Portsmouth Attorney Approved To Take Sen. Lucas, Confederate Monument Case

A Portsmouth Commonwealth attorney has been approved to take on a case involving state senator Louise Lucas and other prominent Black leaders charged in an incident involving the destruction of a Virginia Confederate monument.

Richmond Judge Claire Cardwell ruled attorney Stephanie Morales was not a witness in the June incident and will be able to take over the prosecution of the case involving Lucas (D), WAVY.com reports. Morales, who is also Black and a Democrat, was initially subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the case.

Lucas, who currently serves as Senate president pro tempore and is also a longtime member of the Virginia legislation, was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000 following a Portsmouth Police Department investigation into the incident, WAVY reports.

Several other local Black leaders, including NAACP members, also received felony charges in relation to the incident.

Lucas and the NAACP defendants are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on November 19 and cases for others charged in the incident will be held on November 23 and November 30, WAVY reports. Lucas' attorney, Don Scott, told WAVY that he believes the entire case is "all about Senator Lucas."

The incident occurred during a demonstration at Portsmouth's monument which honors Confederate soldiers, which was erected at the site of a former slave whipping post, calling for its removal. WAVY reports. The demonstration ended when part of the monument was pulled down and struck a protester, causing severe injuries.

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