Protecting Virginians: Attorney General Jones Visits Southside and Northern Virginia

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General

For media inquiries only, contact:  
Rae Pickett
RPickett@oag.state.va.us

Protecting Virginians: Attorney General Jones Visits Southside and Northern Virginia 

Hosts roundtables on protecting Virginians, discusses issues impacting families, and engages with community

RICHMOND, Va. – Attorney General Jones made stops across the Commonwealth, listening to communities about public health and safety challenges, fostering collaboration between partners, and sharing how his office is fighting to better the Commonwealth for all.  

August 6: Attorney General Jones Visits Farmville, Mecklenburg, and Courtland 

On Thursday, August 6, Attorney General Jones made several stops in Prince Edward, Mecklenburg, and Southampton counties on Thursday, August 6. These visits highlighted historic civil rights landmarks, brought together local leaders for a roundtable discussion on education, uplifted the work of local farmers, and included engagement with community members at the Franklin-Southampton County Fair. 

Education Roundtable at the Moton Museum in Farmville 

Attorney General Jones toured the Robert Russa Moton Museum, the birthplace of America’s student-led civil rights revolution. The National Historic Landmark, which was formerly the high school attended by Barbara Johns, documents Prince Edward County’s 13-year fight for educational civil rights. In the very auditorium where Barbara Johns rallied her classmates to speak out against the poor conditions in their segregated high school, Attorney General Jones convened with community leaders. Dialogue centered on the challenges that still exist in educational equity today and how the Office can foster opportunities to address these disparities. 

               

Meets with Local Farmers in Mecklenburg 

Attorney General Jones visited the farm of John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer, agriculture advocate, and founder of the National Black Farmers Association. During the visit, Attorney General Jones met with area farmers to discuss how tariffs are affecting Virginia agriculture and the economic barriers facing Black farmers.  

           

Visits Franklin-Southampton County Fair 

Attorney General Jones met with vendors, families, and community members at the county fair. The fair has been honoring the region's agricultural heritage by showcasing livestock, local produce, arts and crafts, and other goods made or grown by area residents for 45 years.

       

August 7: Attorney General Jones Visits Fredericksburg and Woodbridge 

On Friday, August 7, Attorney General Jones made several stops in Fredericksburg and Woodbridge. While in the area, the Attorney General met with local faith leaders, hosted a roundtable with Virginia veterans, and listened to the challenges independent grocers are facing. 

Gathers with Area Faith Leaders for Prayer Breakfast and Civil Rights Discussion Gathers and Hosts Veterans Roundtable with Congressman Eugene Vindman

Attorney General Jones hosted local faith leaders and Delegates Nicole Cole and Stacey Carroll at a Fredericksburg restaurant. He was also joined by Palmer Heenan III, Senior Assistant Attorney General/Section Chief. Discussion addressed civil rights concerns attendees are seeing in their communities and how the Office can help.  

      

Attorney General Jones joined Congressman Eugene Vindman and Virginia veterans in a roundtable discussion. Dialogue focused on the challenges service members face when returning home, particularly healthcare access, and how the Office can advocate for Virginia veterans. 

   

Fredericksburg Free Press: Rep. Vindman: Veterans say care at Fredericksburg VA is good, wait times a hassle

    

Vindman made the comments at a veterans roundtable meeting he hosted in Fredericksburg with his fellow Democrat, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones. 

Jones called the Fredericksburg-area VA medical center “criminally understaffed.” For a long time, he said, constituents have figured government wasn’t helpful, that it was just there to say “no.”

“I have told my team that we want to get to ‘yes,’” the attorney general said.

Concern over veterans’ issues seems a natural for both elected officials. 

[...]

Jones, meanwhile, hails from Norfolk, which he noted has the “largest naval installation on the planet.”

Before the veterans gathering, Virginia’s top lawyer had breakfast with Democratic Dels. Stacey Carroll and Nicole Cole and Fredericksburg-area faith leaders at Foode, a restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg.

The group discussed a variety of issues, including homelessness, discrimination in employment and housing, landlord problems, and voting rights.

Palmer Heenan, section chief for the attorney general’s Office of Civil Rights, explained how the office secured a $2.25 million settlement against a landlord who harassed and abused tenants in Hampton Roads.

Jones said that his office, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the state Elections Department and law-enforcement agencies all stand ready to ensure that — following an issue-free primary election earlier this week — the November election is also secure.

The Old Dominion has a history of clean elections, he said.

“There is no issue of voter fraud here in Virginia,” Jones said.

Visits Todos Supermarket 

Attorney General Jones went to Woodbridge to meet with Todos Supermarket founder and owner Carlos Castro and National Grocers Association’s Laura Strange. The tour of the market's second location concluded with a conversation about the vital role independent grocers have in communities.  

    

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