Virginia Day of Remembrance for Victims of Lynching

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Virginia Day of Remembrance for Victims of Lynching

WHEREAS, lynching, the killing of a person by a mob without legal authority with the intent to enforce social control was used for decades in the United States as a tool of racial terror intended to intimidate, oppress, and silence Black Americans and other marginalized communities; and

WHEREAS, while the true number of lynchings in the Commonwealth of Virginia is unknown, over 100 lynchings have been confirmed with victims from across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Black owned newspapers such as the Richmond Planet, The Richmond Afro American, Norfolk Journal and Guide and Petersburg Recorder documented these acts of racial violence despite campaigns of fear and intimidation; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of lynching continues to shape social and racial inequities, and acknowledging this history is essential to understanding the full story of the Commonwealth and fostering a more just and equitable future; and

WHEREAS, communities across Virginia - including Alexandria, Charlottesville, Hampton, Leesburg, Danville, and others - have undertaken efforts to research local histories, install historical markers, collect soil for memorials, and honor the names and lives of lynching victims; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, James Madison University launched a research project to share the stories of all known lynching victims killed in Virginia, including the tragic lynchings of Joseph McCoy in Alexandria, Charlotte Harris in Rockingham and Orion Anderson in Leesburg; and

WHEREAS, in 2019, the Virginia General Assembly expressed profound regret for the existence and acceptance of lynching within the Commonwealth and in 2026, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion launched a program to create historical markers at the sites of known lynchings; and

WHEREAS, Day of Remembrance for Victims of Lynching in Virginia is an opportunity to foster healing, strengthen civic understanding, and reaffirm Virginia's commitment to justice, equality, and the protection of human rights for all people; and

WHEREAS, this day provides an opportunity for Virginians to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken by racial terror, support descendants and affected communities, and commit to building a Commonwealth where every person is safe, valued, and protected under the law;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize April 13, 2026, as VIRGINIA DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS OF LYNCHING in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.