Green steps down as head of Richmond Crusade for Voters

Antoine Green, the upstart President of the influential African-American political group, The Richmond Crusade for Voters, resigned his post tonight (Tuesday). Green faced fierce opposition from the group because of his role advocating for Richmond’s new Patrick Henry Charter School. He serves as the school’s CEO.

Green has been the President of the Crusade, an organization with a rich history in Virginia politics, for three years. He is considered a local rising star in political circles and was featured as one of Style Weekly’s “40 under 40” in 2008.

Our reporter, Evrod Cassimy was at tonight’s meeting to talk to Green about the progress of Patrick Henry opening. During the meeting, Crusade members went on the attack, accusing Green of conflict of interest in his role with the political group and the charter school. Patrick Henry has been a divisive issue in the City of Richmond. While some families are excited about the potential the school may provide to underprivileged youth, many others are concerned that it will drain already depleted resources from the overall district budget. The Patrick Henry effort has received the support at many high levels of Virginia Government, including Governor Bob McDonnell himself.

The upheavel at tonight’s meeting also led J.J Minor, the organization’s Vice-President to resign as well. Minor has been one of the leading critics of Green holding both the role of CEO at Patrick Henry and President of the Crusade.

This is not the first controversy that the Crusade has found themselves in. This summer their endorsement of Terry McAuliffe in the Democratic Gubernatorial primary came under fire by supporters of Sen. Creigh Deeds, including Mayor Dwight Jones and Sen. Henry Marsh. McAuliffe ended up holding on to the endorsement, after an awkward press event that was held in Church Hill, overlooking the city skyline.

Evrod will have more on this story tonight, including some of the fireworks from the meeting tonight at 11.

UPDATE: You can see Evrod’s report from NBC12, by clicking here

McAuliffe/Jewell respond to Crusade for Voters controversy

Against the picturesque backdrop of the Richmond City skyline, Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe accepted the endorsement of the Richmond Crusade for Voters. The group is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Commonwealth.

McAuliffe announced the endorsement earlier in the week to great fanfare, but some of the excitement waned when Senator Henry Marsh, a longtime leader in the group and a Creigh Deeds supporter, questioned the way the vote was taken. Marsh claimed that a large group of people appeared at the meeting who had no connection to the organization.  Marsh who has been with the group for more than 50 years said in a statement that he is afraid the vote has to potential to “reflect poorly on the Crusade and diminish the credibility of this historic organization.”

Richmond City Councilman E. Martin Jewell, a McAuliffe supporter disagrees. He rushed to McAuliffe’s defense today during the event and claimed that Marsh’s complaints are without merit. He said with or without the members in question, McAuliffe won the vote by a comfortable margin. He challenged those who disagree to “sue me” and said “This is a Henry Marsh trick! I love him, but I know him! Don’t y’all get tricked by that!.”

An extended clip from the McAuliffe event and Senator Marsh’s entire statement can be found after the jump..