Author Archives

The Virginia Defender

Established in 2005 as The Richmond Defender, The Virginia Defender is a free community newspaper, published quarterly for the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality. Print distribution is currently 12,000 and statewide. The online publication launched in Summer 2020.

Virginia Defenders’ Statement on Yemen

On Jan. 21, the United Arab Emirates, as a part of the U.S.-backed Saudi war on Yemen, launched a military attack, targeting civilian homes, hospitals, sports facilities and a detention center, resulting in more than 300 casualties. In a deliberate attempt to prevent international media coverage of the assault, the UAE also destroyed Yemen’s Internet cables, creating a nationwide Internet blackout that has yet to end.

STATEMENT SUPPORTING HISHAM ABU HAWASH AND OTHER PALESTINIAN HUNGER STRIKERS

The Virginia Defenders’ statement supporting Palestinian hunger striker Hisham Abu Hawash. Hawash, who will now be released in late February, resorted to a hunger strike in order to protest his imprisonment under administrative detention. Administrative detention is a tool by which Israeli military courts imprison Palestinians without charge or trial, for indefinite periods.