Tonight: tell the Richmond City Council that we want the Confederate statues taken down.

Tonight, Monday December 11th 2017, the Richmond City Council is having a regular meeting from 6-9pm at city hall (900 East Broad Street, Richmond VA). 

At this meeting, the council will be voting on a resolution to ask that the General Assembly give the city the authority to tear down the monuments to white supremacy that litter our town. At the moment, it is against state law for any locality to remove any war memorial, once erected. This rule was originally added to the Code of Virginia in the 1950s, and protected only Confederate monuments, but was amended in the 1990s to include all factions and all wars. The Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality (my org) and the Richmond Democratic Socialists of America are calling for people to come out in support. 

Street parking only. The resolution in question will come up later in the meeting, so if you can only come for a portion, come later. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

Come to City Council to Support the Removal of Confederate Statues

Monday, September 25th 2017, from 6-9pm, at Richmond City Hall (900 East Broad Street, Richmond VA), Richmond City Council member Michael Jones (9th district) will introduce a resolution putting the City Council on record as supporting the removal of Monument Avenue's five Confederate statues. The Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality are promoting the slogan "Take down the Confederate Statues & Build the Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park!"

For more info and to RSVP, see the link.

Remembering Gabriel's Rebellion

Wednesday, August 30th 2017, from 8:30-9:30pm, at Richmond's African Burial Ground (Broad and 16th Streets, Richmond VA), the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality are holding a commemoration to mark the 217th anniversary of Gabriel's Rebellion. From the event description:

"This is a reflective event - an opportunity to remember and honor those who fought against slavery and Jim Crow and who still fight against white supremacy, racism, fascism and war. Remember those who have stood for love, justice, equality and a future in which we all can thrive. Remember those who stand and speak, who dance and shout for a future full of love, justice, equality, peace and strength at home and abroad. Remember those who have given their lives’ work or their very lives for these ideals. Remember those who had no idea they'd have to. And let us take inspiration from their example as we rededicate ourselves to those same ideals."

Bring a yellow flower (real, artificial or handmade) to place at the large stones attached to the historic markers on the Burial Ground. Bring red flowers to honor the spirit of resistance.

For more info and to RSVP, see the link.

Fundraiser for the Virginia Defender, the only statewide progressive newspaper

The Virginia Defender, the all-volunteer community newspaper published by my organization, the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, is holding a fundraiser! As is always the case, none of the money goes to an individual: we're all donating our time and talents to put news and analysis out there. The money goes straight to the printer. Our Autumn 2017 issue is going to focus on the history of Richmond's confederate monuments (which we've been calling to take down since 2006) and the history of Shockoe Bottom, once the center of the domestic slave trade.

We were there in Charlottesville last Saturday, and you can read our report, with pics and video, at our website (defendersfje.blogspot.com/).

To donate, see this link.

Support the Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park at City Council

Please note that this event was re-scheduled from March 13th. 

Monday, March 27th 2017, from 6-7pm, at City Hall (900 East Broad Street, Richmond VA), the Sacred Ground Project of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality will be presenting a statement on the Community Proposal for a Nine-Acre Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park to city council. Immediately after the public comment period, there will be a community meeting, to discuss the next steps for moving the plan forward. 

Shockoe Bottom was once the hub of the domestic slave trade, but this history has gone largely unaddressed here in the former capitol of the Confederacy. Coming out of the successful 2011 struggle to reclaim the African Burial Ground from beneath a VCU parking lot, the community effort to preserve Shockoe Bottom's Black history has produced a plan for a memorial park. To hear about it, attend the council meeting, or check out the link below. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. If you're not able to attend yourself, please invite your friends. 

Support the Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park at City Council

Monday, March 13th 2017, from 6-7pm, at City Hall (900 East Broad Street, Richmond VA), the Sacred Ground Project of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality will be presenting a statement on the Community Proposal for a Nine-Acre Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park to city council. Immediately after the public comment period, there will be a community meeting, to discuss the next steps for moving the plan forward. 

Shockoe Bottom was once the hub of the domestic slave trade, but this history has gone largely unaddressed here in the former capitol of the Confederacy. Coming out of the successful 2011 struggle to reclaim the African Burial Ground from beneath a VCU parking lot, the community effort to preserve Shockoe Bottom's Black history has produced a plan for a memorial park. To hear about it, attend the council meeting, or check out the link below. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. If you're not able to attend yourself, please invite your friends. 

February 2017 edition of "Talk to the Editor," the Defenders radio show, with special guest Abayomi Azikiwe on the U.S. role in Africa

The radio show of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, "Talk to the Editor," will air today from 2-3pm on WCLM 1450 AM. Your host is Phil Wilayto, editor of the Virginia Defender, and this month's special guest will be Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Detroit-based Pan African News Wire. Azikiwe will speak about the U.S. role in Africa. 

The call-in number is 804-231-7685. You can tune in worldwide via this link. 

I'm a member of the Defenders, and this is going to be a great show; check it out! 

Showing of "Meet Me in the Bottom: the Struggle to Reclaim Richmond's African Burial Ground": the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality

This Friday, November 11th, from 5-7pm, in room 1030J on the first floor of West Grace North Student Housing (830 West Grace Street, Richmond VA), the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality are holding a showing of the documentary “Meet Me in the Bottom: the Struggle to Reclaim Richmond’s African Burial Ground.” This award-winning film, directed by VCU’s own Dr. Shawn Utsey, tells the story of the 9-year community struggle to recover Richmond’s African Burial Ground, covered by a VCU parking lot until 2011. 

The film (40 minutes) will be introduced by Ana Edwards of the Defenders’ Sacred Ground Reclamation Project, who will fill us in on the ongoing fight to memorialize what was once the hub of the domestic slave trade. Though reclaiming the Burial Ground in 2011 was a great victory, the work to establish Shockoe Bottom as an international site of conscience isn’t over yet. Ana will talk about the ongoing work, and ways to get involved.

The event is free, and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For more info and to RSVP, see the Facebook event page here. 

Ana Edwards and Phil Wilayto of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality: "Save sacred ground for the future."

Check it out- Ana Edwards and Phil Wilayto, of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, wrote a piece for the Richmond Free Press on the need to memorialize the sacred ground in Shockoe Bottom. A good read, which you can find here.

If you have not yet signed on endorsing the Community Proposal for a 9-acre Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park, you can do so here.