ROANOKE, VA – Republican gubernatorial candidate River Bytheway announced a two-part plan aimed at curbing political violence during an event at a VFW post in Roanoke. Joined by veterans, faith leaders, and educators, Bytheway emphasized the need for community-driven solutions to address political extremism without imposing new taxes. Bytheway stated, “Virginians are tired of watching our country tear itself apart on TV and online,” highlighting his belief that unity is essential for public safety. The plan consists of two major initiatives: the Virginia Veterans & Youth Resilience Program and the Common Ground Virginia Network. The Virginia Veterans & Youth Resilience Program aims to create a statewide partnership involving VFW posts, American Legion halls, community colleges, and Virginia-based tech companies. This initiative will offer free job training, leadership workshops, and civic education courses to veterans and young adults aged 18 to 30. Bytheway noted that the goal is to provide those who feel marginalized with opportunities for good-paying careers and a renewed sense of purpose. The second initiative, the Common Ground Virginia Network, is designed to be a locally led, voluntary network that includes faith communities, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhood groups. This network will be trained to identify early warning signs of radicalization and connect at-risk individuals with peer mentors, family counseling, and community support. Bytheway emphasized that both programs will be funded through existing public-safety grants and federal homeland-security dollars, ensuring that no new state taxes will be required. He stated that the programs will be tailored to respect local values and privacy, with implementation occurring at the county level. “These aren’t top-down clunky programs,” Bytheway asserted. “These are Virginia solutions built by Virginians for veterans who’ve served our country, for young people searching for meaning, for families who just want their communities to feel safe again, and for socioeconomically disadvantaged folks looking for a way forward.” This announcement marks a significant component of Bytheway's public safety agenda as he seeks to address concerns about political violence and extremism in Virginia.