It is a sad day in Richmond, as one of our core institutions, the Richmond Free Press, is closing its doors. For more than three decades, this Black-owned newspaper has been a beacon. In a city with a history as complex and painful as ours, the Free Press did more than report the news. It reinvigorated the Black press, asked hard questions of the city’s leaders, and amplified voices often pushed to the margins.  

Black-owned media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy and community trust. At the height of segregation, publications such as John Mitchell Jr.’s Richmond Planet made sure Richmond’s whole  story was told. The Free Press carried on that important legacy. It made sure the fullness of Richmond’s story was part of the public record--not just the comfortable chapters. And in the former capital of the Confederacy, this was no small feat. 

Through its award-winning journalism – recognized by the Virginia Press Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and others – the Free Press preserved history, while pushing us towards a brighter, more just, more equal future.

Many of the advancements we have seen in and around Richmond – in public awareness, in civic consciousness, in conversations about race and equality - did not happen in isolation. They happened because institutions like the Free Press did the steady, disciplined work of publishing stories that others might overlook, documenting injustice, and elevating community voices.  

I am deeply grateful to the founders -- the devoted and trailblazing Boone family -- the editors, reporters, photographers, and staff, who poured their talent and heart into this work. You helped move our city forward. The closing of your doors should inspire us all to remain active and involved neighbors in our communities.  

Thank you for the impact you have had on our city. You will be missed.