(upbeat music)
- Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Dave Beavers.
I'm with the Office of Facility Services.
I have the pleasure of facilitating
the school renaming process
for Stonewall Jackson High School
and Stonewall Middle School.
We're here tonight to start the,
well, continue the process
of renaming our schools.
I'm joined by the two Naming Committees
for these two schools,
the Renaming Committees.
First the Stonewall Jackson
High School Renaming Committee,
is composed of Chairman
At-Large Babur Lateef,
Adele Jackson from the
Brentsville District,
Jennifer Wall from the
Gainesville District
and Lisa Zargarpur from
the Coles District.
The second Naming Committee is
for Stonewall Middle School,
and it's composed of Chairman
At-Large Babur Lateef,
Jennifer Wall from the
Gainesville District
and Adele Jackson from
the Brentsville District.
For citizens who are making comments,
we have a Spanish translator
here with us again tonight.
Mr. Osuna I hate to put you on the spot,
but would you like to introduce yourself
and announce your availability in Spanish?
- [Osuna] Sure, thank you sir.
(foreign language)
- Thank you very much Mr. Osuna.
Panelist, does anyone have any comments
before we get started tonight?
All right, wonderful.
Next slide please Mr. Stevens.
All right, first a
little background for us.
School Board Policy 854,
calls for the creation
of a Naming Committee
or in this case renaming,
but also notes that final approval of
the school facility name rests
with the entire school board.
Next slide please.
Regulation 854-1 tells us
that the Naming Committee
will be comprised of
the chairman of the
School Board Dr. Lateef,
the School Board member in whose district
the unnamed facility is located
and any school board member
whose district is overlapped
by the attendance area
of the unnamed facility.
In this case Stonewall Jackson High School
is located in the Brentsville District.
Stonewall Jackson's
attendance area overlaps
the Brentsville, Gainesville
and Coles Magisterial Districts.
Therefore Ms. Jackson,
Ms. Wall and Ms. Zargarpur
along with Dr. Lateef
Chairman At-Large makeup
the Naming Committee.
In the case of Stonewall Middle,
the school itself is located
in the Gainesville District.
The attendance area overlaps Gainesville
and Brentsville Magisterial Districts,
thus Ms. Wall, Ms. Jackson
and Dr. Lateef makeup
that Naming Committee.
Next slide please Mr. Stevens.
It's important to know that the committee
is charged to consider
these naming criteria
but are not limited to
geographic elements,
historical elements, names
of living or deceased persons
who've made significant
service contributions.
Please note that the selection
preference will be given
to those individuals who've
made significant contributions
to the field of education,
especially within Prince William County.
Next slide please Mr. Stevens.
All right, this slide
highlights our process
that we're going through.
The committee is charged
with holding a community input meeting
to solicit recommendations and
suggestions from the public.
Now, as you know we held a meeting
on Monday night, June 22.
And we're holding a second
community input session,
tonight, June 25.
The school board is scheduled
to hold a meeting on Monday, June 29
that's this coming Monday.
And at that time, they
will receive information,
recommendation and we'll take
action on these two namings.
And also the final selection of
the new facility or the renamings
is the responsibility of
the entire school board.
Next slide please Mr. Stevens.
All right, here's just a
little reference for you
so that you can have a
visual representation
of the two schools.
On your left is Stonewall
Jackson High School,
you can see the overhead view there.
And on your right is
Stonewall Middle School
where we've just completed
a 17 classroom addition.
So, very nice facilities
that the school board
continues to invest in.
Next slide please.
All right, that completes my presentation.
At this time we get to the
important part of the evening
and that's hearing from the community.
We have a list of speakers
who signed up in advance
and we'll call on those
speakers in the order
that those signups were received.
Each speaker will have two minutes
to share their thoughts with us.
And just a word of advice,
two minutes does go very quickly
so if you can keep your
thoughts focused on
what your suggestion or recommendation is
for the school board to
consider for the naming,
I think that will work best for you.
If you're unable to
hear us for any reason,
we'll ask that you submit
your comment in writing
and there's opportunities to
do that via the web story.
You can find the links for
that on our pwcs@edu website.
So, if we're ready to get started
with receiving our community input,
speakers if you could for
the Naming Committees,
if you could state your name,
the community you reside in
and the school for which you'd
like to make your comments
and then tell us what
your suggested name is
and any justification.
So with that,
Mr. Townsend, Mr. Stevens if
you have our first speaker.
- [Mr Stevens] Thank you Mr. Beavers.
Our first speaker this evening
will be Dr. Tonya Sutton.
- [Tonya] Hello, good evening.
- Good evening.
- Good evening, my name
is Dr. Tanya Sutton,
I reside in Suffolk County,
Long Island New York.
I am an educator for over 40 years
and early childhood evaluator
and a mentor to teachers
and administrators.
I'm speaking to you to address the request
for name nominations and recognition
and naming the middle school
and high school in Prince William County.
I would like to say the
case for the name nomination
of my uncle Carroll W. Braxton
and aunt Celestine Braxton.
I believe my families
believes in my uncle Carroll
and aunt Celestine Braxton merit
the honorable school renamed after them.
Master Gunnery Sergeant,
Carroll Braxton was one of
the first black enlisted
in the Marine Corps,
a Congressional Gold Medalist
and one of the first Drills Instructors
at Montford Point Marines.
He served in the first segregated,
Montford Point Marine
Corps unit in World War II.
He experienced suffering
and lived through the races
and demoralizing treatment
of him in his unit.
He survived his harsh treatment
and inhumane conditions as a recruit,
but he enjoyed and persevered.
He sustained his manhood
and self recognition.
He has received numerous awards and honors
as the Congressional Medal
of Honor from President Obama
and he is noted in the veterans
Smithsonian in Virginia.
My cousin Shane Fordham create
an award winning documentary
that highlights his life and experiences
over his service to this country,
the United States of America.
It would be worthwhile
for you to take a moment
and view the documentary.
The documentary, because the
history of his notable service
in the generation of students, adults
and community members should
become acquainted with.
Celestine Braxton served
for over 33 years in
the Prince William County
Elementary Middle School System.
She was one of the first
African American teachers
to integrate the elementary school.
Due to her due diligence,
she convinced the Chamber
of Commerce to integrate
the local school system.
Her own daughter, Monique
Braxton was the first
to integrate the kindergarten class.
She was a social activist
involved in civil rights movements
and served her community
through various organizations.
Our students see the
history of their heritage.
The time is now depended on majestic
to deconstruct educational system.
Students must learn all
history and their history.
A school name is not just a name,
it is a badge of honor that
students, teachers, parents
and communities wear.
The school board has a great opportunity
to be a part of history for
future generations to come.
Your decision will commit
students to walk tall,
stand tall and be proud to
achieve, succeed and endure
through all circumstance.
Thank you for your time.
- Thank you so much Dr. Sutton.
- [Stevens] All right,
our next guest will be
Jamie Renee Williams.
- [Williams] Hi, I'm Jamie Renee Williams.
I'm actually a graduate of
Stonewall Jackson High School
and so I would like to recommend
the name Ibram X. Kendi.
I was also the class president that year
and that I also happen to be the year
that Time Magazine won
High School Of The Year.
And so, one of the things I wanted to say
as a black woman calling in,
is how important I think it
is really take into account
the effect that the students
who went to that school
because we all know that
Dr. Kendi was a student
who went to that school.
And he graduated the year before I did.
And I really, I just wanna say
that I think it's important
to take in consideration
the living history and the living legacy
of the people who are alive now,
who have contributed to the growth
and the success of that school
20 years ago to this year,
but also the towards the
future growth in the way
that we're looking forward
rather than looking back.
So I just wanted to put that on the table
and celebrate how far we've come.
And I also just wanted to say
from an emotional place that,
one of the things I really
appreciate about the name Kendi
is it also has another meaning,
it means a loved one.
And I hope that for all
of us looking forward,
that that's something
we can consider is like
what kind of world do we
want to move forward into.
And I think to bring love into that,
would be something really important.
I yield my time, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] I'm Looking for
our next guest that is present.
All right, we have Tiziana Bottino.
Your mic is now live.
- [Tiziana] Hi, good evening everyone.
My name is Tiziana Bottino.
I'm a resident of the Occoquan District.
First of all, I'd be a
mess if I didn't thank you
for your landmark
resolutions sustainability
from two weeks ago.
The students and the teacher
will benefit from decision
for decades and beyond.
And about the issue at hand,
I'd like to address those
who thankfully didn't seem
to be on the call last time
and hopefully not this time,
opposing the individuals
renaming this school's
by pointing out that
there is a big difference
between erasing history
and glorifying villains.
When Germany brought down
monuments and statues of Hitler
and Italy took down statues of Mussolini,
they didn't suddenly
forget about World War II
and neither were those events
erased from history books,
they simply refuse to
glorify these evil people,
which represent a stain in
the history of their country
and we are way overdue to do the same.
Confederates were fighting
to keep Black Americans in slight.
They were traitors to this nation
and quite frankly, there were losers.
So why should we memorialize
a Confederate General?
As far as suggestions, you know,
I believe the opinion of current students
and staff should bear the most weight.
But there are many African
American men and women
who helped build this
country in our region such as
Dr. Kendi as it was suggested.
And/or if we do a way,
we're naming it after
people something like unity,
which was mentioned I
believe in the last meeting.
Unity High School seems
appropriate and powerful.
And so, that's it for me.
Thank you so much for all you do.
- Thank you Miss Bottino.
- [Stevens] Our next guest
is Kathleen Gallagher.
Your mic is now live.
- [Kathleen] Yes, hi.
Thank you, this is Kathleen Gallagher.
I live in Salt Lake subdivision
and I have children going
to Stonewall Middle School
and Stonewall Jackson High
School starting this year.
I am German, I grew up in
the east side of Germany
and behind the Iron Curtain.
And I do not believe
that this is necessary.
Taxpayer money can be spent
in way more important things
than to discuss the
renaming of the school.
Stonewall Jackson was
a confederate soldier.
He was a leader.
He fought for what he believed in
and that ultimately he lost is wanting.
But there was a reason why
these schools were
named Stonewall Jackson.
It's a time in history
of this great country.
I wouldn't be in this country
if it wouldn't be for the ancestors.
And I personally do not agree
with wasting taxpayer money on renaming.
You could use the taxpayer money
to create for instance,
how should I say?
For instance, remodeling the
schools that look like prison,
so that more windows could be put in,
like Colgan High School.
Colgan High School is a great school.
It's bright, sunlight comes in,
whereas Stonewall Middle School
and Stonewall Jackson High
School is more like a prison.
The same with Osborne Park High School.
That could be an option to
use your taxpayer money for.
Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Next guest,
we have Winston Campbell.
- [Winston] Good evening,
my name is Winston Campbell.
My daughter goes to Stonewall
Jackson High School.
Yes, this lag is killing me, sorry.
She goes to Stonewall Jackson High School
as a rising senior.
My wife and I came here
as a military family.
I retired from the Air Force
after 25 years in November.
We chose this area specifically
for the school system.
And that's a note I'd like
to circle back to later
in my comments.
I looked at all the specialty programs
as she was entering high
school in the county
and decided that probably
Patriot was the best for her
with the AP Scholars Program.
So at our own expense,
we moved out of the Stonewall
zone into the Patriot zone.
But after I presented all the
information to my daughter,
being the person that she is,
she looked at the fact that
she made their own decision
and she decided to go with
the IB program at Stonewall.
She's happy with it.
But I have to tell you,
my personal reaction to when I see,
confederate symbols and names,
the hair in the back of my
neck literally stands up
because of what it means.
The reason that you see so many schools
is because the education
system was targeted.
You look at organizations like
the Daughters of the Confederacy,
they knew that they had lost the war,
but the way to continue their way of life
without literal slavery,
but having mental slavery
and economic slavery
is to control the school systems
and indoctrinate children
very young to condition them
to get ready to know their place.
Okay, as part of a greater
system enacted in our country,
slaves knowing how to read
was punishable by death.
That is the importance of education
because education is the future.
It is freedom for people to rise up.
And through the retainer
added on the education system,
which remains if we put on those moves.
The name Stonewall was
a means of subjugation,
and it's something that
definitely needs to change
for these kids in their future.
I thank you for your time
and I hope you can see a way
to make that change, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Next guest is Marsha Conway.
Your mic is now live.
- [Marsha] Okay, can you hear me?
- We can, thank you.
- [Marsha] Members of the school board
in the Naming Committee
and Mr. Beaver for being a commentator,
I am a former retired high school teacher.
I taught at Stonewall High
School for 19 years, go Raiders.
And I have three grown
children graduating from there.
We are all very upset
that they want to change the
name of Stonewall Jackson.
I've had many former
students who contact me.
I understand that the climate
and the students have changed
since I was a teacher there,
and I am retired so, you know,
I'm known up for being fat
for what I say,
and I'm not gonna say anything derogatory.
I was upset I didn't get
called on Monday night
'cause I did reach you.
But I was saying,
they were making Stonewall Jackson
to be a criminal that's not
and I taught History and
Government and Sociology.
Stonewall Jackson was a union
in the union.
Before this, he is a West Point graduate.
He was 17th in his class of '59.
He fought the Mexican War,
He helped put down John Brown's raid.
He like Lee decided to
go with this home state.
And the two slaves he owned was because
the slaves' master died and
they asked Thomas Jackson,
who was a professor at the
VMI if he would buy them
and that's what happened.
I would suggest to you,
there's been a lot of wonderful people
that have been given
names to name the school.
I think he gonna have a problem
to try to do personal names,
I would say you do geography.
Maybe Unity High School,
Prince William High School.
And the paper got the name wrong.
It is not Sulphur Springs that's in Texas,
it's Sudley Springs.
And one thing I have to say to someone
who doesn't know Stonewall Jackson,
he was born in Virginia.
West Virginia had not been created then
and he was buried.
Yeah, I think it may have been named,
but there was a controversy
of the Civil War
and I don't wanna give a lesson,
but thank you for your time.
And for your task that
you have before you.
So I'm so happy I got to speak tonight.
Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
- [Stevens] All right,
next up is Kenny Griffin II
Your mic is on our end,
you need to unmute yourself
and then you're free to speak.
- [Kenny] Good evening
ladies and gentlemen.
I'd like to first say that I am an alumnus
of Stonewall Jackson High School,
six time athletic letter man,
senior superlative and
Mr. Stonewall nominee.
My practice jersey said,
"Poise on offense and pride on defense."
I was on that defensive back
representing the school.
My basketball jersey
depicted Yosemite Sam,
when we really wanted Raiders.
I'll say all that I have to say this,
a simple name change to
the school I have made,
I have my pride, will not change my pride.
It is a minuscule step in
what I hope to be giant leaps
and bounds towards progressive change.
Moving forward, I hope the curriculum
of Prince William County
takes on the challenge,
of not rewriting American history,
but correcting it and
making it all inclusive.
If the name of Stonewall
Jackson High School
is going to change
and be the first step to press for change,
I would like to present my
ancestor Lucinda Lucy Griffin.
The 14 year old slave
girl who was (sneezes)
went out, excuse me.
During the First Battle of Bull Run
and held her ground and took
lead to protect her task.
That foundation led to my
granddad's great work ethic.
The legendary farmer,
albeit he was sharecropping,
his work ethic led to
his baby boy, my father,
to go off and become a MARSOC,
Marine Corps Special
Operations in Vietnam.
A two term Purple Heart, bronze
and silver star recipient.
He then became a franchise owner
and then his son, myself, is
now a small business owner.
You can see we prevail against obstacles,
just like we can do once equal.
Much love and respect to the
board and everyone listening.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Charlene Braxton.
- [Charlene] Good
evening, can you hear me?
- We sure can, please go ahead.
- [Charlene] I was born and I
grew up in Manassas at a time
when there was no diversity.
I'm a proud graduate of Jennie Dean High.
There was no choice of schools for me.
Only one school for people of color.
I went from the first grade
to high school graduation
at Jennie Dean.
We had no football field to play games on,
no basketball court or track field,
but we had outstanding athletes.
We used third hand books,
not second, but third hand books.
We had a lot of students that excelled.
We had no band uniforms,
but we participated
in every town Christmas parade with pride.
We were proud of our school Jennie Dean
because of the name that it stood for,
an ex-slave with no education
that could not read or write,
but who had provided a
facility for children
to be able to be educated.
Today Manassas is very
diverse, a code of many colors,
and this is its future.
It's not gonna change.
There will be diversity,
not like in the past in the 50s and 60s.
Change is here and a change is needed.
The time has come.
This evening I would
like to submit the names
of Celestine and Carroll Braxton,
for the renaming of the two schools
that are now called Stonewall Jackson.
These schools are educating
the future of our tomorrow.
In the beginning of their life,
American whispered to
Celestine and Carroll,
"You cannot withstand the storm."
but they whispered back, "I am the storm."
And they learned to dance in the rain,
not waiting for the storm to be over.
Through their lifetime they
have mentored, supported,
educated and sacrificed
for so many men and women
that are successful today.
Celestine Braxton has over
35 years of educating youth
and advocating for human rights.
- If you could summarize please.
- [Charlene] Just one more.
Carroll Braxton a true American hero,
who was awarded Congressional Gold Medal
for sacrifice and service to his country.
I am--
- Thank you so very much.
- [Charlene] So proud of their legacy.
- Thank you so much.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest will be Karen Kura.
- [Karen] Hello, good evening Mr. Chairman
and members of the board.
My name is Karen Griffin Kura
of Prince William County,
a descendant of Lucinda Griffin.
My recommendation is for Lucinda Griffin.
What sets Lucinda Griffin
apart from every other nominee
is that in 1848, she was born a slave
to parents that were enslaved.
In 1861, she was enslaved
by Alexander Compton
and leased at the age of 14
to Judith Henry at the Henry house.
She was present at one
of the bloodiest battles
during the Civil War in American history,
where she was wounded trying to save
the life of her mistress.
Now years later at the age of 23,
it is documented that Lucinda Griffin
was in the home of Dr. Cyrus Marsteller,
which Marsteller Middle School is named.
There she was his laundress
and cook, still a slave.
In 1883, 12 years later
and the mother of three,
Lucinda Griffin died at the
tender age of 35 a slave.
She was never afforded
the opportunity to feel
what it was like to be
free from oppression.
As an African American slave
in Prince William County,
through blood, sweat
and I'm sure many tears,
Lucinda Griffin paved the
way for those that grew up
in the Jim Crow era.
Lucinda suffered tremendous
hardship under white supremacy
for minorities today
to have opportunities in
the field of education,
government, law enforcement
and military services.
Many have stood on the
shoulders of heroic people
and freedom fighters of forgotten
like my ancestor Lucinda.
I want everyone to remember
that Lucinda was a forgotten hero,
while Stonewall Jackson
was a remembered traitor.
The petition to rename one
of Stonewall Jackson's school
to Lucinda Griffin have
received over 1000 signatures.
Her story should be in this
country's history books.
Linda Griffin Middle School,
the home of the freedom fighters.
Thank you for your consideration
and renaming a school Prince
William County in her honor.
Good night.
- Thank you so much.
- [Steven] Our next guest is Laurie Stern.
Your mic is now live.
- [Laurie] Good evening, I'm Laurie Stern
and I live in Manassas.
I am a teacher at Stonewall
Jackson High School
and I am again speaking on
behalf of my colleagues.
I'm speaking a second time on this subject
because all the inspirational suggestions,
led to calls for another round of voting.
The speakers on Monday night did suggest,
wonderful deserving names.
So this new vote considered
all the names suggested
during that hearing.
This evening, 148 staff members,
would like to offer two
categories of names.
Names after people and
names not after people.
For brevity, I'll not offer justification
because I did that last time.
For the person to honor the staff,
continues to overwhelmingly support
the name Arthur Reed High School.
As for the suggestion for
names not after a person,
the staff is now tied for top two.
They are Cannon Branch High
School and Unity High School.
Speaking as an individual,
I would like to make a friendly amendment.
If we consider a double name,
maybe the word united with
sound better than unity.
For example, Reed United High School.
Finally, I want to again emphasize
that the name should
come from our community.
We are already a living breathing entity,
filled with an established culture
and our school name should come from us
and reflect who we are and
what our community wants.
I sincerely thank you all
for all the time you put
into this, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Daniel Chism.
Your mic is muted on your end.
If you're ready to speak.
- [Daniel] Oh yes, can you hear me?
- Yes, we can.
- [Daniel] Oh, awesome,
'cause I was on Tuesday
and I didn't get a chance.
So hey, how you doing?
But first of all, I'd
like to thank the board
for doing this.
I live here in Gainesville,
very active in the community.
Retired from the military after 32 years.
And I'm gonna come from
the point of the military.
I will tell you that
Stonewall in the military,
we studied him.
He was a master strategist,
outstanding military leader, great job.
The US Army studies him all the time.
But I also point out someone else to you
that the US military studies.
His name is Erwin Rommel,
aka the Desert Fox.
He was part of the Nazi regime,
that was fighting during World War II.
Now, what I would like to point out there
is that when you go to Germany,
you will see no statues or
anything to Erwin Rommel.
We study him,
he was a great military strategist,
we can learn a lot for me, but
that's where we leave it at.
We do not praise him
because of what he did in Germany, okay?
And I would say the same
thing here in America.
Stonewall excellent strategist,
but he was a Confederate soldier
and he was a traitor to America.
Therefore I don't care if he lives in
what's now West Virginia.
I don't care if he went to West Point
and you wanna make those, you
know, those type of points.
He was a traitor.
We should not by any
stretch of the imagination,
ever sit around here
and hold these confederate
individuals in high regard.
They were traitors.
Study what they did,
learn from what they did,
but then put them away.
And I would like to thank the board
for the opportunity to
speak and, you know,
I wish you guys the best on your decision.
Couple of names I do have
is Mary Elizabeth Bowser,
L Douglas Wilder, Arthur Reed
and also justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Thank you very much.
- Very good, thank you.
- [Stevens] Next up is Sagamer Anwar.
Your mic is now live.
- [Anwar] Hello.
- Hello.
- [Anwar] Okay, hi, good evening.
My name is Sagamer Anwar,
I'm speaking in support
of renaming Stonewall Jackson High school
to Arthur Reed High School.
I believe that the renaming
of Stonewall Jackson High
School should be up to
the current Stonewall students and staff.
They're the ones who go through
the building day in and day
out and they're the ones
who have to wear the name on their chest.
And they want Arthur Reed High School.
Arthur Reed is the
embodiment of Stonewall,
currently known as "The
Godfather Stonewall."
Arthur dedicated his entire life
to giving back to the Stonewall community.
It'd be an incredible
disservice to his work
to overlook this.
Not only was honor Mr. Reed
and his life of service,
as well as give the students
of Stonewall name that they are proud of,
it will serve as a
statement to every teacher
and faculty member in
Prince William County,
that we recognize our hard
work and are so thankful
for their decision to
dedicate their lives to us.
I'm also strongly opposed to naming
the school after Kennedy.
While it is symbolic to change the name
from a confederate leader
to an outspoken anti-racist,
it is also incredibly performative.
Kennedy has frequently
put Stonewall High School
in a negative light and granted
he had every right to do so
due to how vastly different
Stonewall was in his time,
but he's proven time and time again
that the school itself holds,
little to no meaning to him.
To him Stonewall Jackson is
just the name on his diploma.
I urge you to compare that to Author Reed
who spent decades of making his life,
who spent decades of his
life making Stonewall
a better community.
Frankly, these meetings are long overdue.
The county spoke of changing
the name of Stonewall for years
and is only being pushed by the county now
because it is a trend.
If you truly care for
the Stonewall community,
you would work to provide the resources
and renovations they need to
help our students succeed,
you'd listen to the current students
who will be the ones wearing this name,
and the students want the
name to be Arthur Reed.
Rather than making a performance gesture
by choosing Kennedy's name,
I ask that you make a meaningful
one and choose Mr. Reed's.
Thank you for your time.
- Thank you so much for your comments.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Shane Fordham.
Please unmute your mic
and then you are live.
- [Shane] Hello.
- Hello, please go ahead.
- [Shane] Okay, good evening,
my name is Shane Fordham.
I live in Philadelphia in Pennsylvania
and I am the son of Sean
Fordham and Monique Braxton,
who was a graduate of
Stonewall Jackson High School.
I'm also the grandson of
Carroll and Celestine Braxton.
I'm suggesting that
the schools which were,
formerly known as Stonewall
Jackson High School
and Middle School in
Prince William County,
be renamed in my grandparents' honor.
I believe that if this were to happen,
it would not only be an
inspiration to the students,
nor to the members of the county,
but it will serve as an inspiration
for citizens of America.
The fact that a school
that was once named after
a confederate soldier,
that fought for the right to
treat black people as property,
which would now honor
the legacy of two people
who were truly examples
of black excellence.
Before my grandmother passed away in 2014,
she fought for it and
achieved desegregation
in several schools
including Stonewall Jackson.
My grandfather was actually
telling me the other day that,
he thought maybe this school,
should just have her name on it.
After all, she made a difference
at that particular school,
but my grandfather was wrong.
Manassas, Virginia's
very own Carroll Braxton
is a living legend,
who was willing to fight
and die for a country
that hated him and
people who look like us.
He not only paved the way for
future generations of color
to serve in the military,
but also set an example
for future generations
of black people to not
allow the limitations
and restrictions that
others placed on them
to determine what they can and cannot do.
And he also helped prove
what we as a people are,
what we as a people are capable of.
My grandparents names on the
front of that school building,
will be a symbol of that
message for the students,
the residents of Prince William County
and for Americans everywhere, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] All right, our
next guest is Katherine Davis.
Your mic is now live.
- [Katherine] Thank you, good evening.
Again, I thank you for this opportunity.
I am Katherine Davis,
I live in the Gainesville District.
I am also a proud graduate
of Stonewall High School.
But it's been expressed
to not name the schools after a person,
but instead the name to
be generic and scope.
I want to express why
now is precisely the time
to rename both schools
after persons of notoriety,
depth and courage.
As previously stated,
everyone that enters those hallowed halls,
should feel pride and encouragement.
School starts before the first bell.
It starts on Richmond
lane and Lomond Drive.
It starts when you enter each building.
Our students are begging
for knowledge and truth.
They have compassion and fortitude.
Don't belittle them by
naming either school
a word to be interpreted.
Name the school after two people
that everyone can indeed be proud of.
Again, I submit Lucinda
Griffin and Celestine Braxton.
Thank you again.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] All right, Alexader Cornetto.
Your mic is now live.
- [Alexander] Hi, can you hear me?
- We can please go ahead.
- [Alexander] All right, so
my name is Alexander Cornetto.
I graduated from Stonewall in 2014.
And I went to Stonewall
Middle School as well.
I'm requesting to rename the
school after Ibram X. Kendi.
When I first heard the news
about renaming Stonewall,
I personally wanted to find a name
that would recognize someone
who is, you know, one of us,
someone who still encompasses
what it means to be a Raider
and somebody who represents
this era of change.
I came across a petition to rename
the school Ibram X. Kendi,
which was created by a Prince
Williams County resident,
Mr. Langston Carter.
And he said himself that,
"As a descendant of one of Jackson slaves,
I can't think of a better
name for the school."
We know that Dr. Kendi
is one of America's leading historians
and scholars on anti-racism
and he's a graduate from Stonewall.
I have shared this petition
with several alumni
and I have gotten so
much positive feedback
and support for this change.
For me, the renaming is
not just about us saying,
"Look, we're not racist."
It's about confessing to our own racism,
particularly, the kind that lives to keep
the name of a Confederate General
and enslaver for almost 60 years.
It's about acknowledging
that being anti-racist
is a lifelong process.
And Ibram Kendi has dedicated his career
to challenging racist institutions
and ideas including his
own, which he reflects on
when he talks about his
time as a Stonewall student.
So Stonewall students have been leaders
in all levels of society.
We challenge, we ask the hard
questions, we demand change.
And I think that Dr. Kendi
really encompasses what this,
you know, what a Stonewall student is.
The petition right now has
over 30,000 signatures.
So I think that Dr. Kendi
should at least appear
on the new petition.
I think deliberately
not including his name
is silencing hundreds of voices of former
and current students,
who have equal say in
the renaming process.
And additionally, I
want to just, you know,
remind everyone that Mr. Reed, you know,
he deserves to be memorialized
for being a very positive
light of Stonewall,
but his past also include being a member
of the Drug Enforcement Agency,
which have been linked
to mass incarceration
of Black and Latino folks.
So we can memorialize people
without placing the risk
of their lives being,
you know, scrutinized.
But really, you know, Dr. Kendi,
it's not about choosing
a famous guy who made it,
it's not performative.
It's about what he stands for
and what we can learn from
others and ourselves, thank you.
- Thank you so much.
- [Stevens] Great, our next
guest is Philip Silver Jell.
- [Philip] Yes, hello.
- Hello, please go ahead.
- Yes, I'm a graduate of
Stonewall Jackson middle
and high School.
I actually oppose the changes.
I'm not quite sure why it's
being done at this time
with the climate of rioters and
looters attacking buildings.
(clears throat)
I drove by today and saw the looted place
where my bank and Best Buy
and the various stores
up on the corner there.
It seems to me like,
it seems like we're pandering to a mob
with these name changes.
And I'm very much opposed to it.
I also believe that truth is truth and,
you know, you can't change truth.
So I try to keep each case
that two plus two is five.
I think we should just leave
the name the way they are
and just prepared to this reality.
And history is part of reality.
And I see no reason to
change it, thank you.
- [Dave] Thank you.
- [Steven] Our next guest
is Melanie Pineda-Flores.
- [Melanie] Hello.
- Yes, we can hear you please go ahead.
- [Melanie] Hello, my name
is Melanie Pineda-Flores
and I reside in Manassas, Virginia.
I'd like to preface by stating
that I'm a Stonewall Jackson, 2020 alumna
who has been an active participant
in my school through
variety of clubs, sports
and leadership positions.
With this in mind, I feel
as though I'm qualified
to share my perspective on
the renaming of my school
and how it will reflect on
the character of the Stonewall community.
I truly believe that the power
to change our school name,
should lie in the hands of the teachers
and students of Stonewall
middle and high school.
We are actively ignored
when we are involved in other issues,
but when the name change is proposed,
outsiders want to cloud our voices.
The primary reason why I believe
that this name change is necessary,
is of course to rid ourselves
of the constant presence
of general Stonewall
Jackson's actions and beliefs.
We should not glorify the blatant racism
that this name represents
and seek to promote inclusivity
by first minimizing
microaggressions like this,
against people of color,
before being able to
fight then eradicate up,
continue to fight to eradicate racism.
Our schools diversity has been one
of our proudest attributes,
despite others negatively upon it.
I think our names should
accurately reflect the unity
that our current students
desire within our community
and with the rest of the world.
I strongly believe that this will prove
to be a rebranding
opportunity for our school
as it has for many years
been inaccurately nicknamed
the ghetto school.
We deserve to be thought
with the same pride
that our students who
actually know the school,
think of ourselves.
As much as we love our school,
we understand the history behind the name.
We cannot let our school spirit hinder us
from making it a better
place for everyone.
I would therefore like to propose the name
Unity High School or
Reed United High School
as it accurately represents
what our school stands for.
I along with many other
students and staff,
agree that naming the
school after Dr. Kennedy,
would be performative.
His current following
outside of Stonewall,
may prove to overshadow
the voice of SJ students.
Thank you so much for your time.
- Thank you for your comments.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Beverly Williams.
Your mic is now live.
- [Beverly] Good evening Mr. Chairman
and members of the board.
I am Beverly Griffin Williams,
a descendant of Lucinda Griffin.
This Griffin family,
puts dates back to living
in Prince William County
to the early 1800s, is
petitioning the school board
to have Stonewall Jackson
High School renamed
Lucinda Griffin High School.
Let us here Lucinda Griffin story.
"From the age of 14
until my death in 1883,
I carried the wounds and scars
of the Civil War in my body,
just as much as any soldier
that was on that their battlefield
in the First Battle of Manassas.
On July the 21st, 1861,
I was tending to my heavenly Missis,
Mrs Judith Carter Henry.
She was sick and bedridden on
the first floor of the house
and her two children lived
in the house as well.
Suddenly, there were soldiers
with guns running back and forth
on the property shooting each other.
Gunfire hit the house.
Mrs. Judith daughter hid in the fireplace
and I hid under bed where Mrs. Judith was.
Mrs. Judith's foot was blown off
and then I was shot me on the arm,
just like any other soldiers were.
You know, 1865 the end of the Civil War,
but I continued to carry the wounds
both physically and mentally.
I could never forget that day in July,
'cause every day I had
to keep my wounded arm
close to my body.
I'm determined in my mind to
make the best of my situation.
There were times I did not know
what to do with my limited abilities,
but I raised my four
children to work hard,
to be independent, to
be people of integrity
and to love one another.
I would be humbled if you would be rename
the school in my honor."
It was later ascertained
that Lucinda Griffin
was the first African
American woman wounded
in this historic battle and the
first known African American
to be wounded in the Civil War.
Lucinda's determination
is what all children
should be taught today,
no matter their circumstance.
Thank you for your consideration
in renaming the school in her honor.
Have a good evening.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next guest is Angela Hans.
Your mic is now live.
- [Angela] Hello, my name is Angela Hans.
I'm a Coles resident and a
Stonewall graduate class of 2002.
My father worked for
the military as civilian
and because of his service,
I spent most of my childhood in Germany.
Hitler fought for what
he believed in as well,
but Germans don't need
schools named after him
to know their history.
They also don't make excuses for it.
The same could be said
in my Department of
Defense School teachers
when they taught me about the Civil War.
So when I moved here and saw that schools
and streets were named
after predominant leaders
of the Confederacy, I
was absolutely horrified.
I'm mixed and for the first time,
I felt concerned for
the safety of my mother
as well as myself and my siblings.
I was equally horrified the first time
I saw the school's mascot.
I chose to go to Stonewall
for the IB program,
but I never felt pride in my school.
I never said the school's full name,
I even lettered and I
never bought a jacket.
I never displayed my high school diploma.
The school was named
during a time in America
when schools are being
forced to desegregate.
There doesn't need to be a public record
to know what the intent of
the name choice was to convey.
I would like to state my support
in renaming the school
after Ibram X. Kendi.
Schools have been named after
living people in the past,
so this should not be an issue.
Kendi is not only a graduate of Stonewall,
but he is also the founding director of
the Anti-racist Research and Policy Center
at American University.
In the words of Angela
Davis, "In a racist society,
it is not enough to be non
racist, we must be anti-racist."
Kendi has worked to lead America into
an anti-racist society.
His name is supported by not
only Jackson's descendant,
but a descendant of one of his slaves.
Just like in the 1960s,
let's make a statement.
A statement that at the very least,
our little corner of Virginia
is committed to be anti-racist, thank you.
- Thank you.
- [Stevens] Next is Robert Swigert.
Your mic is muted in your side.
There you go.
- [Robert] Good evening,
can you hear me, okay?
- We can thank you.
- [Robert] All right, sir.
The 13th High School,
Gainesville High School,
as it's slated to be named and Dr. Lateef,
I know you were on the
committee for that one as well,
is named after Gainesville.
But what is Gainesville named after?
Gainesville is named after
Thomas Brawner Gaines.
He lived from 1814 to 1856.
And he's responsible for
bringing the railroad
through the Manassas
gap in the Gainesville,
which is what we call Gainesville now
and the reason that
it's called Gainesville
is because he was the wealthy landowner
that donated as well,
it was kind of like, he didn't donate it,
it got taken from him
for the purpose of the railroad to go in.
So he thought that this area
ought to be named Gainesville.
- Sorry, do you have
a suggestion for the--
- [Robert] I do, I do
and I have a full minute
and seven seconds to speak.
- If you have a suggestion
it would be nice
to make that now.
- [Robert] Lucinda Griffin is
what we ought to name the school.
And I'm a graduate of Stonewall Jackson.
And I've never thought that
Stonewall Jackson was a name
that needed to be memorialized.
You know, George G. Tyler
was born after 1869,
but his mother was Sallie
Chinn and the Chinn,
the Chinns had slaves
and they're in the Chinn
family slaves cemetery
on the Manassas battlefield.
So, I mean, we named schools,
we never really think too much about it.
I think Lucinda Griffin
is the name that you can,
that will stand the test of time, forever.
And that's what the name ought
to be for the high school.
That's all.
- Thank you very much.
I appreciate it.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Langston Carter.
Your mic is now live.
- [Langston] Can you hear me?
- Yes, please go ahead.
- [Langston] All right,
my name is Langston Carter
and I'm a former Prince
William County School student.
I am also a member of
the Prince William County
Historical Commission.
However, I am speaking
tonight as a private resident.
I've been out of advocating
for this change for five years.
For me, this isn't an issue
that started three weeks ago,
it's part of my life as a descendant
of one of Jackson slaves.
The students who are currently speaking,
will be graduating in one to four years.
Descendants of Jackson
and his slaves can't escape
the name, that easily.
While it is important
that we consider students
in this decision,
it's also important that we realize
the current students and parents
are not the entirety of the
Stonewall Jackson community.
It impacts all of Prince William County.
A few quick notes that I want to address
to critiques of this petition are that,
some have claimed that Kendi
started the petition he didn't,
I did and I don't know him personally.
His name choice was not
a personal matter for me,
it's about honoring an alumnus
who has made great strides
in the field of anti-racism.
Dr. Kendi is aware of the petition
and he says he's honored by it.
The petition is supported
by two of Jackson's great grandsons
and several descendants
of Jackson's slaves.
A lot of whom are educators
and one of them whom worked in
Prince William County Schools
for several years.
Dr. Martin Luther King once said,
"I have a dream that one day,
the Red Hills of Georgia,
on the Red Hills of Georgia,
the sons of slaves and
former slave masters
will be able to sit together
at the table of brotherhood."
This may not be Georgia,
but Virginia was the
capital of the Confederacy.
And that's exactly what's happening here.
I'm speaking united with
descendants of Jackson
and other descendants of Jackson's slaves,
and together at the table of brotherhood,
we are asking you to honor Dr. Kendi.
Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] All right, our next guest
is Nicole King Campbell.
- [Nicole] Hi, can you hear me?
- Its okay, go ahead please.
- [Nicole] Hi, this is
Nicole King Campbell.
I'm the Stonewall Jackson High
School graduate, I think '54.
Since I've spoken,
I've talked to some more of
the students and the teachers
and members of the community.
One thing that we do have to remember
is that Stonewall Jackson High School
is currently in existence.
It's different from naming a school
that have to be built.
We should really consider what
the teachers, the students
and the parents who are
currently at the school
and who will have students
come in afterwards think,
especially with the type of
students we have at Stonewall.
These students are advocates,
they are game changers,
they are brilliant,
they been very flexible
when given some of the
facilities we have at the school.
In fact, one student just
recently started a petition
to help fund some of the
things we've had at the school.
We did start at Arthur Reed
scholarship a few years ago.
So we did know that we
have to recognize that.
But I am conflicted in bit
because the kids do want Arthur Reed,
but I had suggested Innovation High School
or Innovation Park.
So I just mentioned four names.
But I really hope that the board looks at,
there's a lot of outside
sources trying to give names
and we should probably do
something to recognize that.
Maybe Marsteller should be
named after Mrs. Lucinda,
but for Stonewall we
really have to remember,
there are currently
students, teachers, staff
and parents at the school
and I hope their opinion is considered
when you have a nation of
30,000 signatures trying
to influence what Stonewall
Jackson school should be
for the high school, thank you.
- Thank you very much
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Chelsea Crisp.
Your mic is now live.
- [Chelsea] Yes hello, thank you.
My name is Chelsea Crisp.
I have been a teacher
at Stonewall Middle
School for several years
and I'm transferring to
the high school this fall.
So I have a vested interest
in both communities.
I applaud the decision to change
the name of these schools.
I also respect the desire
expressed by some to choose a name
for the school that is not a person.
Human beings are complex creatures
who rarely live up to our own ideals,
let alone those of future generations.
My purpose in speaking
today is to remind the board
to keep in mind our student population.
Almost 70% of the students at
Stonewall Middle are Latino
and many speak Spanish at home.
I like the idea of naming
schools for concepts
and values such as liberty or united,
and I would like to suggest
the name Esperanza Middle School.
Esperanza means hope or
expectation in Spanish.
The school motto at
Stonewall Middle School
is "High Expectations Are The
Foundation of our Success."
So this name seems in fitting
with the values of the school.
It's an uplifting name,
it has a beautiful sound
and a joyful message
and it honors the Hispanic heritage
of a large number of our students.
A possible adaptation of the
name would be Esperanza Alta,
which means high expectations
like those described in the school motto.
A school name like this would
be a reminder to students
to work to live up to their potential
and a reminder to all of us to have hope,
as we adjust to the new circumstances
and period of recovery following
the uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus,
which had an especially devastating impact
on the community
surrounding these schools.
Thank you for your time and consideration
and the best of luck to you as a board
in selecting these names
as well as in planning
for the unusual upcoming
school year, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Okay, our next
speaker is Zahra Wakilzada.
- [Zahra] Yes, hi, can you hear me?
- Yes, we can please go ahead.
- [Zahra] Good evening,
my name is Zahra Wakilzada
and I graduated from Stonewall
Jackson High School in 2019.
As the current decision maker,
the board is responsible
to think critically
and consider upcoming students
before renaming our school.
The board should be able
to answer the question,
of why a specific name was chosen
without the name being
disrespectful to any student
and their intersectional identity.
It's pivotal to consider
the diverse student body,
while naming a school
and acknowledge that,
despite how today's
society see individuals
and their legacy,
their legacy will be questioned,
given their life decisions and choices.
For example, if the school
is named after a person
who had an extensive military background,
what message that will give to students
who lived in a war zone or
generational trauma from war.
Therefore, I strongly believe
that the school should
not be named after people.
I'm speaking in favor of
naming this high school unity.
Unity does not only reflect
our values as students,
but it also defines our student body.
We are individuals who came
from different backgrounds
and different places across the globe,
with different struggles and experiences
to form a community.
We listen, learn and educate each others.
We stay united given our identities
and celebrate our differences.
That the class of 2024
enter Unity High School
where the name of their school,
reflects the values of their student body.
Thank you for your time.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Richard Jesse.
All right, your mic is now live.
- Mr. Jesse, are you there?
- [Jesse] Yes, okay.
I'm Richard Jesse, I live
in Occoquan District.
I was extremely impressed with
a variety of recommendation
from my fellow citizens
at the last meeting.
More importantly, I was
overwhelmed by learning
about the background and
many of those nominated.
It became apparent that what
is worthy of being recorded
and taught in Virginia is very slanted
and deficient in the
contribution of Blacks,
American Indians and Hispanics.
I request that each voting board member,
remember these relevant
policy when making their vote.
If selecting a person
you may choose someone
who has status local state or
national service contribution.
However, the policy also state that,
preference shall be given to those
who have made significant contribution,
contribution to education,
especially in best way you can.
Carroll Braxton meets
the historical consideration requirement
as one of the first
blacks to become a Marine
at a segregated boot camp and
serve in the Marine Corps.
Celestine Braxton also met
this historical consideration requirements
as one of the teachers hired
to integrate Prince William County,
too tough for over 30 years
in their Antioch-Macrae Elementary.
And Mrs. Braxton taught
at Stonewall Middle.
Celestine also made
significant contribution
to the Prince William community.
I also request that the
board on Monday be contingent
on the requirement that the
historical commission verified
that the historical accuracy
of the claim
of any name selection.
If there is any critical
information of a harmful matter,
it should be resolved in a new vote.
If the name is chosen is disqualified,
I believe there have
been enough public input
to select one of the other
names under consideration
by the public or the reason
that approved name was rescinded
and why the new name was considered
and was chosen, thank you.
- Thank you Mr. Jesse
- [Stevens] Our next guest is Donald Hate.
Your mic is now live.
- [Donald] Before I get started,
I would like to commend the board
for giving me the opportunity
to voice the concerns and suggestions.
Also I applaud all of the
speakers from Monday and today
for their input and I enjoyed
listening to their speeches.
It is very important
to always respect each
other's opinions, insights
because that is the only way we can grow
and move forward in the community.
It is time to stop lying to ourselves
and most importantly to our children,
they deserve to know the truth.
History is spelt H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, history.
Now it is time to hear her story.
The story of Lucinda Griffin,
my great great grandmother
who is firmly recorded
in extant history books of the Civil War.
Lucinda Griffin was the first,
I repeat the first African American
to be wounded in the Civil War,
the First Battle of Manassas Bull Run.
The story of her bravery and persistence
is the kind of stories
that movies are made of.
Oprah, I sure hope you're listening.
Our children and people all
over the world deserve to know,
all the stories, the
truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help me God.
Have you heard that somewhere before.
The unabridged truth, which
has been covered up hidden,
untold by ignorance or
intentionally erased.
Let me be perfectly clear,
Stonewall Jackson was a traitor
to the United States flag period.
He fought to keep people enslaved,
thereby enabling plantation
owners to continue raping
and molesting enslaved children
for recreational purposes.
Sexual predators plain and simple.
I'm sure none of you will want this
for any of your children.
Many places in Manassas
are named after slave owners and rapists.
Marsteller School, Ben
Lomond Park and Drive,
Liberia Avenue, Lucasville
Road, Clover Hill
and Sudley, which is named
after plantation community
and the list goes on and on.
This is totally disgusting.
Would you name a school after Adolf Hitler
or Osama Bin Laden?
We can no longer sit idle, it
is time for a positive change.
We can start now by naming
one of those schools
after my great, great
grandmother, Lucinda Griffin.
Our children need positive role models,
true heroes and sheroes, if you will.
We must have emblems and
memorials of hope and courage.
Lucinda Griffin without question
is a true American hero.
She has taken a bullet in
her right arm for her country
at age 14.
- Could you summarize please.
- [Donald] Yeah, I'm wrapping up.
At age 14, a little girl,
it is time that our children
learn the untold stories
and forgotten stories of our local heroes.
- Thank you very much.
- [Donald] Thank you very much.
And again, thank you for your time.
- [Stevens] The next guest, I
just have first name Michelle.
I have one Michelle present.
Give them an opportunity
in case that's them.
- Michelle.
- [Stevens] Definitely it's her.
- Michelle--
- [Steven] All right.
All right, we'll move on.
Let's try with Dick Tucker.
- [Dick] Yes, can you hear me?
- We can, thank you, please go ahead.
- [Dick] Hello, my name is Dick Tucker
and I live in Victory Lakes
and I'm a rising senior at SJHS,
with the hopes that I will graduate
from Arthur Reed High School.
At our school, we are
strong minded and focused.
So the name Stonewall Jackson did little
to deter us from our goal.
We recognize that change is happening,
but change should grow appropriately
with the name Arthur Reed High School.
Let me tell you why.
Last summer before school started,
we held our annual one of
us new students orientation.
And one of the job that
needs to be completed,
was the mulching of the new garden,
commemorating our beloved Mr. Reed.
This job was undertaken by students,
(indistinct)
and the reason students
contribute to this garden,
is because we feel Arthur Reed
really represents the values
that our community and
our school is proud of.
And when we get new students
for one of us in orientation,
we invite them to become part of
the amazing community in our school.
Now since the community
feels he represents values,
it is only right that the name Arthur Reed
is adorned onto the bricks of our school.
For an answer is only a
small basis of proper change.
If the outside community truly cared about
the betterment of our school
that has majority
economically disadvantage,
then better facilities and
resources are to be incorporated
into the changing of our school,
because this is what would
actually benefit the community
and prospects for our students.
To everyone listening,
if you want to take action
in improving our school,
please donate to the GoFundMe campaign,
fundraising to the renaming SJHS,
I repeat fundraising to the renaming SJHS.
This will help create
actual meaningful change.
This name change reminds me of a situation
in the movie "Thor Ragnarok"
where Thor left his home of Asgard burn
because he realized that
Asgard was not a place,
it was the people, just like this,
Stonewall is not a place or name
but a community of amazing
students, teaching staff
and name change will only
make our community stronger.
Next June when I and my
fellow students graduate,
I wanna be proud in saying
that I graduated from
Arthur Reed High School,
the name and community that holds values
and we're proud to represent
the school that has facility
improvements in store
to create a better future
for the new students coming through.
Thank you and please donate to our course.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next guest is Kenny Boudi.
Your mic is now live.
- [Kenny] Good evening
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Beavers
and members of the board.
This is Kenny Boudi,
I am the Occoquan District Supervisor
and I wanted to thank you
for making this a win.
We are renaming this school and not an if.
For far too long,
we've been commemorating
Confederate Generals
and people who are traitors to the union.
We have a lot of shared
constituents and, you know,
although I do not
represent either districts
that these schools are in,
we have constituents that
either attend these schools
or are a part of the school families.
This should be a county wide conversation.
And as a descendant of slaves
that were brought to this area
over 300 years ago,
I feel that I do have something
to speak about this issue.
One of the things I wanted
to demystify at first,
was the idea that this is
somehow going to shut the funding
that school will receive to
better the school itself.
Obviously renaming is a one time cost
as opposed to the ongoing
funding that would be required
to improve the school
in many different ways.
And there's long term benefits.
We've had parents and
teachers speak before
how the name of the schools
has turned off potential investors,
whether it be private investors
or members of DTL communities.
And in the end we will have
a private entity such as businesses,
which will be forward looking
who want to invest in the school
and in the area around the county,
as it will be a progressive community
and not a regressive one.
So in terms of ideas,
non names have already been
pushed because obviously,
naming things after living people
or dead people has some
some challenges to it.
So, liberation is a really good name
because we go from commemorating someone
who fought to keep people on chains,
to the idea of liberating them.
Unity has been talked about in the past
as well as Veritas, which
means truth in Latin.
And there's also innovation and justice.
In terms of names of actual people,
we have Ibram X. Kendi,
Arthur Reed, Lucinda Griffin,
Carroll Celestine Braxton,
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
and finally Carlos Flores Laboy,
who was the very first Latino judge named
in Prince William County very recently.
We have a rich history here
in Prince William County
and it's time that we
showed our diversity.
Thank you so much.
- Thank you Mr. Boudi.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Arianna Carter.
Your mic is now live.
- [Arianna] Hi.
Hello, my name is Arianna.
I'm gonna be speaking on
the renaming of Stonewall
Jackson High School.
I think that it should be
named Arthur Reed High School
because Arthur Reed has been,
was drafted to be in the
Vietnam war, he joined the DEA.
He saw people who he knew dying to drugs,
he even trained others to not,
to not end an effort to produce racism.
So with that being said,
he embodies what Stonewall strives to be,
which is welcoming regardless
of where you come from
or what the world saw you as.
He took the time out of his day
to get to know each and every student
and make them feel welcome, that's it.
- Very good, thank you for your comment.
- [Stevens] Our next
guest is Marsha Conway.
Your mic is now live.
- [Marsha] Oh, I'm sorry.
I spoke earlier, do you
want me to speak again?
(laughs)
- Probably not.
- [Stevens] Nope.
- No thanks.
- [Marsha] I'd be glad to,
I didn't get to speak Monday night.
(laughing)
- No, thank you.
We're only going one at a
time tonight, so thank you.
- [Marsha] Okay, well I
was called on again but--
- Very good.
- [Marsha] I think all of
these people that have,
you know, all the names were very familiar
with all of them because I remember miss,
maybe former students,
but I think you'd be wise
to either go by unity
or a geographical place
and you don't want have to worry.
And I like the idea of checking with
the historic background, thank you.
- Very good, thank you so much Ms. Conway.
We appreciate your service
to the school division too.
- [Stevens] All right, our
next guest is Karl Brawer.
- [Karl] Good evening,
my name is Karl Brawer.
I'm a Prince William County resident.
My address is on file.
I'm speaking on the renaming of SJMS.
I wanna join the many who
are expressing their support
for the naming or renaming of
SJMS in honor of the Braxtons.
With this couple, you
have an exemplary model
of self sacrificing and service
that has made our county and
indeed our nation better.
Overcoming the obstacles
of systemic racism,
they equipped themselves
to meet the challenges of their time.
But not only did they break
barriers for themselves,
they were instrumental in
making a way for others.
With the Braxtons' you have a model
for diverse student bodies
from seventh graders
to high school seniors
for the type of citizens
we want them to be.
This 244 year old experiment
of democratic government,
requires the type of
civic engagement modeled
by the Braxtons'.
It is citizens like them
who demanded equal
protection under the law,
even at both physical
and personal sacrifice
that has move this nation forward
to greater equality and inclusiveness.
The very effort we're
talking about this evening,
the renaming of these schools
are part of the ongoing perfecting
of our union represented in the lives
and the work of Celestine
and Carroll Braxton.
That is why renaming the
schools in their honor,
is the most appropriate choice.
Finally, not change the name
should not be an option.
The changes will always cost money,
money will always be a concern.
But we can and should rename the schools,
provide necessary funding
to overcome the challenges
of distance learning
and the necessary improvements
to the educational infrastructure
that the school needs
to continue to perform at a high level.
Both of these things
should be done, thank you.
- Thank you very much Mr. Brawer.
- [Stevens] All right, for our next guest,
all I have is a first name Monica.
I have somebody in the lobby
who matches that person's name.
Please can you speak Monica.
- [Monica] Yes, I'm here.
Okay, I'm Monica and I'm a
student in Prince William County.
I am advocating first, I want
Stonewall Jackson High School
to be renamed after Joyce Russell Terrell.
50 years ago, Joyce Russell Terrell became
the first African American student
to attend the Garfield High School.
She desegregated the school at only 13,
showing immense courage and
setting an important example.
Terelle helped the county
take a huge step forward
in its fight against racism.
And not only did she desegregate
at Prince William County High School,
but her brother and
sister also contributed
to the desegregation
of county middle and elementary schools,
adding importance to her name.
Terelle had the courage as
a young girl to walk through
the doors of a school
every single day knowing
that many of her peers
did not want her there,
demonstrating how much of an impact
just one person can have.
Renaming this high school
Joyce Russell Terrell
is therefore in line with
Prince William County's efforts
to be anti-racist, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] All right,
our next guest is Ben Kim.
Your mic is muted on your end Ben Kim
and then your mic is live.
- Mr. Kim, are you there?
- [Ben] Oh, yeah, sorry.
Okay, awesome, thank you
so much for giving me
the opportunity to speak tonight.
I want to begin by addressing
the primary concern
of renaming Stonewall Jackson High School,
Arthur Reed High School.
The primary concern revolves
around Mr. Reed's appointment
with the army and the DEA.
I understand the concern.
I had the pleasure of speaking
with Mr. Reed's daughter this morning.
The story I heard convinced me
that our school must be
named after this man.
Mr. Reed was from
Philadelphia born and raised,
the youngest of two siblings.
After attending Penn State University,
he was drafted to serve
in the Vietnam War.
He also served two to
three years in Germany.
When he returned to Philly,
Mr. Reed decided to join
the Drug Enforcement Agency.
He chose to do so because as a kid,
he saw many of his childhood
friends who died from drugs.
He didn't want that to ever
happen to anyone again,
so he joined to save people's
lives and his hometown.
In the DEA, Mr. Reed's main
job was to train agents
and mentor younger law
enforcement officers.
He chose to focus on training officers
because he knew back then,
how important the
training of officers was,
so that only the best
would be in the field.
After 30 years of service,
Mr. Reed decided to come to Stonewall.
He had enjoyed mentoring
the younger officers
and he was excited to
help high school students.
Some people have said
that his time in the DEA,
makes his name bad.
I think is the reason
why our school must be named after him.
Mr. Reed did not have a
choice to join the military,
he was drafted.
He served our country.
He joined the DEA
because he wanted to save
as many lives as he could.
Today we are having this conversation
because of bad officers.
Mr. Reed trained officers because he knew
that bad officers would lead to chaos.
In this age of police brutality,
we do not need bad officers,
we need symbols of good officers.
Mr. Reed was a good security officer
who cared about students.
Stonewall Jackson High
School must be named
after Arthur Reed because he is beloved
by Stonewall students and staff.
He served our country and he serves
as an example of a role
model officer to students.
It would be wise
to name it Arthur Reed
High School, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] Our next guest is Lubna Azmi.
- [Lubna] Hi, I'm an alumna
of Stonewall Jackson High School.
I live in the Brentsville District
and I just graduated last year.
And looking to name the new high school,
we have to look beyond our
personal and societal concepts.
The modularization that goes
with putting a name on a structure
is something that our generation
is beginning to unravel
because not all people
were meant to be idolized
in this way.
I think the best way
to unify our community,
is under a name that weighs
the least financial costs
to our already underfunded school
and simultaneously stands in
alliance with today's movement.
I'm supportive of repurposing
Stonewall Middle School
to represent the Stonewall riots,
and I am in support of Unity High School,
or if not unity,
then a name that goes
beyond personal context
and is representative of
today's movement for justice.
When we decide to put the name of a human,
an imperfect being on a structure,
it solidifies all aspects of their life.
Therefore putting those
aspects under inspection,
the good and the not so great.
And unfortunately,
those personal contexts,
those personal reasons
and personal experiences
for designing the name
inevitably fade away
and what is left are the facts.
Whatever name we decide
to put up on that school,
goes beyond the community today
and it goes beyond the people we know.
I feel that isn't fair to the people
that are being proposed
to be memorialized,
nor is it fair to the future generations.
We have to consider that
the generations after us,
won't think the way that
we do about certain people
or about certain societal standards.
We need to thoroughly analyze options
that are based on people's names,
who make sure they relay
the messages for justice
that we want them to convey.
Across the country,
we're seeing collective movements,
we're saying Black Lives
Matter, Black Power.
The importance of the movement
is outweighing the individuals involved.
Unity is a descriptor of this moment
and of how our school community operates.
A name that highlights the
importance of this moment does
the best job of bringing us together now
and in bringing our community together
in the long future ahead.
Also, I've seen a lot of people
defend Stonewall Jackson,
I'd like to say from
my personal experience
and Prince William County schools,
I was taught that Stonewall
Jackson was a good
and loyal man.
I've also heard people speak of slavery
as an obsolete Anti-American aspect
that ended after the Civil War,
when the truth is that
slavery was repurposed
into today's prison-industrial complex.
These highlight the
issues in our curricula,
we need anti-racist,
anti-imperialist and
abolitionist frameworks
to how we teach our students, thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- [Stevens] All right, our
last guest for this evening
is Emmett Fletcher, your mic is now live.
- [Fletcher] Good
evening, can you hear me?
- We can, thanks please go ahead.
- [Fletcher] All right, I got less.
Thank you so much Dr. Lateef,
school board committee and Mr. Beavers.
We had this discussion
of school board meeting four years ago,
and the Stonewall issue came up.
And I remember Dr. Walt said,
he would definitely look into that.
And I would like to
commend him for doing that,
but also Dr. Lateef.
They kept the word, it's been four years
and here we are now
and I thank God that
we're making progress.
I would like to recommend
Celestine and Carroll Braxton.
The reason I said that,
these people have lived in,
this couple lived in Prince William County
for over 155 years.
Mr. Braxton is going on around 96,
I believe he's 96 years old now.
He has made history in World War II,
the Korean conflict and different
battles in World War II.
Also he was an instructor,
he's been a civil rights
activist back in the 60s,
he knew some of the civil rights activists
in the state of Virginia
as well as nationally.
Mrs. Braxton, she was in the
second wave of the integration.
These people were pioneers.
These are people that
the minority communities,
especially African Americans
and Latino children look up to,
33 years in the education system
in three different schools.
I think they deserve it.
We have a Colgan High School,
we have a Hilton High School,
we need an African American High School.
And I believe it will happen
I trust this committee.
They have been working very hard,
and I would like to thank
them for what they are doing,
but please consider that Stonewall Jackson
is the majority and minority community
and not only should we change the name,
but we should be there to
support them as a community
through this transition as well
as support the school board.
I thank you for your
time and your service.
- Thank you very much Mr. Fletcher.
All right, well that
concludes our list of speakers
for tonight that have registered.
So, thank you all very much.
It was a very informative
list of speakers.
So we thank you all
for your participation.
Just as a little background,
the school board will
be meeting on Monday,
June 29th at 6:00 p.m.
There are opportunities
for you to register
to speak at that time.
There also is an opportunity
for you to submit
a written statement if you'd
like to do that as well.
So please go to the website,
look at the web story for the renaming
and you can find those links there.
So thank you all very much
for all your participation.
Now we'll go through the Naming Committees
to ask for closing comments.
So we'll start with Dr. Lateef.
Dr. Lateef, would you like
to make any closing comments
for us tonight?
- Sure, thank you Mr. Beavers.
Thank you for hosting this
and Mr. Stevens our IT folks
for getting this on.
I'd like to comment, you know,
Laurie Williams school board member
from Woodbridge mentioned
that the other day,
you know how nicely this
program went on Monday night
and even this evening.
We got to hear from some,
hear some great speeches,
hear from passionate advocates.
The idea that this kind of zoom
or GoToWebinar type of meeting
allowed for a lot more folks
who can speak from the
comfort of their home
while waiting through the
long list rather than,
you know, bringing folks
out to the Kelly building,
I think is great.
So one of the nice things
that has worked out with this
is that I think we have gotten
a lot of folks to be engaged.
I would continue to remind
folks to email the school board.
We've had enormous levels of
feedback from the community,
engagement from our
students and our faculty.
I can't thank all of them enough.
And I know they're gonna
continue to be diligent
in their efforts over the weekend.
And we'll have another meeting.
The passionate advocates on all the names,
you know, would echo the
comments of my colleagues
on this committee from the other night
that I have learned so much.
I'm not native to Prince William
County, moved here in 2002,
but I believe that I have
learned quite a bit just in this.
And I think, if I'm gonna
leave this, you know,
we're gonna to eventually
rename the school,
there's gonna be happy folks
and unhappy folks with the names chosen,
but I would say that if I
take anything away from this,
we have to find other ways
to honor our history here
in this county.
Whether that means including that in,
it absolutely does mean
including it in our curriculum,
you know, you can certainly
have ceremonial resolutions,
but more importantly,
teaching the history.
Teaching the history
is what I have learned from our community
over the course of the time
I've lived in this community
and then now in these last few meetings,
it is crystal clear to us
and from the Stonewall
Jackson students and staff
from last summer in the boundary hearings
and then continued
commitment to their school.
The alumni who've called in,
who've written in I thank you all.
But we have a lot of work
to do in front of us.
It is not just about naming a school,
it is about recognizing and
honoring our entire community,
our entire history, our efforts.
You know, I am absolutely
moved by the stories
of Lucinda Griffin, Celestine
and Carroll Braxton,
Mary Bowser, you know,
Joyce Russell Terelle,
who I just learned about this
evening for the first time.
And so, we have, I think an
exciting next couple of days.
I think regardless of what we end up with,
I think it's gonna be certainly,
in my personal belief an
improvement over where we are
with these names currently
and I think we are gonna have,
but we have to look,
as a school board I would
encourage my members, our members
and our board to think about other ways
where we can honor, reflect, and restate,
you know, retell the stories
of our great community
and our great people.
Thank you so much.
- Very nice, thank you Dr. Lateef.
We'll go to Ms. Jackson
from the Brentsville Magisterial District.
- Hi, I just wanna also thank
the Naming Committee, Mr.
Beavers, the translator.
It has been a wonderful process.
We've been given so many choices,
it's going to be difficult,
you know, the next couple
of days I'm excited,
to collaborate further with everybody
and read more emails.
Thank you to everybody who spoke today.
Thank you for the emails
that are coming through.
I wanna echo what Dr. Lateef said about
from renaming school
but we have many more steps we have to go
to honor the history.
And we have a beautiful history
in Prince William County,
and I'm just excited for the next steps
after renaming the school, thank you.
- Very good, thank you very much.
Ms. Wall from the Gainesville
District closing comments.
- Thank you Mr. Beavers.
Thank you everybody who spoke tonight.
It was really wonderful to hear from you.
Many of you, I have
been reading your emails
and your notes to the board
that's been fantastic.
I just wanna say thanks again,
great names, great reasons
for the great names.
We have a rich and diverse
history in Prince William County,
that has become really apparent to me
and I do hope that we find
ways to teach that history,
to our students
the rich tapestry of history that we have.
I want to say that please know,
obviously we aren't gonna be able
to pick every name for the school.
I wish we in a way we could,
but please know that if we
don't choose your suggestion,
it doesn't mean that we
didn't love your name.
They're just all fantastic,
they're really great.
We do need to find ways
to honor our local heroes,
especially those that have been forgotten.
And one final thing that I wish to say,
is to those family members who,
to those individuals who spoke
about family members personally
or people in your heritage,
you do your loved ones a great honor
just by bringing their names forward
and in this way, in seeking to honor them.
So I really commend that.
I think that's just tremendous.
So thanks so much for everybody,
your feedback and everything else
and I pray for us.
(laughs)
We have a tough decision to make.
- Very good, thank you Ms. Wall.
And from the Coles Magisterial
District, Ms. Zargarpur.
- Thank you Mr. Beavers.
And thank you for all of the efforts
that you've done to make sure
that people will have a chance
to speak and Mr. Stevens
for managing all the
things that are online.
And going last makes this a
little bit easier tonight,
I echo everything that's been said
by my colleagues on the board.
I have three children, three daughters and
the conversations in our house,
they don't go to Stonewall,
they don't really have a stake in it,
but their opinion matters in that,
one of my children particularly will say,
"Please don't do only
performative things."
And so when people talk about
how we wanna make sure
everybody is getting
a quality education,
and that everybody is,
thank you, and that everybody
is proud of their school,
but then we want to dig
deeper and make sure
that our curriculum really
includes all the aspects
of our history.
Those are things that I know we on
the board have been talking about.
So, whenever someone brings it up,
I live the experience in my own house
and I know the board members,
we've discussed these things.
Picking the name is a step.
And thank goodness,
we have so many great
different names to choose from.
You're making our jobs
really hard on that accord.
So, we will do our best.
And understand that,
not naming a school your favorite doesn't,
I think there's so many
things we are gonna need to do
as a community, as a
Prince William community,
not just in the schools
but also in our county.
So, thank you all for your hard
work here on the committee.
Thank you for everyone who spoke
and everyone who's behind the scenes
who are handling the emails
and getting speakers up
and doing the technical things,
I really appreciate it.
So, thank you.
- Very good, thank you Ms. Zargarpur
and thank you Naming Committees.
You all do have quite a
difficult task ahead of you.
So, we will all keep you in our thoughts
for the next couple days.
The school board will meet
on Monday at 6:00 p.m.
and we hope to see you all there.
I know the school board
is reading all your emails
that you're sending them,
so thank you for staying
in touch with them
and giving them a lot of
opportunity to receive information.
So with that,
I think we'll call it a night
and thank you all very much
for this very, very informative evening.
(upbeat music)
