Odin's Chosen in Fredericksburg

Hey, Fredericksburg: unfortunately, you have neo-Nazis in your downtown. Here's a picture post from Rebecca White's FB page that explains. 

McLeather LLC, a custom leather and tailoring outfit, shares its storefront at 1900 Princess Anne Street with Odin's Chosen, a white nationalist group to which owners Joe and Gretchen McGlade belong.

They aren't subtle or crypto— this is not dog-whistle territory. Odin's Chosen has a black sun in the front window and shares Goebbels quotes on their Facebook page. Their sole means of obfuscation is to deny, over and over again. And it seems to be working, at least with some of the media: the most prominent online news story about their shop and the local reaction to it, published by Fredericksburg.com, describes the clearly white nationalist symbols as "controversial" and "associated with" racist movements. These are weaselly phrases to avoid calling it what it is. 

If it displays Nazi symbols, subscribes to Nazi beliefs, and admires Nazi leaders, do you really buy that it's just an innocent neo-pagan group? 

There are some people mobilizing against the open white supremacist presence: notably, this includes Rebecca White, who's keeping a catalog of Odin's Chosen's online activities as well as picketing the storefront in person multiple times a week, and Solidarity Formation FXBG. (Ms. White's given me permission to share this info; she intends it to be public.) If you're in the area and want to get involved, reach out to either or both. 

Hampton Roads Speak Out for Prison Justice

This Saturday, July 7 2018, at 1pm at the Miracle Temple Baptist Church (617 32nd Street, Newport News VA), the Virginia Prison Justice Network is holding a prison justice speak-out. Prisoners, former prisoners, family members, supporters, and advocates will speak about the inhumane conditions of Virginia prisons and the U.S. criminal justice system generally. 

You can see the website of the Virginia Prison Justice Network, which was founded late last year, here: https://vapjn.wordpress.com. They're building power across the state to make serious, deeply needed changes.  

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

Families Belong Together Rally to Protest Border Separations

Saturday, June 30 2018, at 12pm noon, at the Virginia Civil Rights Monument (on the grounds of the Virginia state capitol, 1000 Bank St., Richmond VA), NextGen Virginia is holding a Families Belong Together rally to protest the Trump administration's new policy of mandatory family separation at the border.

Note that if you RSVP through the MoveOn.org event page, a condition of signing up is agreeing to obey police orders unconditionally at the event. However, this is an outdoor event on state property, so registration isn't required to attend.

For more info and to RSVP, see the link.

CBS 6: "Mother of two facing deportation finds sanctuary at Richmond church"

Yesterday, June 21 2018, Vernon Freeman Jr., Brendan King, and the web staff of CBS 6 published a story on asylum-seeker Abbie Arevalo-Herrera. You can read it here. 

It's not just in the border zone: ICE is ripping apart families right here, too. Abbie Arevalo-Herrera arrived in the U.S. and applied for asylum in 2014, having fled from an abusive ex-partner who threatened to kill her and her child. The threats have continued, and her asylum case is ongoing, but ICE wants to deport her anyway— and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recently ordered immigration judges to be stricter about asylum claims, saying that fear of death due to gang violence or domestic abuse is not a good enough reason to be granted asylum.

For now, Ms. Arevalo-Herrera is living at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond while she appeals the deportation order.

Roanoke Speak-Out for Prison Justice

This Saturday, June 23 2018, from 2-3:30pm at the Hope Center (506 11th St., Roanoke VA), the Virginia Prison Justice Network is holding a prison justice speak-out. Prisoners, former prisoners, family members, supporters, and advocates will speak about the inhumane conditions of Virginia prisons and the U.S. criminal justice system generally. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

Socialist Social Meet-and-Greet with the Richmond Democratic Socialists of America

Saturday, June 23 2018, from 2-5pm, at the gazebo toward the back of Chimborazo Park (3201 E. Broad St., Richmond VA), the Democratic Socialists of America - Richmond are holding an open meet and greet 'Socialist Social'.

For more info and to RSVP, see the event page. Note that Chimborazo Park prohibits glass containers, alcohol, and companion dogs (except in the designated dog park).

18 Days for 18 Seconds: Vigil for Marcus-David Peters

Friday, June 22nd, 4-6pm, VCU's Monroe Park campus Compass (near the library, 1000 Park Ave., Richmond VA): a vigil for local high school biology teacher Marcus-David Peters, who was fatally shot by a Richmond police officer on May 14th. He was unarmed, naked, and in acute psychiatric distress of some kind.

For more info and to RSVP, see the event page.

Protest Family Separation Policy at U.S. Rep Dave Brat's Office

U.S. representative for Virginia's 7th district Dave Brat recently came out on Fox News to explain that the Trump administration's new policy of separating children from their parents at the Southern border and putting them in prison camps could be resolved if only the Democrats would "play ball" and concede to his party's policy demands. IE, Republicans don't want to cage and torture children, they're just doing it to for political expediency. That's not any better than just copping to open sadism.

Various groups are getting together for a demonstration near Brat's local office this Friday, June 22nd, from 5-7pm, at 10901 W. Broad St., Glen Allen VA. The address is for a CVS store near, Brat's local office.

For more info and to RSVP, see the event page.

Superior Tenants Session with Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia

What are your rights as a renter? What can your landlord do, and what protections do you have under the law? Find out today from 6:30-7:30pm at the Hull Street Library (1400 Hull St, Richmond, VA), at Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME)'s Superior Tenant Session.

Free, see events page to register.

Community Livestream Viewing of the Poor People's Campaign Week 4: "Ecological Devastation and the Right to Health"

This Sunday, June 3rd 2018, at St. John's United Church of Christ (503 Stuart Circ., Richmond VA), from 5:30-8pm, there will be a community viewing of the livestream of Week 4 of the Poor People's Campaign, focusing on the environment and the right to health. "Join Rev. Dr. Barber, faith leaders and impacted persons in a training lifting up the issues of Ecological Devastation and the Right to Health. This is a live stream event and should be shared in a community setting."

Free, RSVP requested. For more info, see the event page or contact the event host at virginia@poorpeoplescampaign.org.