Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – November 9, 2005

 

COMMENTARY

Two Fitting Tributes

Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

 

          Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955 and established for herself a leadership role in standing up for civil rights. Having her as the first female to lie in state in the Nation’s Capitol was a fitting tribute.

          Oliver Hill provided the legal expertise to bring many court cases that eventually led to the desegregation of Virginia public schools. Recently Governor Mark Warner dedicated the newly renovated state library/finance building, the third oldest building on Capitol Square, in honor of Oliver Hill. Mr. Hill was present to hear the dedication although he no longer has the sight to enjoy the impressive building that will bear his name.

          Both Rosa Parks and Oliver Hill worked to overcome injustices in the law that were created by elected legislative bodies. Too bad that the Alabama state legislature did not say that their law that sent Blacks to the back of the bus was wrong and repeal it. It took the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act after the assassination of a president to eliminate the discriminatory Jim Crow laws from Alabama, Virginia, and other Southern states.

          Too bad the Virginia General Assembly did not say that the separate public education system they had established was not equal. In fact, they went the other direction after Brown v. Board of Education and tried through “massive resistance” to keep their segregated system intact. It took dozens of court cases by Mr. Hill and others to finally break down the segregated system the legislature had put in place.

          With all the tributes that are paid to Rosa Parks and the impressive edifice that bears Oliver Hill’s name, I hope the lessons their lives teach us are not lost on current and future generations. A simple woman with a clear purpose and determination made a difference, and for that we can remember and thank Rosa Parks. A brilliant legal mind and the courage to take on the establishment improved the lives and future of millions of people, and for that we pay tribute to Oliver Hill.

          We still have a way to go to establish racial equality in our society. As we move to make further progress in this area, we need to be mindful of other forms of discrimination that are starting to dominate legislature just as racial segregation did in the past. The General Assembly has repeatedly rebuffed my efforts to add sexual orientation to age, race, and religion as a prohibited basis of discrimination. The General Assembly has already passed a law and now seeks a constitutional amendment that under the guise of defining marriage virtually eliminates legal arrangements such as medical directives and many contracts between adults of the same sex. Numerous punitive bills will be introduced next year in the General Assembly aimed at all immigrants under the guise of the illegal status of some.

          Rosa Parks and Oliver Hill showed us the way. It is up to us to hold our seat for civil justice and to take the actions necessary to bring it about in our society. That would be the most fitting tribute to these two great leaders.

 

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Sweet Victories

 

Thanks to all who voted for my reelection and to all those who assisted with my campaign. I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents. And I look forward to serving with Governor-elect Tim Kaine, someone I admire greatly for his strong moral values and his leadership abilities. The tone in the House of Delegates is likely to change with the defeat of two of its most conservative members, Black and Marrs, and the election of strong Democratic moderates in Chuck Caputo, David Bulova, and David Marsden.

 

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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report”

 on Comcast Channel 28

 

Wednesday, November 9 at 10:30 p.m. –  Denise J. Straub and Alejandra Caballero, Fairfax County Extension Service – “The Reston JUMP Mentoring Program”

 

Tuesday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 16 at 10:30 p.m. – Jane Anthony, Reston citizen and activist for the retarded – “Community and Institutional Residential Settings for the Retarded”

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Fairfax County has organized a Hunter Mill Special Study Task Force to determine the public’s vision for the Hunter Mill Road area. Meetings of the Special Study Task Force are scheduled for November 9, November 30, and December 14, all at 7:00 p.m., at Lake Anne Elementary School, 11510 North Shore Drive. These meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.

 

The Dulles Area Transportation Association will host a “Transit Oriented Development Session 2: Next Steps” on Thursday, November 10, hosted by Mr. Joe Siekierski at the National Rural Utilities CTC complex, 2201 Cooperative Way, Herndon (session will be held in the NRTC Building past CFC; park in back or in the parking garage, and enter the building through the double doors of the NRTC building). Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. with the session running until 10:30 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Dulles Corridor Rail Association and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Presenters include Robert Dunphy of the Urban Land Institute, Dennis Leach of the Arlington County transportation Division, and other speakers from the public and private sector. Rsvp to info@datatrans.org. Registration fee is $25 for DATA and DCRA members, $40 for non-members. No fee for local government employees.

 

On Saturday, November 12, 7:00 p.m., Homestretch will host a performance of the Capitol Steps at the Ernst Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College/Annandale Campus. Ticket price is $50 and covers the Steps as well as a live auction, hors d’oeuvres, wine and desserts. Homestretch is the largest nonprofit organization providing transitional housing for homeless families in Northern Virginia. It was initiated by religious and civic groups in Falls Church, Vienna, McLean, and Annandale in 1990 and receives county, state, federal, and private grants. Visit www.homestretch-inc.org for more information.

 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board will hold Fall Transportation Meetings throughout the state to give citizens the opportunity to review and provide comments on projects and programs that are candidates for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2007-2012 Six-Year Improvement Program. The meeting in our area will be held on November 10, 4:00 p.m., at the Fairfax City Hall. 

 

Join the fight to end homelessness by joining the Fannie Mae Foundation for its 18th Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon on Saturday, November 19, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., rain or shine. Register online through November 18 at www.helpthehomeless.org. Fee is $25 adults, $15 youth (age 25 and younger). You can also register on Event Day. See website for the Walkathon schedule and other pertinent information.

 

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

 

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