Asphalt Removal Begins Tues. May 24 at 10:30 am
CITY OF RICHMOND
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release Contact: Tammy Hawley
Thursday, May 19, 2011 (804) 646-3110
Richmond African Burial Ground Restoration to Begin
~Mayor to lead group that will begin lifting the asphalt~
WHO: Dwight C. Jones, Mayor, City of Richmond
Delores McQuinn, Chair, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission
Kathy Graziano, President, Richmond City Council
Ellen Robertson, Vice President, Richmond City Council
Cynthia Newbille, Richmond City Council
Michael Rao, VCU President
King Salim Khalfani, Virginia State Conference NAACP
F. Todd Gray, Pastor, Fifth Street Baptist Church
Janine Bell, Elegba Folklore Society
Ana Edwards, Defenders Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
WHAT: Removal of the asphalt from the Richmond African Burial Ground
WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 2011
10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Richmond African Burial Ground
1554 East Broad Street
BACKGROUND: Earlier this month, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced that three contractors have joined forces to donate services to the city of Richmond for the removal of the asphalt and gravel from Richmond's African Burial Ground. The city will officially take possession of the site on Monday, May 23, 2011. This event will mark the beginning of the asphalt and gravel removal from the 3.4-acre site. The asphalt and gravel that is presently covering the Burial Ground and use of the area as a parking lot has met with much public dissension over the last several years.
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