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December 10, 2024

Dec. 10 – Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. This, presumably, includes the human rights of those held in captivity by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

More than 80 people from as far away as Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Washington, D.C., attend a meeting on the crisis at Red Onion State Prison Dec. 7 at Richmond’s Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.
Photo by The Virginia Defender

Crisis at Red Onion

Over the past few months, at least six and as many as 12 men incarcerated at Virginia’s notorious Red Onion supermax prison deliberately burned themselves in a calculated attempt to get transferred out of that hellhole.

After Red Onion’s warden denied that any men there had set themselves on fire, and In response to requests from several prisoners, in particular prisoner-activist Kevin Rashid Johnson who first reported on the self-burnings, The Virginia Defender published an investigative report that proved that at least some men had indeed taken this drastic action.

That story resulted in a tsunami of other reports in the “mainstream” media, which in turn caught the attention of the Virginia General Assembly’s Legislative Black Caucus. The caucus then issued a statement that stated, in part:

“The Governor and VADOC Director, Chadwick Dotson, have an obligation to launch an independent investigation into allegations of abuse and mistreatment at Red Onion and any correctional facility with similar complaints, especially where such incidents result in unconscionable tragedies under their supervision. Immediate action must be taken by Attorney General Jason Miyares, the newly formed Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman, and Virginia Corrections Oversight Committee. If they find that there is misconduct, those responsible must be held liable and removed as employees of the state. Accountability necessitates full public transparency into the findings of these investigations. Ongoing reports tell us that — not exclusive to Red Onion State Prison — but in all of Virginia’s correctional institutions, something is horribly wrong.”

In response, Dotson issued his own statement challenging members of the Black Caucus and others in the General Assembly to visit Red Onion, speak with the prisoners and investigate the conditions there for themselves.

To encourage the elected officials to take up Dotson’s offer, the Virginia Defenders sponsored a public meeting on Dec. 7 at Richmond’s Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. More than 80 people turned out, including representatives of elected officials, news media and the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Everyone was encouraged to contact their state delegate and senator and urge them to go to Red Onion.

UPCOMING: On Monday, Dec. 16, the Virginia House of Delegates Public Safety Committee will take up the recent events at Red Onion State Prison. The Defenders are urging those who can to attend the meeting and voice their concerns. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the House Committee Room C – 206, Virginia General Assembly Building, 201 N. Ninth Street Richmond, VA 23219. The hearing also can be viewed online, with comments made via Zoom or in written form. Information is HERE.

The struggle continues.

• Watch the video of the public meeting, “Crisis at Red Onion Supermax: How you can help!” HERE.
• Read the original Defender story on Red Onion HERE.
• Read the Op-Ed on Red Onion by Virginia Defender Editor Phil Wilayto in the Dec. 8, 2024, edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch HERE.
• See a list of some of the media coverage of the crisis at Red Onion HERE.
• Watch “Up the Ridge,” a chilling documentary about Red Onion’s sister prison, Wallen’s Ridge, where the conditions are similar.
• And for information about what you can do to help, click HERE.

“The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian novelist, Nov. 11, 1821 – Feb, 9, 1881