Governor Kaine Announces Appointments to the Civil Rights Memorial Commission

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced appointments to the Civil Rights Memorial Commission.  Launched in July 2005 by former First Lady Lisa Collis, the Commission was established to create a memorial to honor Virginians who fought for equal rights for African Americans.

The memorial will primarily commemorate the 1951 student-led protest at the Robert Russa Moton High School in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Sixteen-year old Barbara Johns, a junior at the school, led the protest against the deplorable conditions of the racially segregated school.  Richmond attorneys Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson later represented the students and their parents in Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, one of the four cases consolidated into the Brown v. Board of Education case of 1954, declaring separate but equal to be unconstitutional. 

The memorial is being created by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld and will be built in Capitol Square.  It is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

• Lisa Collis of Alexandria will continue to serve on the Commission.  Collis is the former First Lady of Virginia.
• Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. of Richmond has been reappointed to serve as a member on the Commission.  Hassell is Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. 
• Judith C. Anderson of Richmond will continue to serve as a member on the Commission. Anderson previously served as a deputy secretary of the commonwealth and is currently retired.
• Dr. “Woody” Holton of Richmond will serve as a member on the Commission.  Holton is a professor of history at the University of Richmond.
• Rita O. Moseley of Farmville will serve as a member on the Commission.  Moseley has been employed with Prince Edward County High School for 25 years. 
• The Honorable Bill Bolling, Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable William J. Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Honorable Thomas K. Norment, Senator of Virginia will continue to serve on the Commission. 
• The Honorable Jennifer McClellan of the House of Delegates has been appointed to serve on the Commission.
• Governor Timothy M. Kaine will serve as Chair of the Commission.

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