(WASHINGTON, D.C. 4/22/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today expressed support for a Saturday, April 23, protest by the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare against the alleged ongoing desecration of African-American and Native American cemeteries in Thoroughfare, Va., that are the resting places of slaves, freed slaves, freedmen/freedwomen, and Indigenous people.
[NOTE: This event is part of a nationwide effort by local communities seeking to protect historic Black and Native American cemeteries.]
The protest will take place at the historic Scott Cemetery, now owned by The Farm Brewery at Broad Run. Protesters will hold a short rally, followed by a peaceful protest across from the brewery.
WHAT: Protest Against Ongoing Desecration of Historic African-American, Native American Cemetery in Thoroughfare, Va.
WHEN: Saturday, April 23, 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Across from The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, 16015 John Marshall Hwy, Broad Run, VA 20137
CONTACT: Frank Washington, [email protected], 702-812-4174; Sheila Hansen, [email protected], 540-270-3742
Thoroughfare, Va., is a small community comprised of people of Native American and African-American descent. Recently, the community has been struggling to reclaim three community cemeteries purchased by developers.
Since The Farm Brewery at Broad Run purchased the Scott property, and despite several cease-and-desist orders from Prince William County, the brewery has repeated bulldozed, graded and landscaped the cemetery, and currently is trying to claim that the Scott Cemetery does not even exist.
SEE: Historic Scott Cemetery in Thoroughfare in limbo
In 1966, the Scott Cemetery was listed on a USGS map. In the late 1990s, the cemetery was listed by Prince William County as containing 75 to 100 graves.
According to Frank Washington, representing the Thoroughfare Community, “Slaves, freed slaves, freedmen/freedwomen, and Native-Americans who worked and lived on the land of Thoroughfare, are under the threat of having their final sacred resting places decimated or completely removed by encroaching developers.”
Virginia’s governor recently signed two bills introduced by local Del. Danica Roem designed to prevent future issues similar to those occurring at Thoroughfare.
SEE: Youngkin signs several Prince William County-specific bills
BACKGROUNDER:
Thoroughfare is an historic Native American and African American community with roots going back hundreds of years. Originally a Native American community, during the 1800s African-Americans began to settle there and a vibrant mixed-race community was established. Today, Thoroughfare is centered around Oakrum Baptist Church, and the descendants of the founders still call Thoroughfare home.
When developers purchased land containing the three major Thoroughfare cemeteries and, early in 2021, destroyed the Scott Cemetery, blocked access to the Potters Field Cemetery, and threatened the Fields/Allen Cemetery with development, the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare formed to protect the cemeteries and to preserve the history of Thoroughfare.
Recently, The Prince William Board of County Supervisors agreed to purchase a two-acre parcel to preserve the heritage of the Thoroughfare community.
SEE: Prince William Co. approves historic district land purchase for future park
Video: Virginia Group Works to Save Historic African-American, Native American Cemeteries
The town of Thoroughfare was established and settled by freed African-American slaves and Native Americans. Homes and family cemeteries in this community date back to 1860 and earlier.
Descendants of freed slaves and Native-Americans still live in Thoroughfare.
Slaves, freed slaves, freedmen/freedwomen, and Native-Americans who worked and lived on the land of Thoroughfare, Va., are under the threat of having their final sacred resting places decimated or completely removed by encroaching developers. Family members are also being denied access to many of these graves.
Historic freed slave homes, land and structures are under the same threat of destruction and at risk of being lost.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Video: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare – A Town Under Siege
https://www.facebook.com/104115108438832/videos/762944897756999
Video: Community Fights to Save Historic Cemeteries from Development (NBC4)
A small Virginia town fights to save historic cemeteries of former slaves (WTOP)
‘Even in death, they have to fight for a name’ (Prince William Times)
Coalition tries to preserve historic western Prince William cemeteries
In Virginia, a historic Black neighborhood grapples with development (Washington Post)
The race to save African-American cemeteries from being ‘erased’ (Reuters)
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]