A legislative commission studying the uprooting of Black communities by public universities met for the first time Tuesday in Richmond, with members outlining their goals and expectations.
“I am very interested in this topic simply because Norfolk historically has been the very core and center of redlining and displacement,” said Del. Bonita Anthony, a Norfolk Democrat. “My expectation is for us to gather as much information as we can and to look at overarching policies that the General Assembly can put in place to make sure we don’t repeat history.”
The commission consists of state legislators and civilian members. It was formed following a project examining the issue through a partnership between ProPublica and the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism. The investigation focused on Christopher Newport University, which was established in Newport News in the 1960s on land taken from a Black community through the use of eminent domain.
Cassandra Newby-Alexander, a commission member and history professor at Norfolk State University, said she hoped the legislative panel would focus on reparative justice.