Social Justice

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Michael J. McQuerry August 8,… Read more »

Dear Participants of the 3rd Virgin Islands Advocacy Day: I would like to publicly express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the time, energy and subject matter expertise the participants of the 3rd Advocacy Day in Washington DC voice our community’s issues on July 17, 2019. As you are aware, unlike most states which have large delegations of Members in Congress, I am the only… Read more »

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT SENDS LETTER TO THE VI LEGISLATURE URGING A DISCUSSION ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLITICAL STATUS WITH THE UNITED STATES Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI), released the following statement regarding her letter to Senate President Kenneth L. Gittens regarding starting a dialogue with the people of the Virgin Islands in regards to the… Read more »

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT RECOGNIZES THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (USVI), released the following statement regarding the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: “Martin Luther King Day is a day where we celebrate the life, legacy and achievements of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Civil Rights leader and… Read more »

As Americans discuss the mid-term elections: very little is said about the greatest force in the present political landscape– African American women. Black women in America are exerting unacknowledged force in shaping politics in this country. In a focused motivated manner, black women are determinants of political power –through advocating for specific political action as a group or… Read more »

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI), ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy and Environment, released the following statement regarding a recent article in the National Review urging Congress not to trust the USVI with post-disaster funds: “It has been my position that the use of post-disaster federal funds to the U.S. Virgin Islands must receive the… Read more »

As Americans begin many of the pastimes of summer that are quintessentially American – baseball, backyard barbeques, family road trips - Caribbean Americans spend the month of June reflecting on their contributions and melded cultures in the United States. Ironically, this June, Congress may vote on an immigration bill that will end the Diversity Visa Lottery program which has allowed… Read more »

I did not have high expectations for this year’s State of the Union address. But I expected that the President would be duty bound to address the devastation wrought by hurricanes Irma and Maria and give his administration’s plans for rebuilding, and therefore I felt it was necessary to be present when that outline was given. I also hoped to hear President Trump’s plan to provide… Read more »

OPINION- Published in the Hill- July 11, 2017 Last week on July 4 we commemorated the Declaration of Independence, the affirmative document outlining the ideals of equality and democracy and upheld as a model around the world. For a small group of Americans, this year is also a centennial milestone. It marks 100 years that the people of the Virgin Islands have been part of the United… Read more »

Just as the newly-convened 115th Congress began this week, Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett brought the issue of unequal treatment of the territories to the forefront. Plaskett took the unprecedented and extraordinary step of interrupting the official vote for Speaker of the House to highlight the fact that the Delegates of the Territories are not allowed to cast their vote… Read more »