Twitter Original™ ThadDec 17, 2022
ProPublica

Developers Found Graves in the Virginia Woods. Authorities Then Helped Erase the Historic Black Cemetery.
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The cemetery’s disappearance cleared the way for the expansion of a #Microsoft data center, despite layers of federal and state #regulations nominally intended to protect culturally significant sites.

“This is not as bad as it sounds,” a consultant wrote in2014 to Microsoft & to a county official. “We should be able to relocate these graves.”

https://www.propublica.org/article/how-authorities-erased-historic-black-cemetery-virginia

Developers Found Graves in the Virginia Woods. Authorities Then Helped Erase the Historic Black Cemetery.

The cemetery’s disappearance cleared the way for the expansion of a Microsoft data center, despite layers of federal and state regulations nominally intended to protect culturally significant sites.

ProPublica
Dec 16, 2022 at 12:12pmWeb
Show threadLee KatherineDec 16, 2022
@ProPublica unfortunately, stuff like this happens all the Time in the world of historic preservation.
Show threadLyndeeDec 16, 2022

@ProPublica

What if they were white?
#WhitePrivelge

Show threadSaraDec 16, 2022

@lynnedubois @ProPublica actually, that's one of the differences of opinion I have with the author on this one -- shouldn't have mattered under the law if they were white. Author failed to understand how statements of significance under NHPA work.

To be fair in this case the client (Microsoft's contractor) also seems to have totally misunderstood that in a particularly bizarre way that is not grounded in legal reality.

Show threadLyndeeDec 16, 2022

@sarae @ProPublica

Youre right, it should not matter who is buried there.

I wonder how many white cemeteries have been discovered and moved without notice?

Show threadRosanitaDec 18, 2022
@lynnedubois @sarae @ProPublica Did you both read the entire article? It specifically mentioned how differently the white cemeteries, ancestors, and remains in the county were treated, right down to public meetings and cemetery/grave markers.
Show threadRosanitaDec 18, 2022
@lynnedubois @ProPublica Actually the article covered how white cemeteries were treated differently in the county before and after this incident.
Show threadLyndeeDec 18, 2022

@rosanita @ProPublica

Not surprising.

Show threadJohn G FitzgeraldDec 16, 2022
@ProPublica Voodoo, so that's when Microsoft started to veer off course? They shouldn't have messed with the graves.
Show threadEbakerDec 16, 2022
@ProPublica what a beautifully written story. Thank you.
Show threadSaraDec 16, 2022
@ProPublica thank you for this, this is so important and this is FAR from the only place it's happening
Show threadRob MonroeDec 16, 2022
@ProPublica Excellent reporting!
Show threadInfiniteOneDec 17, 2022
@ProPublica @kcarruthers This is the reporting I’m here for. Thank you!
Show threadSueG In NJDec 17, 2022
@ProPublica 😪
Show threadStephen JeromeDec 17, 2022
@ProPublica This is disgusting; how awful!
Show threadDaelvDec 17, 2022
@ProPublica hope for Bedminster! :( We have an abandoned Grave yard nearby. I went and found one stone about 6" down. mid 1800's https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNQuZVMqwPUjp2DwjAy2xyx8Rf-ehMIhcUKbHxi=s680-w680-h510
Show threadbetonglenDec 17, 2022

@ProPublica

thank you as always #ProPublica

how sad - the #Racism, the greed, and erasure of #BlackHistory by government agencies and private entities. #Microsoft - you need to make things right.

Show threadJohnW ⚓ 📸 ✊🏿Dec 19, 2022
@ProPublica That was a powerful story. I was very moved by it. Thanks to all who contributed to make it happen.

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