As an active community volunteer, I had HOPED to take a break this election cycle and recharge. However, our ballot is once again packed with people who I believe have been working hard to represent us and who stand for values that take seriously the need for systemic change.
Specifically, I am disappointed that our current Commonwealth’s Attorney, Robert Tracci, chose not to prosecute the white supremacists who marched with torches at U.Va. the evening of August 11, 2017. Throughout that summer, I attended many community events and we all knew exactly what was coming August 12 from alt right attendees.
I am a mom of 3 school-age kids and hadn’t planned to show up in Charlottesville on August 12 until I saw those shocking images from campus that night and read a call to action: “Silence is Complicity.”
I saw a lot of hate & violence up close that day as I marched with clergy and peacefully held space with a friend. We were frustrated when so many said the hate was ALL from outsiders. There is SO much work to be done here in our community and we need people who SHOW UP to do it.
Jim Hingeley shows up. He attended the RISE “Bridging the Gap” event at my church and he came to the ACPS Community Town Hall on the “School to Prison Pipeline” this summer. I hope the voters of Albemarle County will show up for him as well on November.
Amanda Alger
Crozet
