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On This Day in History – Aug. 21, 1939: America’s first sit-in takes place in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore
Police leading participants in the sit-down strike out of the Alexandria Library. Courtesy, Alexandria Black History Museum.

Five African-American youths staged America’s first deliberate and planned sit-in at the segregated Alexandria Library on Queen St. on Aug. 21, 1939 — more than two decades before the tactic would become the trademark of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, according to Historic Alexandria.

The protest had its roots in earlier efforts by attorney Samuel Wilbert Tucker and retired Army Sgt. George Wilson, who on March 17, 1939, had walked through the doors of the whites-only library and requested applications for library cards. Library policy prohibited issuing cards to “persons of the colored race.”

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Beyer, Norton to reintroduce federal police body camera bill

By Ryan Belmore
Masked federal agents arrested construction workers at the Eaton Square Apartments in Chirilagua on Aug. 18 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Rep. Don Beyer and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton plan to reintroduce legislation requiring federal police officers to use body and dashboard cameras when Congress returns in September.

The announcement on Wednesday comes after federal law enforcement officers were filmed in Washington using excessive force, obscuring their faces with masks, and refusing to identify their agencies.

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Congressional candidate alleges wrongful arrest by Alexandria sheriff’s deputies

By Ryan Belmore
An Alexandria Sheriff's vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District has accused Alexandria Sheriff’s Office deputies of wrongfully arresting him during an eviction Monday morning, despite having what he claims was a pending appeal with the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Frank Ferreira, one of three Democrats challenging five-term incumbent Rep. Don Beyer in the primary, issued a press release early Tuesday morning detailing his arrest at 409 N. Pitt St. on Aug. 18. According to Ferreira’s account, he was arrested for obstruction after requesting to speak with Sheriff Sean Casey during the eviction process.

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INTERVIEW: Alexandria’s Poet Laureate wants to focus work on the city’s immigrant experience

By James Cullum
Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso speaks at Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Poet Laureate Cristi Donoso says that her future work will focus on the immigrant experience in the city.

Donoso has lived in Alexandria for more than a decade and has so far written four poems as poet laureate. Her work, which includes the city’s birthday poem that she read onstage to thousands last month, can be seen on the Office of the Arts website and her personal website.

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Former Alexandria councilman’s use of city polo at protest draws questions

By Ryan Belmore
Former Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein wearing an official City Council polo at ARHA protest on Aug. 20 (Staff Photo by James Cullum)

Former Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein‘s decision to wear an Alexandria City Council polo shirt while participating in a housing protest Tuesday has drawn questions from residents about the appropriate use of city-branded clothing by former officials and potential voter confusion.

Seifeldein, who served on the City Council from 2019 to 2021 and is running for Congress, wore the official city polo while positioning himself as a mediator during a demonstration outside the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority headquarters on Wythe Street. More than a dozen current and former ARHA tenants protested poor living conditions and delayed repairs.

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Alexandria council member calls for investigation into housing authority CEO living in public housing

By James Cullum
Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A member of the Alexandria City Council has called for an immediate investigation into how Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) CEO Erik Johnson lived in a public housing property with his family in Old Town.

Johnson confirmed Wednesday that he moved into a property on Cook Street in July and is in the process of moving out. Johnson said that he was alerted that it was an issue by an ARHA Board member. Johnson was hired a year ago and started work in Sept. 2024.

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Alexandria housing authority tenants protest poor conditions, delayed repairs

By James Cullum
Former City Council Member and Congressional candidate Mo Seifeldein shouts at ARHA CEO Erik Johnson at a protest outside the public housing authority's headquarters, Aug. 20, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than a dozen current and former Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) tenants protested unfair treatment from their landlord at ARHA headquarters (401 Wythe Street) Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The protestors held signs and shouted at ARHA CEO Erik Johnson and his staff. Johnson, who made a statement addressing resident concerns last week, told ALXnow that he inherited the organization’s problems when he started the job 11 months ago. He also acknowledged that residents have faced challenges, including delayed rental payments from ARHA to landlords, paperwork backlogs, caseworker abandonment, and more.

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Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge to open for vessel passage tonight

By Ryan Belmore
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge will open at midnight tonight to allow a vessel to pass through, causing traffic stoppages of 15 to 20 minutes, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The agency’s Northern Virginia district shared the traffic alert on social media Wednesday morning, advising drivers to expect delays on the span that carries Interstate 95 and the Interstate 495 Capital Beltway between Alexandria and Oxon Hill, Md.

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ALX Closet serves nearly 1,000 children in first year

By James Cullum
via Center for Alexandria's Children/Facebook

Nearly 1,000 Alexandria children have received emergency resources since the opening of ALX Closet in 2024.

The resource center at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) is a collaboration between nonprofits The Center for Alexandria’s Children and The Fund for Alexandria’s Child, providing kids with donations of clothes, diapers, formula, and more to families experiencing a crisis.

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Health officials investigate potential measles exposure at Dulles Airport

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Alexandria residents who traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Aug. 12 may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials.

The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed measles case involving an out-of-state resident who traveled through the airport that day. The potential exposure occurred in the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B and on transportation between the main terminal and Concourse B from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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Red Barn Mercantile partners with Two Men and a Truck to collect formal wear for young adults

By Ryan Belmore
Red Barn Mercantile and Two Men And A Truck are collecting dress donations. (Credit: Red Barn Mercantile)

Red Barn Mercantile, located at 1117 King Street in Alexandria, is partnering with Two Men and a Truck to collect gently used homecoming and wedding guest dresses and shoes through the end of August.

The initiative aims to help young adults who may not be able to afford clothing for special events by creating a free boutique in a warehouse where they can shop for formal wear.

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