Richmond man shoots father
A Richmond man has been charged with murder
after city police say he ended a dispute with his father
by shooting the 51-year-old dead.
Thirty-year-old Mario Williams also is charged
with use of a firearm in the death of Dementrius
Williams.
Richmond police responded to a call at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday. Authorities say acquaintances originally called
an ambulance thinking the elder Williams suffered a
heart attack. Officials later realized the man had been
shot.
After a brief investigation, police identified Mario
Williams as a suspect.
Police are still investigating what the men might
have been arguing about.
Brief from The Associated Press
Assembly commends gay-community foundation
The Richmond Gay Community Foundation will
be commended in a resolution this Saturday for its
service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
communities. The resolution will be presented by
Delegate Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who
sponsored the measure in the General Assembly’s
2008 session.
The foundation is the parent organization to the
Gay Community Center of Richmond, which runs
both for Diversity Thrift Store and Diversity Bingo.
Since opening its doors in 2000, Diversity Thrift
has raised more than $400,000 for Richmond’s gay
community.
The money raised by the foundation is donated to
organizations such as the Fan Free Clinic, which offers
free HIV testing and education, and Meals on Wheels,
which delivers free meals to AIDS patients.
Richmond activist John Klein established the
Gay Community Foundation in 1999. Klein started
the organization because he noticed Richmond’s
gay community was underfunded, said Jay Squires,
executive director of the Gay Community Center.
Brief By Lauren Page and Allen Spahr, Capital News Service
Gender identity added to VCU’s non-discrimination policy
A bill to add gender identity and expression to
VCU’s non-discrimination policy has been signed by
the student body president.
The Student Senate passed the resolution last
week after it was submitted by the student body
via a petition.
The text of the new anti-discrimination policy,
which is now supported as student body policy is:
“Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action institution providing
access to education and employment without regard
to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation,
gender identity or gender expression.”
Queer Action championed this cause, and the
VCU Diversity and Equity Committee worked on
the resolution.
Information provided by the Student Government Association
University Safety Committee to hold student safety forum
The University Safety Committee will hold its
Annual Student Safety Forum April 22 at the Commonwealth
Ballrooms of the University Student
Commons-just days after VCU’s Presidential Work
Group on Safety completed its initial draft reports.
President Eugene P. Trani established the group
after the Virginia Tech massacre and the subsequent
release of a report by the Governor’s Virginia Tech
Review Panel. The purpose of the group is to study
the review panel’s report and determine how to
respond to the panel’s recommendations.
The Work Group’s reports can be reviewed at
www.safetyreport.vcu.edu and online readers can
provide feedback.
Work-group members will be making a presentation
at the forum, and students can share
comments, concerns or questions with university
administrators.
Information provided by Henry G. Rhone, Vice Provost
for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services