STERILIZATION ACT 1924

Description

– Between 1924 and 1979, Virginia sterilized over 7,000 individuals under the act. The act was never declared unconstitutional; however, in 2001, the Virginia General Assembly passed a joint resolution apologizing for the misuse of “a respectable, ‘scientific’ veneer to cover activities of those who held blatantly racist views. “In 2015, the Assembly agreed to compensate individuals sterilized under the act.