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Jan. 1, 2025 – On this day in 1975, President Richard Nixon’s Chief of Staff Harry Haldeman along with John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell, and Robert Mardian were convicted of crimes related to the Watergate scandal. Today they would be pardoned and given cabinet positions.

RALLY TO SHUT DOWN RED ONION & WALLENS RIDGE!

2-3 pm, Wednesday, Jan. 8 – Downtown Richmond

The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality are calling on all justice-loving people to join us in a rally on the opening day of the 2025 General Assembly to demand:

• Shut down Red Onion & Wallens Ridge state prisons!
• Fire VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson & Chief of Corrections Operations A. David Robinson!
• Establish Independent Outside Oversight of VADOC – with Enforcement Powers!

The rally will take place from 2-3 pm in downtown Richmond at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square, 101 N. 9th St. The rally will be followed by coffee and community from 3:30-4:30 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 815 E. Grace St., next to Capitol Square.

THE BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Corrections has admitted that at least six men held at the Red Onion supermax prison in rural Wise County deliberately and severely burned themselves in a desperate attempt to get transferred out of that prison, long notorious for its racism and brutality. READ MORE.

Please use the QR code above or use this LINK to the Facebook event page, mark yourself “Going” and share the page – it really helps!

Va. Black Caucus member conducts unannounced visit to Red Onion prison, scene of self-immolations

A report by The Virginia Defender

RICHMOND, VA, Jan; 1, 2025 — In response to widespread reports of abuses at Virginia’s Red Onion supermax prison, Richmond Delegate Michael Jones, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, travelled to the far-western facility for an unannounced visit that took place Dec. 30. Read more.

Uhuru 3 get no prison time

Read the Tampa Bay Times’ reporting on the subject here.

Rashid Johnson calls for new prisoner support organization

Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, the Virginia prisoner who first reported on the self-immolations at Red Onion State Prison, has put out a call for a new organization: People Against Prison Abuse (PAPA).

“EVERYONE in the oppressed communities, the Black, Brown and poor white communities in particular, have loved ones or know someone in prison. Brought together these people can become one of the largest and most forceful pressure groups in the country. A union of prisoners’ loved ones. We have created a support organization composed of the loved ones of imprisoned people: People Against Prison Abuse or PAPA. Read more.