Fredericksburg Leaders Attend Forum To Listen To Young People

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Fredericksburg officials, including members of the city council, the police chief and the city manager, attended a closed-door forum Saturday morning at James Monroe High School, where young people aged 15 to 25 gathered to speak about their concerns with the city. Members of the public and the press were not permitted inside the auditorium to hear the conversation.

In the aftermath of protests in the city against the death of George Floyd and police brutality, the city of Fredericksburg sent out an email Wednesday announcing the Fredericksburg Youth Forum, saying, "join us for a Youth Forum this Saturday to address Fredericksburg Community Leaders."

When asked at the event if the city was one of the hosts of the event, Fredericksburg City Manager Timothy Baroody told Patch that it was a private event and that the city leaders had been invited to listen. The city sent out the email only to promote the event, he said.

"Obviously, we have a lot of work in front of us beyond today's conversation. But we're here to listen as a body from various assets of leadership in the city," he said.

In its news alert announcing the forum, Fredericksburg said Baroody, Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Council Member Chuck “Charlie” Frye Jr., Police Chief Brian Layton and Fredericksburg Public Schools school board member Jarvis Bailey would be in attendance. Also, members of the City Advisory Panel, which is Fredericksburg's civilian law enforcement panel established 2015, were listed as attendees.

The city's email also listed Vernon Green as host and organizer of the event. The city said Green is the owner of Stafford County-based business GCubed Inc. Outside the auditorium where the closed-door event was held, a man identifying himself as affiliated with the organizer ordered Patch away from the area and instructed Patch not to interview anyone when they leave the auditorium.

Green then spoke with Patch, explaining that he did not want the news media interviewing anyone as they leave the event. He said his goal was to calm down the people inside the auditorium.

Since the death of George Floyd, there have been incidents across the nation where police have arrested, fired tear gas, fired rubber bullets and brutalized members of the news media. President Donald Trump often calls the press the "enemy of the people."

In his instructions to city officials prior to their entrance into the auditorium, Green said no recording devices would be allowed. But he did allow them to take notes. Green also told the city officials to be patient and "just listen" to the young people while inside the James Monroe High School auditorium.

Baroody said Green held a similar event in Stafford County a week earlier. In February, Green was recognized with an award by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for his contributions to the community. In September 2019, GCubed held a fundraiser in support of Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur’s reelection campaign.

On its website, GCubed Inc. says: "In 2014, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Vernon Green Jr. set out to establish an IT & cybersecurity business built on integrity and exceeding expectations. In the five years since, he has done just that. With stable growth since inception, nine prime contracts, and a team of experts supporting the corporate office, GCubed is on track for continued success."

Green has a master’s degree in cybersecurity, a B.S. in computer information technology; is a certified information security systems professional, certified ethical hacker and a Cisco certified network associate; and has Security+ certifications, according to his company's website. GCubed’s nonprofit entity G3 Community Services focuses on "improving lives and strengthening communities."

Green said he would be drafting a summary of the conversation at the closed-door youth forum.

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