-Press Release-

Forward Party in Virginia Stands Against Government Intimidation

April 8, 2025

Stand Up. Speak Out. We’re Building a New Way Forward.

The Forward Party in Virginia stands for a government that listens, not one that intimidates. We believe freedom of thought and speech must never be sacrificed—no matter who holds power. This isn’t a partisan value. It’s an American one.

Yet since January, we’ve watched with growing alarm as the new Trump Administration uses the machinery of government to punish dissent—banning law firms from federal buildings and threatening university funding over differences in how to manage campus protests. These aren’t policy debates. They’re abuses of power. We trust the courts will correct them. But the damage to our civic trust is already real.

Closer to home in Northern Virginia, that same impulse—silencing disagreement—has taken root. In Arlington and Alexandria, long dominated by single-party rule, controversial zoning changes were pushed through without real public input or alternative plans. Residents who raised concerns were dismissed. Now, they’re being targeted.

Both local governments hired high-priced legal teams to subpoena private citizens who dared to file lawsuits challenging these changes—using taxpayer dollars to do it. One of those targeted is Roy Byrd, a Forward Party-endorsed candidate who simply stood up for his community.

These tactics are legal. But they are not right. They echo the worst chapters of American history—when government power was used not to serve the people, but to silence them.

This is not just about zoning. It’s about the kind of democracy we want to build.

We believe competition strengthens communities. That real debate leads to better solutions. And that no one—no resident, no lawyer, no student—should fear retaliation for speaking their mind.

The Forward Party in Virginia is here to challenge the status quo. We’re building a new path—one that puts people before politics, and principle above party. If you believe in that mission, join us.

Together, we can defend the freedom to dissent—and restore the promise of democracy for all.

Contact: Sophia A. Nelson, Spokeswoman, Forward Party in Virginia; (240) 489-1970; [email protected]; www.forwardparty.com