Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality

UPDATE 27 January 2013: The day the statement below was being released, the insurgent forces of the northern Mali called an end to their ceasefire and attacked the city of Douentza in central eastern Mali and quickly moved into Konna, a town further west that put them closer to the  country's second-largest airstrip  strategically located  in Sevare very close to Mopti. This prompted the long ready intervention of French troops which began helicopter airstrikes on January 12, launching the influx of nearly 3,700 French troops and 2,000 African troops with the expectation that up to 5,700 African troops will be in Mali in the very near future. While the northern forces seem to be in retreat, they have the territorial savvy to be able to retreat, disperse, regroup and come again. The US, which is currently transporting French troops and materiel to Bamako Senou Airport for deployment in the north, obviously providing key logistical and intelligence support for France's inte...

Saturday, January 5, 2013 Wesley Memorial Church 1720 Midlothian Turnpike  Visit  vapeoplesaassembly.org  for details. WHAT IS THE VPA? The Virginia People's Assembly is an annual gathering of people from across Virginia who are engaged in a broad range of struggles. We are union members, community activists, prisoner advocates, immigrants, students, women, antiwar organizers, veterans, members of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the LBGTQ community – all working and fighting to win justice for our communities and constituencies. At the VPA, we find new friends and allies. We explain the issues we are involved in and hear about the struggles of others. Together we learn that the thing we hold in common – a burning desire for a better life for ourselves, our children and our communities – is far greater than anything we are told must divide us. The 2013 VPA will be the fifth time we have come together to strengthen this movement for Jobs, Peace and Justic...

Ashley Williams will NOT be going to trial tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 28. At the request of the prosecution, the trial is being postponed. No new date has been set. According to Paul G., an attorney in the Henrico law firm of Morrissey and Goldman, which now is representing Ms. Williams, the lead prosecutor in the case told the court she had a family emergency involving her mother. It may be months before a new trial is held. The next milestone in the now three-year-old case will likely be a bail hearing, probably within weeks. Mobilizing for that hearing will be critical to Ms. Williams being released from Richmond City Jail, where she has been held for more than a year. Ms. Williams is charged with second-degree homicide and felony child neglect in the death of her two-year-old son D'Sean, who was severely underweight when he died. Supporters have pointed out that three close relatives also have young sons who are dangerously underweight, raising the possibility that D'Sea...

Film and Discussion Program TONIGHT, 11/19 : at William Byrd Community House 7-9pm.   Cuban Filmmaker Gloria Rolando and Cuban National Archivist Dr. Tomas Fernandez Robaina to discuss the premier screening of  Rolando's 1912 - Voces Para Un Silencio ( Breaking the Silence) about the Cuban government's massacre of 6,000 AfroCubans and members of the Independent Party of Color . Presented by Lee C. Robinson (African Awareness Association) and Roberto Zurbano is the editor/publisher of "Casa de las Americas," a Havana-based cultural institution that publishes the works of writers, artists, musicians, and playwrights as well as scholars of literature, the arts, and social sciences in Latin America and the Caribbean. Historic Note: This program will also welcome Special Guest Speaker: Patricia L. Pego Guerra , First Secretary, Cuban Interests Section to Washington, DC - permitted for the first time to travel out of the DC area. Tickets $10 at Ev...

11/5: Forum: Working Peoples Movements - VCU Commons at 907 Floyd Ave., 7pm. Sponsored by VCU Students for a Democrtic Society 11/6: Election Day - 7M -7PM 11/8: Housing in Segregation - UR Downtown at 6:30pm - panel discussion with Shawn Utsey, John Moeser, Rev. Ben Campbell, moderated by Ana Edwards , HOME & Virginia Poverty Law Center sponsored. 11/9: A Community Course in African American Studies - 6:30 pm at East District Family Resource Center, Church Hill 11/22: Thanksgiving Feast - www.thegivingheart.org 11/28: Ashley Williams' Trial - at John Marshall Courts Building. Details and Facebook event coming soon.

Sat., Sun., Oct. 6-7 – Second Street Festival – From the organizers: “... one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest street festivals. Nearly 50,000 people visit historic Jackson Ward to reminisce about the days when 2nd Street was the heart and soul of Richmond's African American community. Attendees enjoy jazz, R&B, fashion shows, gospel music, the children’s area and performances by community groups on four stages. They also enjoy the marketplace, delicious food and reuniting with family, friends, classmates and acquaintances.” Sponsored (unfortunately) by Altria (cancer-causing cigarettes) and Dominion (high electric bills and dangerous nuclear power plants). Information at: http://www.venturerichmond.com Sun., Oct. 7 – Public Forum: “U.S. HANDS OFF SYRIA, IRAN & MALI! We need JOBS not WAR!" – Is the U.S. preparing to attack Syria & Iran? Is it preparing to intervene in the West African country of Mali? Can we stand by as the lives of millions more people ar...

Thu., Sept. 13 – Sentencing hearing for Ashley Williams – 10 am, Courtroom 311, John Marshall Court Building, 400 N. 9th St., downtown Richmond. Ashley Williams will go to trial on Nov. 30 on charges connected with the tragic death of her 2-year-old son D'Sean. Richmond's Commonwealth's Attorney's office is trying to put her away for many years for supposedly allowing D'Sean to starve to death. There is no evidence for this, but there is evidence that D'Sean suffered from an undiagnosed genetic disease that can prevent the body from processing food. Three of D'Sean's close relatives exhibit signs of the same disease. Mass community support has so far kept the courts from railroading Ms. Williams, but we can't let up in this struggle. The sentencing hearing on Sept. 13 deals with a separate case.  On July 17, Ms. Williams pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. At the time of her arrest on that charg...