This weekend marks the 60th anniversary of Bloody Monday, when civil rights protesters in Danville were violently confronted by police. In this story and three others, read about Danville’s civil rights movement, the people who lived through it, and how the city is growing today.
Culture
Posted inCulture
Rediscovered photos and documents from Danville’s civil rights movement
For nearly six decades, police photos of Danville’s 1963 civil rights protests were boxed up and had only been viewed by a handful of people. Now these photos and the accompanying notes from the city attorney are seeing the light of day.
Posted inCulture
Danville grapples with the memory of Bloody Monday
For decades, the city did not acknowledge Danville’s civil rights movement or the police response to it in a meaningful way. Now residents are working to ensure that Danville’s history is remembered by the entire city.
Posted inCulture
The people who remember Danville’s civil rights movement
Many of the people who participated in Danville’s civil rights struggle 60 years ago are still alive today. These are five profiles of the people helping Danville remember its history.
Posted inCulture
How Danville has drastically reduced its crime rate since 2016
In 2016, the Danville Police Department had no community policing model, a shaky relationship with residents and spiking crime levels. In recent years, the police, the city and the community have been working to change that.
Posted inCulture
Nature trail opens this week at D-Day Memorial
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford will dedicate the trail on Tuesday, the 79th anniversary of D-Day.
Posted inCulture
Southwest Virginia congregations join growing wave of disaffiliations from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ ministers and marriages
This week, 264 congregations in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee and North Georgia split from the United Methodist Church over concerns about same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ ministers. Nationwide, nearly 4,000 congregations have broken with the UMC.
Posted inCulture
From NFL draftee to NASA astronaut
Leland Melvin’s journey began in Lynchburg. It took him to the NFL, then to Langley — and then into space.
Posted inCulture
Craig Botetourt rail trail project moving forward
The Craig Botetourt Scenic Trail is one of five priority trail projects identified by Virginia’s new Office of Trails. The 26-mile route generally will follow Craig Creek.
Posted inCulture
‘Buried Deep’ delves into Lynchburg’s integration history
The play looks at Lynchburg’s decision to close its pools rather than integrate in 1961.