We Are Virginia Beach Strong
We will never forget the senseless and horrific act that took place last Friday in Virginia Beach. Our deepest condolences go to the families of the 12 amazing lives lost that day. We send love to the victims, their families, law enforcement and the City of Virginia Beach during this heartbreaking time. We will never forget you
LaQuita C. Brown
Tara Welch Gallagher
Mary Louise Gayle
Alexander Mikhail Gusev
Katherine A. Nixon
Richard H. Nettleton
Christopher Kelly Rapp
Ryan Keith Cox
Joshua A. Hardy
Michelle “Missy” Langer
Robert “Bobby” Williams
Herbert “Bert” Snelling
Find information about how you can help by visiting the link below.
Here’s how you can help after the mass shooting in Virginia Beach (Pilot Online)
Following Friday’s mass shooting in Virginia Beach that ended with at least 13 dead and four injured, people from all over the world are offering help.
The city has created a landing page where people can donate to a fund for the victims or volunteer their time.
Through United Way South Hampton Roads, the city started a Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, which says 100% of the donations will go to the victims affected by the tragedy.
It’s starting off with a big gift: TowneBank announced a $500,000 donation around noon Saturday, according to spokesman Joel Rubin.
“This is a horrible tragedy for our entire community but particularly for the spouses, children, parents and others who will be so deeply affected by the loss of their loved ones for the rest of their lives,” said Morgan Davis, president of TowneBank in a statement.
The bank, which will accept checks made out to the fund at any of its branches starting Monday, is asking that a portion of its donation be earmarked for burial expenses. People can also text the keyword VABEACH to 41444 to give money.
A local resident also started a certified charity GoFundMe. All of the donations will be transferred directly to the tragedy fund, said Jenny Perillo, a GoFundMe spokeswoman.
And Volunteer Hampton Roads is helping lead the volunteer effort. The organization posted a link Saturday asking for people to help.
“Within the first 15 minutes, we’ve had over 100 signups and so many emails offering chaplain and counseling services, comfort and therapy dogs and restaurants offering free meals,” said Stephanie Gorham, the executive director of Volunteer Hampton Roads. “It’s overwhelming. It’s amazing.”
She said it’s important to go through official channels to offer support instead of just showing up to the scene, which Gorham said can create confusion and get in the way of officials trying to do their job.
She has heard from people throughout the state hoping to chip in. The organization got such a surge in web traffic its form for volunteering briefly crashed Saturday evening. Gorham put up a temporary link for those still willing to sign up.
She said the city is not looking for any specific help at this point, and she encouraged everyone to send in an email indicating their interests and talents.
“Everyone has unique skills, and they’re all needed,” she said.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to call special session to take up gun-control legislation (Richmond Times)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will recall lawmakers to the state Capitol in coming weeks to take up a package of gun-control legislation.
Northam told The Associated Press ahead of his Tuesday announcement that he plans to convene a special legislative session later this summer. The Democrat said new laws are urgently needed to prevent killings like Friday’s mass shooting in Virginia Beach.
To read the full story, click the article link above.
DPVA Chair Statement on Governor Northam’s Call for Special Session
RICHMOND, VA. — Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker issued the following statement on Governor Ralph Northam’s call for a special legislative session to combat gun violence.
“The time for political debate is over. Virginians should not fear for their lives when they go to work or worry about whether their child will make it home from school. I applaud Governor Northam’s call to take action in Virginia on the gun violence epidemic crippling our country. This past Friday our Commonwealth witnessed unspeakable horror — horror that we can and must take action to prevent from happening again.
Let us not turn this into the same partisan tit-for-tat we have seen so many times. Democrats and Republicans must come together in Richmond and pass the common-sense, public safety measures Governor Northam spoke about this morning. Lives are at stake.”
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Happy Pride Month!
Congratulations to our essay contest winner: Alana McBride
The Barbara Johns Essay Contest, open to high school students in Virginia, prompted students to write about a civil rights figure (past or present) who has impacted or made an impression on their life. This year’s winner is Alana McBride, who wrote about Harvey Milk’s impact on the LGBTQ community. Alana won 2 free tickets to the Blue Commonwealth Gala for her inspiring story.
Alana McBride is a sophomore at Washington-Lee (Liberty) High School in Arlington. In the past year, she has volunteered more than 100 hours at Inova Fairfax Hospital and participated on WL’s Lincoln-Douglas Debate team. She has been awarded a 2019 summer fellowship with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
To view a PDF version of Alana’s essay, click here.
To celebrate Pride month, we are offering 20% off ALL Pride items in the store!
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Upcoming Events
To get your event added to the DPVA website and the newsletter, email digital@vademocrats.org with event details!
- 6/6 Second Congressional District Democratic Committee Meeting
- 6/8 Caroline County Democratic Committee
- 6/8 HD 98 & Gloucester County Call to Caucus
- 6/10 Harrisonburg Democratic Committee Meeting
- 6/10 House District 8 Call to Caucus
- 6/11 Arlington Democratic Primary
- 6/12 Hunter Mill Democrats Meeting
- 6/12 Pizza and Politics in Alexandria
- 6/15 Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus Annual Meeting
- 6/15 2019 BLUE COMMONWEALTH GALA
- 6/15 Westmoreland Democratic Committee Meeting
- 6/16 First Congressional District Brunch
- 6/19 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Business Meeting
- 6/27 Middlesex VA Democratic Committee Meeting
- 7/4 Richmond City Democratic Committee Meeting
- 7/8 Harrisonburg Democratic Committee Meeting
- 7/20 Jon Spear Band at Nelson County Democratic Picnic
- 7/24 Woodbridge Veterans Town Hall
- 8/5 Virginia Beach Democratic Committee Meeting
- 8/31 Roanoke City Democratic Committee Moonshine & Democrats
