Updates & Announcements are emailed to subscribers each month. To subscribe, click here.
September 23, 2024
Sept. 23 – On this date in 1868, the Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico (Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico) initiated a rebellion in the town of Lares with the aim of winning independence from colonial Spain. The uprising came to be known as El Grito de Lares, or The Cry of Lares. The Committee also promoted and supported the independence movement in Cuba. Today Puerto Rico is free from Spanish rule, but remains a colony of the United States. Cuba has been free since its successful revolution in 1959, except for Guantanamo Bay, which the U.S. continues to occupy.
BONUS DATE:
Sept. 21 – On this date in 1621, King James I of England gave Scottish courtier and poet William Alexander a royal charter to colonize Nova Scotia. James did not own Nova Scotia. James also gave many thousands of acres around Richmond to slave owners like William Byrd I. James did not own those acres either. To honor the king, the English settlers named the Powhatan River after James. To honor the slave owner, early 20th century Richmonders named a much-loved movie theater after Byrd.
RECLAIMING OUR SACRED GROUND
The Defenders’ Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project is hosting three events to honor Gabriel’s Rebellion, the attempted uprising against slavery in Virginia led by Richmond revolutionary Gabriel. A commemoration was held Aug. 30, the date of the planned rebellion, at the Henrico site where the conspirators met. Read the Defender report on the August 20 event here.
On Oct. 10, the 224th anniversary of Gabriel’s execution, the Sacred Ground Project will host the 22nd Annual Gabriel Gathering, 6:30 to 8 pm at the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, 1541 E. Broad St., Richmond. More information is on the 22nd Gabriel Gathering + Shockoe Bottom African Burian Ground Commemoration Facebook event page here.
And on Oct. 12, the project will host a conference called “Reclaiming Black Cemeteries IS Resistance.” 11 am to 4 pm at The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond. Lunch provided. Registration required. More information through the link.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Fri., Sept. 27 through Sun., Sept. 29 – Richmond Folk Festival – Artisans from the Dogon region of Mali, West Africa, will have handmade Mali inspired and indigo textile designed clothing and accessories. Mahmoudou Nango, director of Indigo Dogon Project, will give a presentation at 4 PM on Sat., Sep. 28, at the Virginia Folklife Workshop Stage. Visit the Folk Festival website here for details.
Henrico County launches Affordable Housing Trust Fund – The Henrico County Board of Supervisors has announced the establishment of the county’s first Affordable Housing Trust Fund, with the goal of providing grant subsidies to developers building affordable homes for households earning between 60% and 120% of the Area Median Income. The goal is to help households otherwise not be able to afford to purchase homes in the current market. For more information and to find out if you qualify to purchase one of the houses, see the Henrico Trust Fund website.
OUR WORKING LIVES
The Workers Assembly Model Comes to Virginia
The South has some of this country’s worst labor laws. As a result, of the 10 states with a unionization rate less than 5%, six are in the South, including Virginia. The Southern Workers Assembly, founded in 2012 and based in North Carolina, is a social justice organization fighting to organize unorganized workers across the South. Read more about the SWA and workers assemblies in Virginia here.
Oct. 1: Virginia postal workers to participate in National Day of Action
The American Postal Workers Union has called for a National Day of Action, to take place Oct. 1 in cities and towns across the country. “For too long, postal workers have been stretched thin, making miracles happen in understaffed facilities. This has taken a toll on our health, our safety, and our ability to provide the service the public deserves. The Postal Service needs to listen to and heed the overwhelming voices of postal workers on the job and at the bargaining table, as well as the needs of the American people.” (APWU.) In Virginia, actions are planned for Richmond and Merrifield. More information about the APWU day of action here.
NO HAY FRONTERAS EN LA LUCHA DE LOS OBREROS
Richmond Public Schools celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: click here for more information.
Dia de Muertos at La Milpa
On Saturday, Nov. 2, La Milpa Mexican Restaurant & Market will once again celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). ”Enjoy a Traditional Aztec Dance and delicious Mexican cuisine.” 7 pm at La Milpa, 6925 Hull Street Road, Richmond. More information at the Celebrate Día de Muertos! Facebook event page here.
COPS, COURTS & PRISONS
Special Statement on the Case of Marcellus Williams
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, Marcellus Williams, a 55-year-old Black man who has spent 24 years in prison under a death sentence, is scheduled to be executed by the state of Missouri. He was convicted of murder, but there is no forensic evidence linking him to the crime. Instead, he was convicted primarily on the word of two witnesses who later received reward money for their testimony. And his trial was so fraught with errors that even the chief prosecutor in the case is now publicly opposing the execution.
The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice, and Equality affirm our opposition to the death penalty and believe capital punishment to be the ultimate exercise in injustice.
Our own state of Virginia holds two dishonorable titles: home to the country’s first state execution (in 1608 of Captain George Kendall in the Jamestown colony) and still ranking third in the country for executions, despite abolishing capital punishment in 2021.
The U.S. carceral system has subjected millions of people to barbaric and inhumane conditions, without any substantial resources for treatment, rehabilitation, education, job training or post-release support.
We strongly condemn the impending execution of Marcellus Williams and all prisoners on death rows, and call on Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to immediately cancel the scheduled execution.
Abolish the U.S. prison and judicial systems NOW!
More information about Marcellus Williams and his case is available here.
Trial of the Uhuru 3 ends in split verdict; appeal to follow
The trial of the Uhuru 3 has concluded in Tampa, Fla., with a split verdict in the federal government’s attempt to frame three longtime social justice and antiwar activists: Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party, and white supporters Penny Hess, chair of the African People’s Solidarity Committee, and Jesse Nevel, chair of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement. The Virginia Defender was there to show solidarity and cover the first day of the trail.
See the Defender reports:
Sentencing of the Uhuru 3 has been set for Nov. 25 in Tampa. All supporters are urged to attend. More information is at the Hands Off Uhuru webpage here.
Norfolk rally to focus on “the forgotten Robert G. Ford cases”
A rally will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, in Norfolk to focus public attention on the many cases associated with former Norfolk Detective Robert Glenn Ford, who was sent to prison for embezzlement and lying about it to the FBI. His cases include the Norfolk Four, four Norfolk sailors convicted of rape and murder who were later found to be innocent, and Jermaine Doss, now serving life-plus-34 years for a crime he did not commit. Virginia Defender Editor Phil Wilayto will be one of the speakers. 10 am – noon at Norfolk’s Towne Point Park. For more information: From Conviction 2 Redemption, LLC – email: fromconviction2redemption@gmail.com – phone: 757-945-8773.
INTERNATIONAL & ANTIWAR NEWS
Virginia vets forming chapters of Veterans for Peace
In an exciting new development for the antiwar movement in Virginia, veterans in Norfolk and Richmond are building chapters of the national organization Veterans for Peace. Norfolk VFP Chapter 757 is already up and running, with more than two dozen members. On the weekend of Sept. 21 and 22, the chapter plans to have a presence at the NAS Oceana Air Show. (See above graphic.) Information about VFP Chapter 757 can be found on their Facebook page, here. In Richmond, organizers are actively recruiting members to form a chapter. Read about their efforts here. Interested vets are invited to write to BSabanero@proton.me.
Musical solidarity with Palestine
Dozens of people turned out Sept. 22 at Richmond’s Byrd Park for a music festival in solidarity with Palestine. Performances included songs by the RVA Ceasefire Chorus, along with an open mic. Danielle DiBlasio delivered a solidarity message from the Virginia Defenders. The event was sponsored by Artists Against Genocide and organized by local activist Shaun Kudah.
Remembering the other 9/11
We recently observed the 24th anniversary of the attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Much less well-known is the U.S.-led coup that took place in Chile on Sept. 11, 1973. You can read about it here.
INFORMATION IS POWER
HELP BRING POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
The next edition of The Virginia Defender will be online and on the streets on Oct. 17. As always, we could use more volunteers to help distribute the newspaper. If available, please email us at DefendersFJE@hotmail.com or call or text 804-644-5834.
Categories: Updates & Announcements
The Virginia Defender 