Wednesday, September 6th 2017, from 10am-4pm, at 26 North 8th Street, Richmond VA, the Virginia Civic Engagement Table is holding a training on how to protest white supremacist gatherings nonviolently.
This training will address how to decide when to show up, the different approaches to nonviolent protest, creative methods, planning, and practical skills for staying safe in the streets. However you decide to engage, you should be prepared, support a diversity of tactics, and work in a group.
Free, but you must register through the link provided in the event description. For more info, see the link.
Monday, August 28, 2017
"Reclaiming Our Democracy: Reforming the Police" Discussion
Saturday, September 9th 2017, from 1-4pm, at the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Study (1000 North Lombardy Street, Richmond VA), the Richmond Peace Education Center ☮ and the ACLU of Virginia are holding a panel discussion about police accountability and transparency in Virginia, and paths to reform. From the event description:
"The panel discussion features expert speakers who will address the need for police reform with an emphasis on policies and practices that enhance professionalism, transparency and accountability. In order to bring about reform, citizens’ voices need to be heard. If you share our concerns about police misconduct, broken windows policing and civil asset forfeiture, we hope you will join us to discuss an agenda for reform."
The event appears to also serve as the ACLU's annual membership meeting, though it is free and open to the public. Attendees must register by August 31st. For questions or assistance, call 804-644-8022 or email acluva@acluva.org. Lot parking is available.
I don't necessarily believe that mere reform of the police is possible or sufficient, but the discussion may be useful to observe even if you don't participate. For more information and instructions on how to register, see the link.
"The panel discussion features expert speakers who will address the need for police reform with an emphasis on policies and practices that enhance professionalism, transparency and accountability. In order to bring about reform, citizens’ voices need to be heard. If you share our concerns about police misconduct, broken windows policing and civil asset forfeiture, we hope you will join us to discuss an agenda for reform."
The event appears to also serve as the ACLU's annual membership meeting, though it is free and open to the public. Attendees must register by August 31st. For questions or assistance, call 804-644-8022 or email acluva@acluva.org. Lot parking is available.
I don't necessarily believe that mere reform of the police is possible or sufficient, but the discussion may be useful to observe even if you don't participate. For more information and instructions on how to register, see the link.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Showing Up for Racial Justice RVA General Meeting: Say NO to Confederate Monuments in RVA
TODAY, from 6-8pm, at the First UU Church of Richmond (1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond VA), Showing Up for Racial Justice SURJ Richmond is holding a general meeting, the theme of which is "Say NO to Confederate Symbols in RVA."
For more info and to RSVP, see the link. Apologies for the short notice.
For more info and to RSVP, see the link. Apologies for the short notice.
Friday, August 25, 2017
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.
"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.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Charlottesville Reflection Space with the Richmond Peace Education Center
Next Monday, August 28th 2017, from 6-8:30pm, at the Richmond Friends Meeting (4500 Kensington Avenue, Richmond VA), The Richmond Peace Education Center ☮ is holding a reflection and discussion on the August 12th events in Charlottesville. From the event description:
"We invite friends of the Peace Center and concerned community members to join together to begin to reflect about & discuss the events in Charlottesville what this demands of all of us."
Free. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Email any questions to Jelani (jelani@rpec.org). For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
"We invite friends of the Peace Center and concerned community members to join together to begin to reflect about & discuss the events in Charlottesville what this demands of all of us."
Free. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Email any questions to Jelani (jelani@rpec.org). For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
SONG RVA Black August Screen Printing
Sunday, August 27th 2017, from 2-4pm, at the Soft Web Studio Collective (3110 West Leigh Street, Richmond VA), Richmond's chapter of SONG (Southerners On New Ground) is holding a screenprinting fundraiser for their Black August bail action. From the fundraising page:
"More than often, people are sitting in cages because they cannot afford to pay bail. At its very essence, Black August emphasizes honoring and upholding Black community. We can think of no better way to commemorate the history of Black August than to bail out as many Black women, broadly defined, and Black trans people across the South as we can."
Entry is $5-10, all proceeds to the RVA Black August Bail Fund. Shirts will be available to screen-print and take home, but you can also bring your own fabric.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
"More than often, people are sitting in cages because they cannot afford to pay bail. At its very essence, Black August emphasizes honoring and upholding Black community. We can think of no better way to commemorate the history of Black August than to bail out as many Black women, broadly defined, and Black trans people across the South as we can."
Entry is $5-10, all proceeds to the RVA Black August Bail Fund. Shirts will be available to screen-print and take home, but you can also bring your own fabric.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: "Modern-day Confederate from Tennessee in battle with Gov. Terry McAuliffe over Lee monument rally in Richmond"
To read the Richmond Times-Dispatch story, see this link.
Thomas Crompton, some guy from Tennessee who styles himself as the "commanding general of CSA II: the New Confederate States of America" and whose Facebook profile indicates affiliation with with the right-wing militia group the three-percenters, wants to stage a neo-Confederate rally at the Lee Monument. He can't, for now, because in the wake of the August 12th Charlottesville white supremacist rally which left one counterprotester dead, McAuliffe issued an executive order temporarily barring the issuance of permits at that site.
That's not especially noteworthy— a lot of people want to hold rallies on Monument avenue to defend the shrines to white supremacy there— but I'm pointing out this case to say this: there's going to be a fight over those monuments, and the far-right is going to show up for them.
It's long past time to take them down.
Thomas Crompton, some guy from Tennessee who styles himself as the "commanding general of CSA II: the New Confederate States of America" and whose Facebook profile indicates affiliation with with the right-wing militia group the three-percenters, wants to stage a neo-Confederate rally at the Lee Monument. He can't, for now, because in the wake of the August 12th Charlottesville white supremacist rally which left one counterprotester dead, McAuliffe issued an executive order temporarily barring the issuance of permits at that site.
That's not especially noteworthy— a lot of people want to hold rallies on Monument avenue to defend the shrines to white supremacy there— but I'm pointing out this case to say this: there's going to be a fight over those monuments, and the far-right is going to show up for them.
It's long past time to take them down.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: "Henrico judge's ruling allows case over state abortion regulations to proceed." Or, watch out for the next TRAP fight.
The Virginia Family Foundation is funding the legal costs of one of two plaintiffs who allege that the Board of Health's roll-back of restrictive 2012 abortion clinic regulations violated procedure and should be thrown out. The rules, part of a legislative strategy called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers), were at one point expected to shut down all or most of Virginia's abortion clinics, by imposing hospital building standards on all current and future clinics.
The plaintiffs, Henrico-based Itzel A. Melendez and Board of Health member Megan C. Getter, argue that the regulations pertain to health and safety standards. They do not, unless details like the presence of awnings or the number of linen closets pertain to the health or safety of patients seeking reproductive health services. These rules did not, could not, and were never intended to protect women and others seeking abortions— they were solely intended to restrict access to abortions by closing down the clinics that working-class people depend on for their reproductive healthcare.
It was our pressure that led McAuliffe to direct the Board of Health to begin proceedings to repeal the rules, and if this lawsuit brings them back, we'll do it again. Keep an eye out.
Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch piece here.
The plaintiffs, Henrico-based Itzel A. Melendez and Board of Health member Megan C. Getter, argue that the regulations pertain to health and safety standards. They do not, unless details like the presence of awnings or the number of linen closets pertain to the health or safety of patients seeking reproductive health services. These rules did not, could not, and were never intended to protect women and others seeking abortions— they were solely intended to restrict access to abortions by closing down the clinics that working-class people depend on for their reproductive healthcare.
It was our pressure that led McAuliffe to direct the Board of Health to begin proceedings to repeal the rules, and if this lawsuit brings them back, we'll do it again. Keep an eye out.
Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch piece here.
Washington Post: "Immigrant group in Virginia sues ICE over 'collateral arrests' it calls unconstitutional"
The Legal Aid Justice Center is filing a lawsuit on behalf of two Virginia men who were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "collateral arrests." Essentially, "collateral arrests" are when ICE goes to arrest somebody they have grounds to detain, but also grabs unrelated parties suspected of being undocumented immigrants. Because the suspicion isn't based on any knowledge about these unrelated parties, just their ethnicity and proximity to an ICE investigation, this tactic is just racial profiling by another name.
Under Trump, arrest of immigrants with no criminal records has more than doubled, partially because of "collateral arrests."
Read the Washington Post article here.
Under Trump, arrest of immigrants with no criminal records has more than doubled, partially because of "collateral arrests."
Read the Washington Post article here.
Target Workers on Strike in Christiansburg, Virginia
Learn more, including how you can support workers striking for dignity on the job, here.
Folks out near Christiansburg, Virginia: workers at the local Target are going on strike to rid themselves of an abusive manager. Nobody should have to deal with sexual harassment or racial antagonism at work (or ever), and since the Target management won’t get rid of this guy, the workers have to take action themselves.
For info on how you can support, see the page and website.
Folks out near Christiansburg, Virginia: workers at the local Target are going on strike to rid themselves of an abusive manager. Nobody should have to deal with sexual harassment or racial antagonism at work (or ever), and since the Target management won’t get rid of this guy, the workers have to take action themselves.
For info on how you can support, see the page and website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)