Human rights commission – C-VILLE Weekly

Pedestrian fatality

Charlottesville City Police are investigating the death of 42-year-old Edward Anderson, who was fatally struck by a vehicle in the 700 block of Nassau Street on July 6. The driver of the vehicle has not been charged or publicly identified, though there are contradictions between official accounts and claims made by community members on social media.

In a release shortly after the incident, CPD shared preliminary information based on witness accounts and information at the scene. According to the department, “further investigation and statements obtained indicated that Mr. Anderson attacked the female while she was in her parked vehicle. As the female attempted to flee the attack, she struck Mr. Anderson with her vehicle. The attack appears unprovoked, and the involved parties are not believed to be known to one another.”

The driver of the vehicle was an adult female and was still at the scene when officers arrived. CPD says an investigation is ongoing, but no charges have been filed in connection with Anderson’s death.

After the statement by CPD, allegations quickly emerged online contradicting the preliminary official account of the incident. CPD Chief Michael Kochis held a press conference on July 15 to address community concerns about the lack of arrest and contradicting reports.

“This tragedy has not only shaken two families, but also our community,” said Kochis. “In an attempt to communicate why there was not an immediate arrest, we put out preliminary information based on independent eyewitness accounts and initial evidence on the scene. Some may have taken this release as an indication that a conclusion had been reached in less than 24 hours. That is not true.”

Kochis called on community members to cease online speculation, directly mentioning a since-deleted Facebook post that was “very different than eyewitness accounts and the evidence at the scene.” In the post, the user alleged that she witnessed the incident and that the driver backed up over Anderson after hitting him before leaving the scene.

Detectives have reportedly spoken to the poster and determined that she was not an eyewitness but was instead repeating community speculation.

Comments below a livestream of the press conference show some community members remain critical of the official account of the incident. Several people expressed frustration with the withholding of the driver’s identity and race.

CPD is reportedly waiting on several key forensic reports, including the autopsy and lab reports on the vehicle and the weapon allegedly used by Anderson, which Kochis identified as a pair of scissors.

At press time, the investigation into Anderson’s death remains open and charges have not been filed against the driver. C-VILLE continues to follow the investigation.

Communities of care

The Charlottesville Human Rights Commission is hosting state legislators and representatives from HRCs in Virginia Beach, Alexandria, and Fairfax to provide community-centered legislative advice. Democratic leaders including Albemarle County Del. Katrina Callsen and state Sen. Creigh Deeds will be in attendance. This initiative will help inform the commission’s recommendations for city council regarding the prioritization of human rights in local legislation ahead of the 2025 General Assembly session. Community members are encouraged to attend the hybrid meeting on Thursday, July 18.

Trailblazing

On Sunday, July 14, Sen. Tim Kaine made a stop in Albemarle County while on the campaign trail. The Virginia Senator attended the canvass launch for the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Coordinated Campaign, where he shared his support for local Democratic leadership. He seeks reelection to a third term in office, having served as a Virginia senator since 2013.

Keeping cool

The city of Charlottesville celebrated the expansion of crucial food bank cold storage with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11. With the completion of the expansion project, the cold storage capacity at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has nearly tripled to 560 square feet. According to Charlottesville City Hall, the center provided aid to 22,000 community members in 2023. The expansion of the space will enhance the center’s ability to distribute fresh fruit and nutritious vegetables through its pantry networks and related services. “The City of Charlottesville is extremely proud to support them in their important work,” said Grants Analyst Anthony Warn in a press release.

Call for help: Human Rights Commission asks for more city support

Charlottesville’s Office of Human Rights and Human Rights Commission have an intimidatingly broad mission: to reduce discrimination in the city.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that the office and its volunteer commission, which are tasked with both investigating individual complaints of discrimination and reviewing city polices for systemic discrimination, have received their fair share of criticism since their creation in 2013. During a 2017 Dialogue on Race meeting, former mayor Dave Norris accused them of not doing enough to uphold the city’s Human Rights Ordinance. At the same meeting, UVA professor Walt Heinecke said the organizations had been largely ineffective, a claim he reiterated in a 2018 Daily Progress op-ed.

Today, similar feelings persist not just among community members—but among commissioners themselves. At last week’s City Council meeting, HRC Chair Shantell Bingham said that although there was “an uptick” in the commission’s ability to fulfill its role in 2019, “we really want to do more.”

Earlier this month, Charlene Green, who has led the OHR for five years, stepped down to join the Piedmont Housing Alliance. Bingham, who became commission chair last year, says both the commission and the office have faced numerous obstacles over the years.

“The Office of Human Rights hasn’t been properly staffed for a very long time,” she says. Though the office hired Todd Niemeier as an outreach specialist in 2018, “before it was just [Green] in the office with interns. And now that she’s leaving, it’s going back to there being one staff person…which is just ridiculous.” The city is currently looking for Green’s replacement.

Since Tarron Richardson became city manager, the office and commission hasn’t had a direct line of contact in the city either, says commissioner Ann Smith.

Smith notes that former city manager Maurice Jones was “very involved” with the HRC, but says, “We haven’t had a chance to meet the new city manager.”

To improve the commission and office’s communication with the city, Bingham says there needs to be a city official who the HRC can directly report to. She also recommends that City Council receive and review reports from OHR on a monthly basis, rather than annually.

Commissioner Sue Lewis suggests council also reexamine the city’s human rights ordinance, particularly the limited authority it gives to the OHR and HRC. They are currently only able to investigate complaints of discrimination in companies with five to 14 employees. Complaints from larger companies are referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office in Richmond.

If the city gives the OHR more money for staffing, it could turn it into a Fair Employment Practice Agency, which would give the office greater authority and better equip it to handle the thousands of discrimination complaints it receives each year, according to Smith.

City Councilor Sena Magill says the council takes the challenges OHR and HRC have faced seriously, and that equity will be a “huge part” of the city’s strategic plan, with the HRC being “a part of that equity work.”

And, according to Richardson, the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year “will include continued support for the Office of Human Rights, the new Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the new Police Civilian Review Board.”