N. Va. Coalition to Hold News Conference After Hearing on Lawsuit Against Prince Wm. Co. and The Farm Brewery at Broad Run (International Investments) to Protect African-American, Native American Cemetery
(THOROUGHFARE, VA, 8/26/24) – On Thursday, Aug. 29, the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare, an organization founded to challenge the alleged ongoing desecration of African-American and Native American cemeteries in Thoroughfare, Va., will hold a news conference following a hearing in Prince William County Circuit Court to decide whether a lawsuit against the county and The Farm Brewery at Broad Run can move forward.
[NOTE: This is part of a nationwide effort by local communities seeking to protect historic Black and Native American cemeteries.]
WHEN: August 29, 2024, immediately after the at 1 p.m. court hearing
WHERE: Prince William Circuit Court, 31st Judicial Circuit of Virginia, 9311 Lee Avenue, Third Floor, Manassas, VA 20110
WHO: John Chapman “Chap” Petersen, attorney for the coalition and Frank Washington
CONTACT: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare Spokesperson Frank Washington, 702-812-4174, savehistoricthoroughfare@gmail.com, John Chapman “Chap” Petersen, Esq., (571) 459-2510, jcp@petersenfirm.com
“There is a reckless disregard for our civil and human rights protections here in Thoroughfare, Virginia. We have a system that continually shows itself to be working against justice-- all in the name of power, greed and their sense of entitlement over equal protections under the law. Hopefully, this will now begin to change for my family and loved ones, both living and deceased.”
Washington noted that the coalition called on the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a federal hate crime investigation into what the coalition says are illegal disturbances to historic burial sites.
SEE: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare calls for Justice Department probe into alleged desecration of Va. cemeteries
BACKGROUNDER:
Thoroughfare is an historic Native American and African American community with roots going back hundreds of years. Originally a Native American community, during the 1800s African-Americans began to settle there and a vibrant mixed-race community was established. Today, Thoroughfare is centered around Oakrum Baptist Church, and the descendants of the founders still call Thoroughfare home.
When developers purchased land containing the three major Thoroughfare cemeteries and, early in 2021, destroyed the Scott Cemetery, blocked access to the Potters Field Cemetery, and threatened the Fields/Allen Cemetery with development, the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare formed to protect the cemeteries and to preserve the history of Thoroughfare.
Recently, The Prince William Board of County Supervisors agreed to purchase a two-acre parcel to begin the process of preserving the heritage of the Thoroughfare community. However, the County then stripped the family of those burial rights that have been held by the family for well over a century; no longer allowing them to rest beside their ancestors.
SEE: Prince William Co. approves historic district land purchase for future park
Video: Virginia Group Works to Save Historic African-American, Native American Cemeteries
The town of Thoroughfare was established and settled by freed African-American slaves and Native Americans. Homes and family cemeteries in this community date back to 1860 and earlier.
Descendants of freed slaves and Native-Americans still live in Thoroughfare.
Slaves, freed slaves, freedmen/freedwomen, and Native-Americans who worked and lived on the land of Thoroughfare, Va., are under the threat of having their final sacred resting places decimated or completely removed by encroaching developers. Family members are also being denied access to many of these graves.
Historic freed slave homes, land and structures are under the same threat of destruction and at risk of being lost.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Video: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare - A Town Under Siege
Video: Community Fights to Save Historic Cemeteries From Development (NBC4)
A small Virginia town fights to save historic cemeteries of former slaves (WTOP)
‘Even in death, they have to fight for a name' (Prince William Times)
Coalition tries to preserve historic western Prince William cemeteries
In Virginia, a historic Black neighborhood grapples with development (Washington Post)
The race to save African-American cemeteries from being 'erased' (Reuters)
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CONTACT: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare Spokesperson Frank Washington, 702-812-4174, savehistoricthoroughfare@gmail.com
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