For Immediate Release: February 14, 2019

Contact: Linda Paris, media@sistersleadsistersvote.org,601-627-LEAD(5323).

More than 100 Black Women Leaders of Virginia and Allies Believe Lt. Gov. Justin
Fairfax, Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson and Meredith Watson Deserve Fairness and Due
Process

February 14, 2019 (Washington, DC) – Sisters Lead Sisters Vote (SLSV) and a coalition of over
100 Black women leaders in Virginia release the following public statement to the Virginia
Democratic Party in support of fairness for Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson and
Meredith Watson to discourage punitive action, such as resignation, until all parties are afforded due
process. See below.

February 14, 2019

Black Women Leaders of Virginia and Allies Believe Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Dr. Vanessa C.
Tyson, and Ms. Meredith Watson Deserve Fairness and Due Process

We, the undersigned Black women leaders and voters of the Commonwealth of Virginia and our
allies, are writing this public statement in response to calls for Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax to resign
based on sexual assault allegations which he vehemently denies. While accusations of sexual
assault are serious and should be treated as such, we also believe that any calls for Lt. Governor
Fairfax’s resignation at this point are premature and lack any notion of fairness and due process.

We strongly believe that every woman who is brave enough to come forward with allegations of
sexual assault, including Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson and Ms. Meredith Watson, should be heard,
respected and have their allegations taken seriously. Further, we just as vehemently believe that
allegations alone are not tantamount to guilt. We cannot forego due process and claim to be a
society which values justice.

We take a backseat to no one when it comes to the issue of advocating for women’s rights and
defending women who have experienced sexual assault, abuse, and discrimination. Also, many of
us have been at the forefront of the fight for the rights of African Americans, not the least of which
includes the right to due process in the face of accusations. Our distinct history in this country is
replete with examples of African American women and men being assumed guilty and summarily
punished, some even sacrificing their lives in the process.

It is also because we are uniquely familiar with the far-reaching dangers of rushing to judgment that
we cannot merely stand by now and allow allegations that have not been investigated be used to
justify the destruction of a person’s professional career and personal reputation.
 If we stand by silently now and allow allegations to be interpreted as automatic guilt in this instance
or any other, we would, in essence, be endorsing the normalization of a standard which we know
from our distinct history, hurts the African American community most.
Therefore, as this matter stands today, we oppose any calls for Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax to resign
without due process.
**Partial List of Signers as of 2/14/2019
Chioma Adaku , Hampton, VA
Paula Adams, Beaumont, TX
Kanisha Adkins,Glen Allen,VA
Sylvia Alston, Union, NJ
Cassandra Alston Townsley, Hampton, VA
Dr. Barbara M. Amos, Norfolk, VA
Marquis Atkins, Chula Vista, CA
Sandra Attidore, Accokeek, MD
Andrea Bailey, Dumfries, VA
Alexander Baptiste, Toronto, ON
Tanya Barnett, Waldorf, MD
Robin Bennett, Raleigh, NC
Hazel Bland-Thomas, Washington DC
Oscar Blayton. Williamsburg, VA
Arlene Blount Williamsburg, VA
Jennifer Bowles, Martinsville, VA
Lillie Branch-Kennedy, Henrico, VA
Charlene Brewingto, Richmond, VA
Melanie Campbell, Alexandria, VA
Carla Carney, Hampton, VA
Winifred Carson-Smith, Washington DC
Dianne Carter de Mayo, Hayes, VA
Tonia Carver, Virginia Beach, VA
Lavern Chatman, Alexandria, VA
Ann Cherry, Hampton, VA
Angie Clark, Yorktown, VA
Claudia Cohn, Hampton, VA
Karyn Coleman, Little Rock, AR
Ernesia Cribb, Richmond, VA
Arkena Dailey, Hampton, VA
Quena Dailey, Hampton, VA
Andrea Diggs, Newport News ,VA
Cassandra Dillard, Yorktown, VA
Gardenia Dixon, West Haven, CT
Cynthia Downs, Smithfield, VA
Simone Dreher, Newport News, VA
Leah El-Amin, Marietta, GA
Ruby Eley, Hampton, VA
Apryl Elston , Dumfries, VA
Wanda Farrow, Chesapeake, VA
Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd, Springfield, VA
Sandra Gale, Virginia Beach, VA
Alvin Georges, Chesapeake, VA
Charisse Glassman, Falls Church, VA
Darlene Graham, Hampton, VA
Lakitta Hicks, Suffolk, VA
Holli Holliday, Washington, DC
Hallie Holmes, Saluda, VA
Tracey Howell , Spring Grove , VA
Desirea Hughes, Clarksburg, MD
Pam Hughes, Kansas City, MO
Inga, Jackson, Bowie, MD
Linda, Jefferson, Hampton, VA
Napoleon Jemison, CA
Sybille Jennings, Hampton, VA
Cook Johnny, Hampton, VA
Ada Johnson, Alexandria, VA
Teresa Johnson, Alexandria, VA
Charlene Jones, Warsaw, VA
Felicia Jones, Richmond, TX
Avis Jones-DeWeever, Ph.D.Woodbridge,VA
Gaylene Kanoyton, Hampton, VA
Jacquelyn Kidd, Petersburg, VA
Chiquia Kimbrough, Queen Creek, AZ
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Washington DC
LaToya Mason, Suffolk, VA
Natasha McCain, Hampton, VA
Cassandra McClerklin, Alexandria, VA
Nina McEaddy, Bowie, MD
Karen McRae, Alexandria, VA
Lillie Mells, Yorktown, VA
Penny Millson-Martula,Madison Heights,VA
DeLevay Miner, Hampton, VA
Bernitta Mitchell, Charlotte, NC
Kathryn Moore, Hampton, VA
Wanda Morton, Hampton, VA
Robert Moss, Montgomery, AL
Hakima Muhammad, Newport News, VA
Joe Parker III, Detroit, MI EJ Scott, Manassas, VA
Shirley Patterson, Hampton, VA James Scurry, Houston, TX
Andrea Pegram Chavers, Newport News, VA Bonnie Smith, Hampton, VA
Barbara Perkins, Atlanta, GA Debra Stephenson, Fairburn, GA
Laurine Press, Hampton, VA Louisa Strayhorn, Virginia Beach, VA
Jetia Pressey, Hampton, VA Deloris Thomas, Newport News, VA
Waqia Richardson, Newport News, VA Linda Thomas, Bowling Green, VA
Sharon Riley, Norfolk, VA Lynetta Thompson, Sandston, VA
James River, Chesapeake, VA Stacy White, Hampton, VA
Jerrold Roy, Hampton, VA Hope White, Modesto, CA
Sharon Russell , Hampton, VA Bernice White-Morto, Hampton, VA
Yugonda Sample-Jones, Newport News, VA Vickie Williams, Hampton, VA
Karyn Sanders, Baldwin, NY Sha Williams, Hampton, VA
J Maria Saunders, Newport News, VA Vickie Williams, Hampton, VA
Sharon Scott, Newport News, VA Ward Wilson, Hartford, CT

###

Sisters Lead Sisters Vote is a 501(c) 4 organization, led by an intergenerational group of Black women to
be a political voice for the interests of Black women and their families. For more information on visit our
website, www.sistersleadsistersvote.org