A letter to the editor regarding overdoses and deaths at Greensville Correctional Center, with analysis on how drugs are entering the prison and how to remedy this.
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.
Finally: Progress for Winfree Cottage
Emily Winfree’s cottage, situated in 1866 in the town of Manchester on the south side of the James River, was saved from demolition in 2002 by being relocated to Shockoe Bottom. Since 2007, however, the small house has been sitting on steel I-beams next to the Lumpkin’s Jail Archaeology site, steadily deteriorating.
Richmond to unveil Shockoe Project vision for memorial park
The master planning process for the 10-acre park has taken a year to process the history of the area, but also the history of the struggle to bring to fruition the place that should put Richmond on the contemporary map for historical truth-telling about slavery and our city’s role in it.
Jermaine Doss denied parole for 4th time
Jermaine Doss, a wrongfully convicted Norfolk man sentenced to life-plus-34 years, has been turned down for parole for the 4th time.
AFL-CIO to Biden: ‘Stop the raid on the postal pension fund!’
Editor’s note: On Feb. 16, The Virginia Defender received the following email from Team AFL-CIO, pertaining to the postal pension fund.
Rashid update: Hunger Strike leader in critical condition
The following is an updated version of a Fact Sheet the Defenders have sent to the media and are sending to all 140 members of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. We are asking that they – and you, our readers – contact VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson and express support for Rashid.
Open Letter to VADOC Director Dotson (February 2024)
An open letter to Virginia Department of Corrections Director Chadwick Dotson regarding the hunger strike at Red Onion Supermax Prison, which began December 2023.
The Virginia Defender 