.

It would be a major setback for Powhatan County to become mired in a controversy that would likely gain attention across the Commonwealth and potentially even the nation, or to be viewed as a welcoming place for racist iconography.

Below we will provide links for context.

https://richmond.com/news/local/central-virginia/powhatan/powhatan-today/belmead-on-the-james-property-in-powhatan-sold-to-prince-george-man-for-6m/article_792f0232-8f03-11e9-8e55-8fa1f0c3e465.html

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/over-20-proposals-submitted-to-acquire-confederate-monuments-statue-send-off-unlikely-in-2020/

Please contact the following individuals to demand the following:

1. Call for the barring of Confederate monuments to be housed or displayed on the historical Belemead property.

2. A ban on future installations of Confederate monuments to be housed or displayed in Powhatan County.

3. Openly condemn the installation of Confederate iconography in Powhatan County.

The Powhatan Anti-Racism Coalition would like to show our support for the actions taken by Virginia resident Michael Murphy. In speaking out against systemic racism and discrimination, Mr. Murphy embodies the values that we feel are necessary to make long-standing changes within our society. As a community, we should all stand together against acts of racism and the systems that perpetuate the mistreatment of individuals based on their race, ethnicity, or nationality. The retaliation that occurred due to his advocacy is an example of the injustices that brave citizens like Mr. Murphy fight against everyday. We stand with him and condemn the actions of the Virginia Department of Corrections. Below we have provided the information of individuals you may contact to voice your outrage over the treatment of Michael Murphy and those who faced discrimination while under the employ of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Please urge the following individuals to:

• Pursue further investigation of the circumstances surrounding Michael Murphy’s reprimand.

• Investigate the mistreatment of employees and review the organization's transfer procedures.

• Make a public statement denouncing the actions taken by the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Contact Information

Governor Ralph Northam

Phone: (804) 786-2211

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

State Senator-Ghazala F. Hashmi

Phone: (804) 698-7510

district10@senate.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Corrections Human Resources

(804) 887-8123

Virginia Department of Corrections Main Number

Harold W. Clarke, Director

(804) 674-3000

If you or someone you know has experienced mistreatment while employed by the Virginia Department of Corrections, please send your story to us at parcforall@gmail.com.

Original CBS17 Report:

https://www.cbs17.com/news/south/virginia-state-employee-put-on-leave-days-after-raising-concerns-about-racism/?fbclid=IwAR0QvtUSPygA8t62OkwZtCOYlhNKB2YMrsBGGiv4_SzrO8G2M40oYnIaVOU