See below for video from a few minutes ago in the Virginia State Senate, where Sen. Mamie Locke introduced the Reverend Robert W. Lee IV, the great great great great grandnephew of General Robert E. Lee and Dr. Warren Christian, the great great grandson of Gen “Stonewall” Jackson. As Sen. Locke stated, “Reverend Lee is a fighter for racial justice and reconciliation and equality for all,” while Dr. Christian “is an English language specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill” and also “a champion of racial justice who has spoken out on how we need to move forward.” Sen. Locke added that both Rev. Lee and Dr. Christian “represent members of a new generation of progressive values that unite us not divide us.”
For his part, Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax welcomed Rev. Lee and Dr. Christian, saying:
“We are grateful for your presence and know that you traveled on short notice to be with us. Thank you for your moral leadership here in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in this nation. I had the distinct honor and privilege of spending time with each one of you. And also Reverend Lee, praying with you and with Warren. I think that this is exactly the right tone and signal to this nation about how we heal and come together and honor those who want to bring this country together and not tear it apart. And so thank you for standing up with courage and moral leadership at this moment in American history. As you know and as we shared, I’m the great great-great grandson of someone who was enslaved here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. And given your history, Robert, and your family’s history in the Lee family, and your history, Warren, with the Jackson family, how fitting that we can come together on MLK Day, pray for one another, fight for justice and opportunity for all. So we are grateful to you. You are welcome back here any time as a member of this family…everybody please join me in extending the warmest welcome of the Senate to our distinguished guests.”
P.S. Today’s introductions follow what happened Friday, when Lt. Gov. Fairfax stepped off the Senate dais “in protest of the Virginia Senate honoring Robert E. Lee.”
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