A Franklin County jury awarded $750,000 to a landlord who evicted two families after discovering that one of them was black. The case was prosecuted by Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights.

“Housing discrimination, and discrimination in general, will not be tolerated by Virginia,” stated Attorney General Jason Miyares. “We’re pleased with the jury’s decision, and I am immensely proud of my Civil Rights Unit.” Franklin County has spoken: Smith Mountain Lake belongs to everyone.

According to the summary released by the AG’s Office, Regina Turner, owner at Lazy Cove Campground, on Smith Mountain Lake had rented out lots to families for many decades. Turner’s lot was occupied by a couple who rented a spot for their camper. They encouraged a couple of interracial married couples with a son to lease the adjacent space. Turner negotiated with the wife, a white woman, to lease a space. Turner, however, evicted both families after learning that the husband is black. She openly stated that she wouldn’t have rented them if she had known about his race.

The jury took less than two-hours to decide and awarded each couple $100,000 for the losses they suffered, as well the humiliation, emotional pain, and other damages. The jury also awarded $550,000 as punitive damages in order to punish Turner and deter future discrimination.

It is depressing to see racism of this kind persist in our society. It is becoming more rare, and it’s overwhelmingly condemned. Franklin County, a deep red county, voted 72% in favor of Donald Trump during the election of 2024, yet the jury ordered massive punitive damage within less than two hours.

Virginia’s Republican attorney general must crack down on real cases of racial bias in higher education, as the Republican governor of the commonwealth tries to eradicate it. It is important to make it clear that the decision to shut down Diversity, equity & inclusion is not a reaction against white supremacy, as has been widely portrayed. Instead, it is a commitment to a world free of racial preferences and discrimination.