Rashid sues over threats, Gilbert pushes back against endorsements, and Virginia's congressional delegation sent a letter to the Navy
The latest updates in Virginia politics
Muslim Advocates and former Congressional candidate Qasim Rashid Sue Over Twitter Lynching Threats
Virginia political activist Qasim Rashid is suing Joseph Cecil Vandevere after he sent repeated threats to lynch and harm Rashid. On March 13, 2018, Vandevere used Twitter to send Rashid a picture of a man who had been violently lynched and asked him to “VIEW YOUR DESTINY.” Vandevere also sent Rashid several other Twitter messages filled with anti-Muslim slurs and threats. According to Muslim Advocates, these tweets have deeply shaken Rashid, made him fear for his and his family’s safety, and changed how he navigates public life. The lawsuit seeks money damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief. Muslim Advocates and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP are representing Rashid.
Rashid was the Democratic nominee for Virginia's 1st congressional district in 2020. He previously served as the national spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA and just published the children’s book “Hannah and the Ramadan Gift.”
“My cousin was lynched with a rope around his neck and dragged through the streets because he was an Ahmadi Muslim. So when Joseph Vandevere targeted me because of my faith and sent me a picture of a man hanged by a rope, I took it as a very real threat to me and my family,” said Rashid. “This country was founded on a commitment to religious liberty. Through this lawsuit, I hope to send the message that no one should be threatened with violence merely for practicing their faith. In a year when over 3,800 instances of anti-Asian hate have been reported in this country, it is more important than ever that people of all communities stand up to this kind of targeted hate.”
Future Now endorsed six vulnerable Democrats ahead of the House elections this November
Todd Gilbert, the Republican House leader issued the following statement after the endorsements were announced: "These Democrats like to pretend they haven't been working to make life more difficult and dangerous for law enforcement and easier criminals for the past two years. But today's endorsement makes it clear: a vote for any of these Democrats is a vote to undermine our police and make our families less safe."
U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Spanberger’s Bipartisan Bills to Repeal Outdated & Inactive War Authorizations, Prevent Future Abuses of Executive Power
“These AUMFs are outdated and unused — and this opinion is shared by Members of Congress across the political spectrum. Repealing these authorizations would ensure that they are not abused by the Executive Branch, and removing these authorities would not undermine any existing operations. Instead, it would show that Congress is serious about reclaiming our authority in decisions of war and peace,” said Spanberger. “We must reassert this constitutional authority — it’s fundamental to representing our constituents, especially the servicemembers in our communities. After the American people have witnessed decades of prolonged military conflicts overseas with little congressional input, I am encouraged that these critical pieces of legislation are gaining steam in Congress. I’d like to thank my fellow colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for taking their constitutional responsibility seriously.”
Virginia’s Congressional Delegation Calls on the Navy to Keep Ships in Norfolk
The delegation sent a letter to Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, on the necessity of maintaining a robust presence at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
View the letter below:
Dear Admiral Gilday:
As we pivot towards the Indo-Pacific in our global force posture, it comes as no surprise that we’ve bolstered our presence on our Western Seaboard through increases in homeported ships. This increased presence is of such magnitude that San Diego has eclipsed Norfolk in the sheer number of homeported ships. Given the seriousness of the Pacific threat, this is understandable. However, over the last several years, we have continued to simultaneously homeport more and more ships along the Eastern Seaboard away from Norfolk.
We reiterate that, when it comes to Pacific homeporting prioritization, this is a natural trend in our re-posturing of forces. However, we must continue to flex the capabilities of Naval Station Norfolk and its surrounding naval infrastructure. As we proceed with our Future Naval Force Structure, we ask that our Navy stay mindful of resource allocation, lest we find ourselves in a situation where we need a rapid pivot to Atlantic-based capabilities, and no longer have the ability to do so. A rising China is a grave threat to American interests, but an opportunistic Russia with Atlantic ambitions, while America is heavily rebalanced to Pacific operations, would be just as grave.
It is also important that we consider the efficiency and effectiveness of deployments to areas such as the Persian Gulf. At 10 knots, it takes 38 days to sail to the Persian Gulf from Naval Station Norfolk, versus 41 days from Naval Station Mayport. From the West Coast sailing times increase significantly, whether from San Diego (47 days), or Seattle (44 days). At a carrier strike group cost of $6.5 million/day[1], the fuel and logistics to support additional transit days are substantial. Pearl Harbor is the only base that would offer a comparable distance to the Persian Gulf (40 days), but forces committed to Hawaii should be forces committed to USINDOPACOM.
Moreover, the positioning of our fleet must not only consider the imminent and intermediate threats we face, but the long-term economic successes of the United States that rely on secure operations. The Port of Virginia remains a critical economic asset, and Norfolk-based ships protect both this and the Port of New York, among other economic entities. The security of these assets is imperative not only to our economic viability, but to the global economy.
As we build new manned and unmanned ships in accordance with our Future Naval Force Structure, we urge strong consideration in maintaining a robust presence at Norfolk Naval Shipyard that challenges our infrastructure to grow and thrive, so as to solidify those capabilities for a time of need.
Sincerely,
The Trailer: Mask or no mask? For Democrats, it's not as simple as "the CDC says." - New York Times
by Dave Wiegel
The event was outdoors, as usual. Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) accepted the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia in front of the state's Women's Monument, flanked by supporters of her campaign for governor. Four days had passed since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that vaccinated people, inside or outside, didn't need to wear masks.
Or did they?
“Mask on or off?” NARAL Pro-Voice Virginia Executive Director Tarina Keene asked McClellan. After a quick discussion, they compromised: The group would take one photo with volunteers and staffers wearing masks and one without, both to be shared on social media.
Republicans — including Bob Good — rebel against mask requirement in House chamber - AP
by Kevin Freking
WASHINGTON — Republicans — including Bob Good, R-5th District — are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules despite updated guidance from federal health officials.
The GOP lawmakers opted to keep their mask off during votes Tuesday, with some taking care to stand in the well of the chamber to ensure that spectators, colleagues and C-SPAN’s cameras could not miss them.
Virginia Redistricting Commission debates hiring partisan firms for legal advice - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
For the Virginia Redistricting Commission, questions seem to be piling up faster than answers.
The latest dilemma: Should the citizen-led commission try to find a nonpartisan law firm with experience in a field dominated by overtly political lawyers? Or should the commission hire one Republican firm and one Democratic firm and hope that leads to cohesive legal advice on how to redraw the state’s legislative and congressional maps later this year?
Records: Judge Adrianne Bennett, the former parole board chairwoman, on 'extended leave' - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Patrick Wilson
Judge Adrianne Bennett of Virginia Beach, the former chairwoman of the Virginia Parole Board who is at the center of an ongoing scandal, went on “extended leave” in April and court clerks were instructed not to reach out to her with questions.
Amy Burnham, the clerk of the Virginia Beach Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court, emailed those instructions to her colleagues on April 14, according to records the Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.