It was cold, it was rainy, it snowed – but none of that stopped more than 400 people from turning out today to demand that ICE get out of Richmond and the entire state of Virginia.
Richmond rally demands: ICE out!
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.
Updates and Announcements: Emergency Protest – ICE OUT!
The Updates and Announcements newsletter for January 17, 2026. In response to a sharp increase in the presence of ICE agents in the Richmond area, VILLAS and the Defenders are calling for an emergency rally at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Richmond’s Monroe Park.
Virginia Protests Condemn U.S. Attack on Venezuela
Early yesterday morning, news broke that the U.S. had attacked the capital of Venezuela and surrounding areas and abducted the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Emergency Protest TODAY at 3 PM at the Richmond Federal Courthouse!
An emergency edition of the Updates and Announcements newsletter for January 3, 2026. There will be an emergency demonstration at the Federal Courthouse at 701 E. Broad St., Richmond VA, to protest the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the abduction of President President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Updates and Announcements: End of the Year Appeal!
The Updates and Announcements newsletter for December 30, 2025. Happy New Year.
Updates and Announcements: December 14, 2025
The Updates and Announcements newsletter for December 14, 2025.
Are we really going to war with Venezuela?
Since the middle of the summer, the Trump administration has been dramatically escalating its campaign against the South American country of Venezuela and its president, Nicolas Maduro. On Dec. 10, U.S. forces, including the Coast Guard, F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security, seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.
The Virginia Defender 