| Dear friends, Thank you for the letters and phone calls so many of you have offered to support the legislation our friends Delegate Wren Williams and Senator Glenn Sturtevant introduced in the Virginia General Assembly to try to protect military memorials from mob actions to tear them down. The approach our allies settled on was to allow changes or removal of some memorials and monuments but only after a long pause and a public referendum. We simply cannot allow mobs, unknown administrators, or elected officials who arrive in office with a fever of hate to destroy the artistic and cultural heritage of past generations. Also important is consideration that most people who are respected enough to be memorialized have been thoughtful leaders or sacrificial lambs to what they, at least, thought was a greater cause. Who are we to erase the physical memory of their sacrifices? I’m sure you can imagine situations where memorials and monuments MIGHT be reconsidered but that should be very rare and hard to do. The whole point of carefully considered and crafted memorials is to remember a time, someone, or something that the citizens of their era felt was important. The recent rabid appetite for destruction and erasure denies future generations of their predecessors' historical landmarks and robs them of the chance to understand their ancestors and to pull their own perspective of past events. Predictably, some Democrat legislators labeled our very reasonable and very voter-centric effort to be racist. It clearly is not biased or negative racially and I will not tolerate such intellectually lazy defamation- even from elected officials. Responsible leaders need to put the racial slurs and absurd partisan ugliness aside and craft common sense, fair legislation to protect our society from the most emotionally unstable, destructive, and belligerent amongst us. That’s what we intend to do! This year and onward. Thank you for your support!   John Reid Founder of The Virginia Council Get your tickets today for our next event! Early Bird prices are only available until January 22nd, so act fast! Use the discount code EARLYBIRD for $5 off General Admission or EARLYBIRDVIP for $10 off VIP tickets. Mike Emanuel March 20, 2025 at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center VIP Reception begins at 5:45pm Program Begins at 7pm with doors opening at 6:15pm for General Admission ticket holders.  PURCHASE TICKETS HERE Want to know more about Mike Emanuel?? Mike Emanuel currently serves as chief Washington correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined FNC in 1997 as a Los Angeles-based correspondent. Emanuel also anchors FOX NEWS LIVE on Sunday afternoons at 1pm and was in the chair during an historic moment in the 2024 campaign. It was Sunday, July 21st when President Biden suddenly dropped out of the campaign and Emanuel had it first on Fox. Previously, Emanuel provided the latest breaking election news from Washington, DC during FNC’s Democracy 2020 election coverage. Additionally, Emanuel has covered both the House and Senate proceedings surrounding both impeachments of President Donald Trump, lawmakers passing tax reform, the confirmation hearings for the Trump and Biden Cabinets, and the confirmation hearings for President Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees. He also covered Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. In his role, Emanuel has reported on key congressional races, the IRS scandal, the hearings surrounding the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya attacks and President Barack Obama’s 2012-2016 State of the Union addresses from Capitol Hill, among other events. Come hear him speak about how the Washington D.C. press will cover the exciting and historic second term of President Trump in 2025! Virginia Election Updates: Cook Political Report calls Virginia governor’s race a toss-up • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods Senate panel blocks GOP voting limits, advances ballot reforms • Virginia Mercury By Markus Schmidt Democrats Are Deciding How Much to Campaign on Trump. Virginia Is Their First Test. - NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute) By Bryan Woolston Churches could help address affordable housing in Virginia Beach. New legislation may help. By Ryan Murphy Statewide Candidate Funding Sources: 2024 Year-End By VPAP  Register today for The Virginia Council monthly meeting as we present legislative updates from Craig DiSesa, Nancy Smith, & Stephen Haner. Wednesday, January 29th at 12 Noon We'll be meeting at Park Lane Tavern in Short Pump. Chris DiSesa is the President of Middle Resolution and will give an education issue update. Nancy Smith is Political Director of Middle Resolution and will present on election integrity. Stephen D. Haner is the Senior Fellow for State & Local Tax Policy at the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy and he will discuss energy concerns. REGISTER HERE Virginia Assembly, Senate & Governor updates: January- Governor Glenn Youngkin on the Senate's Rejection of a Number of Qualified University and State Board Members | Governor.Virginia.gov Senate panel kills bid to cement “right-to-work” laws in state constitution • Virginia Mercury By Markus Schmidt Virginia House passed ban on foods with dyes in schools | wusa9.com By Matthew Torres Virginia Senate pushes forward constitutional amendments By Jahd Khalil WATCH: Virginia Senate passes abortion amendment to state constitution - Fredericksburg Free Press By Ted Schubel Skill games legislation finds a second chance in the Senate By Brandon Jarvis Churches could help address affordable housing in Virginia Beach. New legislation may help. By Ryan Murphy Virginia's "home school loophole" is up for debate at the General Assembly | WVTF By Michael Pope Mama Bear Day 2025 — The Family Foundation Tuesday, Feb 4th Bill would establish parent ‘bill of rights’ within Virginia’s public schools | WRIC ABC 8News By Ryan Nadeau 2025 Foster Care Advocacy Day Registration Children's Home Society of Virginia A Vindictive Bill that Invites Retaliation | Bacon's Rebellion - By James A. Bacon Housing proposals spark clash over state and local roles in Virginia • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods Virginia legislators primed for new, consolidated gambling watchdog | WVTF By Brad Kutner Trump Executive Order Signals Crackdown On Pro-Terrorist College Students | The Daily Caller By Hudson Crozier (1) C'villeBubble on X: "🔶⚔️🔷UVA's DEI infrastructure protected Students for Justice in Palestine, registered with @uvastudentaffrs. The group called Hamas "resistance fighters" and stated support for terrorists in "whatever means they deem necessary." https://t.co/UtQH9ZKrpN https://t.co/W6yShJu7bd" / X Wittman Introduces Legislation to Support Veterans - RealRadio804 By Kyle Scott Virginia takes aim at pharmacy benefit managers in Medicaid overhaul • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods Trump order’s impact on Microporous, Volvo projects unclear - Cardinal News By Matt Busse & Grace Mamon  War Veterans Memorial Protection Act of 2025 Legislation of interest to members of The Virginia Council - HB 1884 and companion SB 1429: Virginia needs new legislation to legitimate the protection of monuments and memorials to our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who have served as proud Americans without regard to politics or political issues. Honoring the patriotism of veterans without regard to political or social issues is of utmost importance to those serving our country. Loss of community civility is a notable mark of recent efforts to remove or relocate war memorials and markers. The Code permits local governments to decide on these contentious issues through a fiat declaration by the local governing board or public referendum. Governing fiat or simple majorities both seem authoritarian and divisive to the community regardless of the outcome. A process of decency that engages a higher standard of reasonableness for voter participation could promote social harmony. The destruction of the monuments on Monument Avenue is notable for how the monuments were removed. It did not implement a referendum. The process outlined in the Code did not deter the violence and ensuing social strife of the moment. To any neutral observer, the display had the character of mob rule. Militancy rather than civil decency was displayed. The manner in which the monuments were treated overshadowed the purposes for which they were erected. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, some localities opted to implement referenda, for example, Halifax or Charles City. Reasonableness moderated passionate perceptions of social justice. This is especially true because voter participation rose nearer to supermajority thereby legitimating the contentious dispositions. The Virginia Council has worked with Senator Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. (R-S12) and Delegate Wren Willams (R-H47) to introduce legislation that would address the legitimacy of removing or relocating the memorials of war veterans. Delegate Williams’ HB 1884 and Senator Sturtevant’s companion bills, The War Veterans Memorials Protection Act of 2025, address the flaws in the existing Code. The focus is on legitimacy or how these memorials of veterans ought to be retreated. The bill will require both a local referendum, as well as a supermajority election. It permits local governing bodies to certify the will of the people. It will penalize the decimation of monuments and historic markers. And for newly erected monuments they can stand up to 40 years. Patriotic Americans and Virginians are offended when statues and memorials to our military and war veterans are damaged, desecrated or removed. Every statue, memorial or marker honoring an American Veteran or their ally should be legitimately protected and respected in Virginia. The Virginia Council, Government Affairs Committee Scott Daniels, Chair Renita Sommers Eric Bannon Wayne E. Boese John Kwapisz Cynthia Baker Steve Kemp Bill Byrd F. Neal Thompson Robert Crouch Articles, News, & Quotes: History on wheels: Inside the Virginia 250th mobile museum - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey Sign petition: President Trump, Restore the Arlington National Cemetery Reconciliation Memorial · GoPetition.com Please encourage President Trump to restore the Reconciliation Monument House panel moves to end tax breaks for Confederate-affiliated groups in Virginia By Markus Schmidt Share your thoughts about the VMHC Survey for feedback to Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Why does Virginia history matter to you? The Hills the Left Will Die On - by Ruy Teixeira Youngkin, Miyares criticize Biden for granting ‘Waverly Two’ clemency | WRIC ABC 8News By Julia Broberg Woman says she and her 9-year-old daughter saw a naked man in Arlington school locker room By Nick Minock (11) C'villeBubble on X: "President Trump aims to dismantle DEI at public schools that receive federal funds. The University of Virginia has a $20M annual DEI budget. https://t.co/glYQTZOFtJ https://t.co/OTNh0p0o7e" / X (12) NOVA Campaigns on X: "Largest public school district in Virginia, @fcpsnews in Fairfax, one of RICHEST counties in 🇺🇸… has its Superintendent @FCPSSupt Michelle Reid, send an all hands email to employees… Setting stage to fight @ICEgov & its efforts to deport illegals - employees & students" / X PowerSchool hack: How Virginia student data may have been exposed - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno & Sam Sabin U.S. Cities With the Biggest Change in Rent Prices By Construction Coverage VDH says Richmond is not capable of reliably providing citizens with water | WRIC ABC 8News By Ryan Nadeau State health officials say Richmond water crisis was ‘completely avoidable’ By Sarah Vogelsong & Graham Moomaw Richmond hires firms to investigate water crisis - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno Richmond won't release documents related to severance pay By Samuel B. Parker Data: Charts showing insights on Richmond's finances By Michael Phillips Fairfax County faces potential budget cuts to fire and rescue services | Articles | fairfaxtimes.com By Samir Ali Nomani Inside the gaming facility fight between Henrico leaders and Churchill Downs By Tom Lappas Legal battle erupts over Shenandoah rail restoration • Virginia Mercury By Nathaniel Cline What Trump's executive orders mean for Virginia (and what they don't) - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey Report: Housing costs force exodus of young families from Northern Virginia | FFXnow By James Jarvis Virginia Democrats Say Trump’s Executive Actions Could Upend Life for Federal Workers - NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute) By Tom Williams Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest: A Home Away From Home | The Epoch Times By Deena Bouknight  Interviews of Interest The Schilling Show: Jake Lang, Neil Williamson - Cville Right Now Jake Lang, J6 Political Prisoner, has been pardoned, and is out of prison. We speak to him all about what the last 48 hours have been like. Cardinal News Podcasts - Cardinal News Delivering Hope: The Fight for Maternal Care in Rural Communities Podcast on the age of our founding fathers (which was younger than you might expect) - Cardinal News By Dutchie Jessee The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Liberty In an 1897 bid to end 'birthright citizenship,' a Virginia lawyer argued that part of the Constitution was unconstitutional - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey (1) Jason Miyares on X: "I’m backing Loudoun County parents accused of “misinformation” by the School Board for raising valid student safety concerns. Silencing parents undermines free expression, parental rights, and the accountability elected officials owe to their communities. https://t.co/7SEUcds2ZN https://t.co/HJ8p0icWSM" / X New Yorkers Are Right to Demand a Ban on Criminal Masking By Hannah E. Meyers  The Virginia Council has been blessed with unwavering support from the community since its founding a few years ago. And we decided to add some new ways to thank you for your ongoing assistance in our efforts to educate and inform Virginians. "Announcing The Virginia Council membership reward program. Sign up today on our website for the various levels of support!" Member level: Simple membership is free when you sign up for our email newsletter or attend a monthly meeting. Liberty level: For an annual contribution of $100 you get the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings and a commemorative Virginia Council lapel pin. Patriot level: When you step up to make an annual contribution of $250 you receive first access to tickets to our annual Christmas and Patriot Parties, the commemorative Virginia Council pin, and the newsletter and monthly meeting access. President's Council level: For a commitment of $1000 you receive the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings, 2 lapel pins, 2 invitations to both of our annual parties, and 2 VIP tickets to one Virginia Forum lecture of your choice. We hope you'll find these rewards an added incentive to help fund our efforts to restore a full view of Virginia's history, monuments & role that government plays in our lives. We appreciate all your support and encouragement and look forward to bringing you more compelling voices of liberty, freedom, and conscience over the next year. To become a Liberty, Patriot, or President's Council member, please make a contribution here. To volunteer, click here. The Executive Board of the Virginia Council If you are interested in donating appreciated securities, we now have an account to make it easy for you (see the information below). Contact us HERE for more details.  The Virginia Council Preserving Virginia’s history and creating a more prosperous future for all Virginians. Stay Hopeful. Stay Connected. |
