Recent events

SHELF LIFE—The Silent Shore with Charles L. Chavis, Jr.: The Virginia Center for the Book at Virginia Humanities, in partnership with the Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities, presented a discussion with Charles L. Chavis, Jr. on his book, The Silent Shore: The Lynching of Matthew Williams and the Politics of Racism in the Free State.

The Commission's History of Lynching in Virginia Work Group was a community partner in this event.

More information »

Monument updates

Watch the unveiling of the Emancipation and Freedom Monument. Virginia Public Media recorded and livestreamed the unveiling and dedication ceremony on September 22, 2021.

More on the monument and the ceremony »

 

Emancipation and Freedom Monument: A Panel Discussion with Dr. Ronald Crutcher, Senator Jennifer McClellan, and Dr. Corey Walker. On February 19, 2021, Dr. Crutcher, Senator McClellan, and Dr. Walker discussed the Monument and its significance to the history of Virginia. Watch the discussion here.

The Virginia Emancipation and Freedom Monument will be a permanent 12-foot monument celebrating the emancipation of slaves and freedom. It will be located on Brown's Island in Richmond, Virginia.

Ten African American Virginians have been selected for inclusion on the monument.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memorial Commission of the Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, a statutory and bipartisan agency of the Virginia General Assembly, was created in 1992 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King, and to continue his work through educational, historical and cultural programs, public policy analysis, and public discourse on contemporary issues.