Published in the Martinsville Bulletin.

To the editor:

On Friday, Jan. 19, the Virginia Senate passed a bill that gives more people a fair shot at public employment. Senate Bill 252 would stop state agencies and local governments from asking about criminal history on the initial job application, making sure that returning citizens get a shot at an interview. I am very happy to report that our state senator Mr. Bill Stanley voted in support of this bill to “ban the box.”

On behalf of Virginia Organizing, I want to thank him for doing right thing. We worked hard to ban the box in Martinsville and Henry County and are proud to see him advance this cause at the state level.

Our delegates, Danny Marshall and Les Adams, will have the opportunity to vote on this bill in the near future. For the sake of all returning citizens like me, I hope they will support these efforts to ban the box in Virginia. Again, thank you Senator Stanley.

John H. Mahan

Martinsville