RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A resolution honoring the life of the late U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd sparked a walkout by black lawmakers from the state Senate floor.
Byrd was a defender of racial segregation. He died July 30 at age 98.
Walking off the Senate floor Friday were Sens. Kenneth C. Alexander of Norfolk, Mamie E. Locke of Hampton, L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, Henry L. Marsh III of Richmond and A. Donald McEachin of Henrico County, all black Democrats.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch ((https://bit.ly/1fZhWj5 ) reports that Alexandria Democratic Sen. Adam P. Ebbin, who is white, joined them.
The remaining senators approved the resolution, which calls the former senator from Winchester a “respected statesman and great Virginian.”
The Senate is to formally present the resolution to members of Byrd’s family Tuesday.
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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, https://www.timesdispatch.com
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