FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2024

VLBC Statement Regarding Public Comment Decorum

Richmond, VA—Today, during a Senate Finance & Appropriations Select Workgroup Committee meeting, an attendee used their public comment time to call Senator Louise Lucas a derogatory name. The only titles the Senator has earned in the General Assembly are that of Chair of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee and President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia. It is because of her resilience, deep capacity to care about the people of Virginia, and a strong record worth decades of delivering on her promises that she is the first Black woman to hold these titles.

The ability to hold civil public comment on communal issues is an integral part of our democracy and a signal of its strength. As was called for in the meeting, decorum and respect are the minimum qualities that any person, elected or not, must maintain to engage in public debates on legislation. This time is meant to be used by non-elected members of the community to have a voice beyond the ballot box when it comes to policy. To derail this meeting by aiming slurs at a respected member of the General Assembly only distracts from policy issues. This incident was demeaning to the incredible woman and Senator that Chair Louise Lucas shows up to work as every day.

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The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) is made up of 32 members in the Virginia General Assembly. VLBC is committed to improving the economic, educational, political, and social conditions of African Americans and underrepresented groups in Virginia. A vital part of VLBC’s mission is to raise the consciousness of other groups to the contributions made by African Americans to the Commonwealth and the Nation.