In January 2020, Weluna Finley and a group of like-minded Black mothers, birth workers, mental health professionals and healers founded the United Black Birth Collective.
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.
News U Can Use: Winter 2022
The Winter 2022 edition of News U Can Use includes information about free at-home COVID tests and an online map tool to monitor sewage overflow into the James River.
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.
Save the date: 2022 Annual Prison Justice Rally
Sat., Jan. 22, 2022 for the 5th ANNUAL VIRGINIA PRISON JUSTICE RALLY! This annual rally, sponsored by the Virginia Prison Justice Network, is Virginia’s largest gathering supporting the human rights of prisoners. […]
UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: GIVING TUESDAY
Tuesday, Nov. 30 is “Giving Tuesday.” Here’s our only big appeal for donations for the year, and instructions on how to contribute if you feel so moved. Thank you.
Update: Diversity Thrift workers back on the job
The Virginia Defender spoke last night with Diversity Thrift worker Jeremy Stump, who reported that as of Monday, Nov. 15, the strike at Diversity is over. Stump, along with Diversity Richmond program director Aurora Higgs, was selected by his coworkers to speak on their behalf during the strike.
The Virginia Defender 