Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2025 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 76, printed March 26. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter/Spring 2025 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

I picked up a copy of the Autumn issue while I was waiting to be seen at the Planned Parenthood. What I read about the Red Onion Supermax made me feel physically ill. I haven’t been able to stop talking about it with those around me. To be clear, I’m not surprised that that level of human abuse is occurring. The U.S. has made it extremely clear that slavery was never abolished, just transmogrified.

I would like to help in whatever capacity would be most useful to the Defender. I’d be more than happy to distribute issues or whatever else would be of aid. Thank you for the work that you do.

Madeline Ivey
RICHMOND