Randolph Critzer for State Senate

What a pleasure to attend the
CCDC Champions event today, and to hear from Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Delegate Lindsey Dougherty, Senator Mike Jones, and Speaker Don Scott about the progress we've made in Chesterfield County and across the Commonwealth. Your perspectives help us push forward and make change.

It is always refreshing to speak with so many engaged community leaders as we celebrate our accomplishments, give gratitude, and prepare for the long fight ahead. My thanks to everyone in attendance and to Chesterfield Democrats for putting together such a great event.

And of course, congratulations, Speaker Scott, on being this year's Chesterfield Champion! It was great to see you, and I look forward to working with you as we continue moving Virginia forward.

Today I attended Senator Mike Jones’ Environmental/Data Center Round Table here in Chesterfield.

It was great to hear from Senator Jones and so many residents and activists in the community and be a part of the conversation on these issues.

There’s a lot that we can, and should, do to deliver results for Virginians, and Senator Jones is right that the best ideas often come from rooms like this one. Kudos to him for the leadership and for taking it to the streets, and as always, I’m impressed by our local community for showing up and speaking out.

Nine years ago today, August 12, 2017, white supremacists descended on Charlottesville, Virginia in a violent, racist demonstration. Heather Heyer’s life was cut short in a hateful moment of political violence simply for showing up to speak against their racist bigotry.

Donald Trump was wrong. There were not “very fine people on both sides.” The Unite the Right marchers were N***s, white supremacists, and Klansmen, and at least one was a murderer. They were, and are, dangerous bigots.

Nine years later, those violent ideologies are spreading, still led by Donald Trump. Today, innocent people are dragged off the streets and imprisoned in warehouses, often simply because of the color of their skin or the way they speak.

May the events of nine years ago remind us of our responsibility to work together to stamp out hatred and to choose courage over cowardice, unity over division, and action over silence. Today, in Heather’s memory, let us continue to fight hatred, injustice, bigotry, and violence in all its forms.

Thank you Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi for giving people an opportunity to be heard on this important issue. I encourage all to RSVP and attend.

RSVP Here!: https://www.vaenergytour.com

I very much appreciate Governor Abigail Spanberger’s intervention on this merger but I still believe extending the timeline would be beneficial. Whenever we make a big decision about a new job or moving or changing schools we try to take the time to gather all the information we can and then make a careful, considered determination. We should do the same with this merger that impacts so many Virginians.