Graduation procession
A group of pro-Palestine students walked out of the University of Virginia graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Hundreds of graduates have recently walked out of commencement ceremonies across the country.
“NO COMMENCEMENT WITHOUT DIVESTMENT,” shared @uvaencampmentforgaza on Instagram. The post highlights banners displayed by protesters, reading “BLOOD ON UVA’S HANDS” and “DISCLOSE DIVEST.”
Graduates could be spotted carrying watermelon balloons—which have the same colors as the Palestinian flag—in support of the anti-war movement. Students who participated in the protest left when President Jim Ryan appeared on stage.
“NO TIME FOR JIM LYING WHEN GAZA IS DYING,” said @uvaencampmentforgaza in the same Instagram post. “We walked out of commencement this weekend for the students killed in Gaza who will never get to graduate.”
The graduation walkout is the latest in a series of protests at UVA, including an encampment which Virginia State Police forcefully dispersed on May 4. More than two dozen people were arrested at the encampment, including 12 students, according to the university.
“Those of us who were arrested on May 4, 2024, by the University Police, Charlottesville Police, and State Police are facing criminal charges. We reject the distinction dividing UVA students, staff and faculty, and the greater Charlottesville community,” said a majority of the arrestees in a statement released through the Charlottesville Anti-Racist Media Liaisons on May 15. “While each arrestee is making personal decisions on how best to proceed, we stand united as a group and focused on the fight for a free Palestine.”
Drawing up plans
Piedmont Housing Alliance was awarded a $100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts on May 15. The money will go toward planning for a “resident-driven, permanent public art installation” in the Kindlewood neighborhood.
The art installation is the latest development in the larger redevelopment of Kindlewood. The public housing community has undergone several improvement projects in recent years, including the renaming of the neighborhood from Friendship Court to Kindlewood in 2023.
Residents have been heavily involved in the redevelopment process and
will remain involved in the upcoming art project.
“Working with artists, Kindlewood residents, community stakeholders, and the city of Charlottesville, Piedmont Housing will facilitate the collaborative creation of an installation that will reflect the fraught history, rich culture, and thriving future of this neighborhood,” said PHA Executive Director Sunshine Mathon in a press release. “We hope this effort will serve as a catalyst for other parts of Charlottesville to reckon with the past through place-based storytelling.”
Bringing home the BACON
The Best All-Around Club of Nerds (BACON) at Charlottesville High School soared to new heights last week, taking home first and second place in the skills contest at a regional drone competition. Juniors Jacob Weder and River Lewis won individual accolades at the event, setting new world records in the skills piloting and autonomous flight events respectively.
Historical markers
Swords Into Plowshares marked the 100th anniversary of the installation of the Robert E. Lee Statue at Market Street Park on May 21. The Recast/Reclaim event included portions from the original dedication ceremony and remarks from community members. While the Lee Statue has already been melted down for the SIP project, the group is currently collecting community feedback as to where the resulting public art installation should be located.
CPD annual report
The Charlottesville Police Department released its 2023 Annual Report on May 15. The report includes data about the demographics of the force, complaints, and crimes reported. Crime data largely remained unchanged compared to 2022, with a total of 3,317 Group A offenses—which includes crimes against persons, property, and society. The vast majority of Group A offenses reported were crimes against property. The department received 32 complaints in 2023, with 24 violations sustained, five exonerated, one not resolved, and 18 unfounded. The full report can be found at charlottesville.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/252.