Richmond honors the "Black 9" and Judge Henry Ramsey Jr.; surviving officers and families recognized

Richmond marked Black History Month by formally honoring the “Black 9” — nine Black Richmond police officers who in the late 1960s exposed racial discrimination and police brutality within the department — and their attorney, Judge George Henry Ramsey Jr.

Councilmember Soheila Bana opened the program, saying Richmond should celebrate local leaders who pressed for institutional accountability. “They demanded justice…they sacrificed everything and they stood up when nobody expected them to,” Bana said, noting the officers’ role in founding the Guardians of Justice.

The council presented proclamations recognizing individual members and families. Captain Arthur Johnson, one of the surviving members, accepted a proclamation and addressed the council: “To God be the glory…56 years ago 9 Black officers decided that we did not want our community dealt with the way it was,” Johnson said. He thanked council members and the Guardians of Justice for organizing the event.

The program included a slide presentation summarizing each member’s service and post‑police careers, remarks by family members, and recognition of the Guardians of Justice for sustaining the group’s legacy. Jerry Thomas, president of the Guardians of Justice, flew in to join the ceremony and received a certificate of appreciation from the city.

Chief Bisa French, Richmond’s police chief and a current Guardian of Justice member, thanked the founders and said their work helped create a path for later generations within the department.

The council also read a proclamation honoring Judge Henry Ramsey Jr., the civil‑rights attorney who represented the Black 9. A family member accepted the proclamation and described Ramsey’s decades of legal and civic work, including academic leadership and judicial service.

Why it matters: Richmond’s recognition underscores the local roots of efforts to address police misconduct and to build oversight and community programs. Several speakers tied the Black 9’s actions to later institutional reforms, and organizers stressed intergenerational connections between past and present advocates.

What happened next: Council members and attendees participated in an extended public recognition; several families and surviving officers spoke about the personal and civic impact of the original lawsuit and its legacy in Richmond.

Ending note: The event combined historical overview, family testimony and civic recognition as part of the city’s Black History Month programming.