JOINT STATEMENT by the Richmond Slave Trail Commission and Virginia Commonwealth University and The Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Ongoing discussions among State, City and VCU leaders have resulted in a consensus to preserve and rededicate land from its current long-time use of parking and to move forward to memorialize the former Richmond Burial Ground for Negroes on that land.  The working group includes Del. Dwight C. Jones, Richmond City Council President William J. Pantele, Council Vice President and Slave Trail Commission Chairman Delores L. McQuinn, Virginia Commonwealth University Vice President for Government Relations and Health Policy Don Gehring, VCU Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration John M. Bennett, VCU Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Brian J. Ohlinger, and DHR Director Kathleen S. Kilpatrick.

Based on careful consideration of the findings of a report prepared by DHR archaeologist Dr. Christopher Stevenson, the working group concurs that the main portion of the burial ground almost certainly lies under Interstate 95. The group similarly concurs with the finding that a small portion of the burial ground also likely extends for about 50 feet between Broad and Marshall into a section of an adjacent parking lot acquired recently by Virginia Commonwealth University. The University has committed to forgo use of this portion of the parking lot and to set it aside to support the development of a public memorial to the people interred in the burial ground.  

With that commitment ensured, the Slave Commission will take the lead to bring the public into the process to formulate more specific plans with the participation and support of Virginia Commonwealth University and the Department of Historic Resources along with other key players as the project evolves.

“We have been able to compile sufficiently conclusive evidence of the location of the historic Richmond Burial Ground for Negroes.  We now have a commitment and a fair and reasonable approach that will help the community come together and do what is right by those people who lie nearby,” said Kilpatrick, who called the group together and facilitated meetings. “We will follow the Slave Commission’s lead as we take the next steps to creating a vision and a plan toward that goal for the future of Richmond.”

Speaking on behalf of the Richmond Slave Trail Commission, Chairman McQuinn said, "I truly appreciate the cooperative spirit that has been evident in all of our discussions.  VCU has been generous in offering up part of the land it recently purchased.  I look forward to working with them and with the public, to finally dedicate this sacred ground and create a place where people can honor and learn about this chapter in Richmond’s history and show their respects and understanding."