I’m sure everyone remembers the racist riots in Charlottesville last fall and the pro confederate demonstration in Richmond.
One of first things Elizabeth Guzman, the first Latina elected to the VA Assembly did when she was in office was to introduce the bill below.
That gave me an idea. Instead of fighting these racist idiots morons asshats people about their racist monuments, let’s put up some of our own.
Who better to build a monument for than Dr. William Ferguson Reid, a politician, a surgeon, a civil rights icon. He served as Lieutenant in the US Navy with the 1st Marine Division in the Korean war, integrating his unit. He was a surgeon at Bethesda Naval Hospital, but at the time he couldn’t live anywhere near it because of segregation.
He co-founded the Richmond Crusade for Voters in 1956, with the intention of registering African Americans to vote, show up to vote, organize, and get involved. He did this at a time where there were poll taxes and literacy tests. A dangerous time when you could die for helping African Americans register to vote, let alone run for office.
Dr. Reid Sr. did run for office though and became the first African American to be elected to the Virginia Assembly since Reconstruction.
After serving in the Assembly, he worked as Regional Medical Officer for the US State Department Foreign Service. He was posted in Columbia, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Ivory Coast.
Now in his early 90’s he seems to have come full circle with an organization, 90for90, started to honour Dr. Reid and register voters.
Dr. Reid helps candidates of all colours run for office. He will sit and talk to them for hours, emphasizing the importance of working from the bottom up, starting with precinct by precinct. He spells out a clear and proven strategy for winning an election.
In the wonderfully soft voice he has, he chuckles a bit and says that the candidates “...don’t always listen”. I can tell which ones listen and which ones don’t. The ones who listen win their election.
It seems fitting that the 1st Latina to be elected to the VA Assembly wants to honour the 1st African American to be elected.
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled January 2, 2018
Recognizing the achievements and contributions of the Honorable Dr. William Ferguson Reid and expressing support for the placement of a monument on Monument Avenue in the City of Richmond in honor of his service to the Commonwealth.
----------
Patrons-- Guzman, Aird and Rasoul
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------
WHEREAS, the Honorable Dr. William Ferguson "Fergie" Reid, a native of the City of Richmond, earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University and a medical degree from Howard University School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, upon completing his medical internship and residency at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, Fergie Reid enlisted in the military, serving with distinction as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in the 1st Marine Division in Korea and later at the United States Naval Hospital in Bethesda; and
WHEREAS, returning to Richmond after the Korean War, Fergie Reid became active in civic and political affairs; in 1956 he cofounded the Richmond Crusade for Voters, an organization instrumental in assisting black voters to register and to mobilize politically during the era of massive resistance; and
WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to his community, Fergie Reid ran for and was elected to the 35th House District in 1967 and ably represented the residents of the City of Richmond and Henrico County until 1972; and
WHEREAS, Fergie Reid continues to be an active member in numerous civic, medical, political, and community organizations, giving freely of his time, talents, and sage advice; and
WHEREAS, in honor of Fergie Reid's 90th birthday, the 90 for 90 campaign was launched in Virginia to register 90 new voters in each of the Commonwealth's precincts, appealing to potential registrants that "Voting is a Right, not a Privilege"; and
WHEREAS, during his longstanding tenure in Virginia politics, Fergie Reid has been a tower of strength and an inspiration for those who seek a stronger democracy, strive to uphold the principles of the Commonwealth, and demand justice for all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Honorable Dr. William Ferguson Reid hereby be recognized for his achievements and contributions as a compassionate physician, a staunch civil rights advocate, a revered political mentor, and a respected former member of the House of Delegates; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the House of Delegates support the placement of a monument on Monument Avenue in the City of Richmond in honor of his outstanding service to the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the members of the Richmond City Council so that they may be apprised of the sense of the Virginia House of Delegates in this matter.
WOW!
There is a monument to Arthur Ashe up, this one will be the first for a civil rights activist. Let it be the first of many.
