Slate of regional activities planned July 4-5, Aug. 1-2

Barbara Johns Day is observed annually on April 23 in Virginia to honor the civil rights activism of Barbara Rose Johns, who at age 16 led a student strike on that date in 1951 to protest unequal conditions at her segregated high school, Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville. Her actions initiated the legal case leading to a Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional. Her statue in the US Capitol today is a fitting representative of Virginia’s historic leaders of the past.

The Central Virginia Committee for America’s 250th Anniversary honors Barbara Johns on this day for her courageous effort to help make the promise of the Declaration of Independence a reality. 250 years ago this year Thomas Jefferson helped draft the Declaration that was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th.

Many events nationwide are being planned to remember our nation’s birthday. Central Virginia has many diverse leaders worthy of remembrance during this anniversary. Therefore, an adhoc Central Virginia Committee for America’s 250th Anniversary was formed by area leaders from Charlottesville, Albemarle, Scottsville and Louisa to organize events for July – August.

More details of the events and the committee is available on the website: www.CentralVA250.com.

An overview of the events include:

• July 4—Simultaneous readings of the Declaration of Independence at 3:30 p.m., in Charlottesville at the UVa plaza near the Jefferson freedom statue and in Scottsville at the Scottsville Town Office

• July 5—A full day of exhibits, lectures, films, etc… at historic St. John’s Church in Louisa County — A public reading of Frederick Douglass’ words on independence at 3:30 p.m. at the Scottsville town Office.

• Aug. 1—A day of Revolutionary- era living history, exhibits, children’s activities and more at St. John’s Church.

• Aug. 2—Simultaneous events (both online and inperson) at 6 p.m. to mark the day the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founders. Also there will be remarks by local historians in Charlottesville at the UVa Jefferson Hall, in Louisa at St. John’s Church and at hundreds of other locations nationwide.

For additional information, contact Dan Gritsko at 434-760-1002 or Mark Beliles 434-218-3736.