A Giving Tuesday Appeal from the VIRGINIA DEFENDERS
Phil Wilayto
Dear friends,
It’s Giving Tuesday, and we know you’re getting a lot of requests from a lot of good organizations, but here are some reasons you might want to support the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality. https://defendersfje.blogspot.com/
SHOCKOE BOTTOM - We’ve been working for 17 years on the struggle to reclaim and properly memorialize the epicenter of the U.S. domestic slave, mainly through our Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project. http://www.sacredgroundproject.net/ Our latest initiative is the Dec. 7 Shockoe Bottom Symposium, co-sponsored by the Library of Virginia. www.dec7symposium.org
PRISON WORK - We’re a co-founder of the Virginia Prison Justice Network and are responsible for the annual Virginia Prison Justice Rally at the State Capitol. (This year it will be from 1-2 pm on Saturday, Jan. 11.) www.vapjn.wordpress.com
CONFEDERATE MEMORIALS - Since 2007, we have played a major role in the struggle to take down Confederate statues and other memorials to white supremacy in Richmond.
ANTIWAR WORK - We’ve always been part of the national antiwar movement, promoting the slogan “Stop the Wars at Home & Abroad!” We’re especially known for opposing war against Iran and, more recently, fascism in Ukraine. www.odessasolidaritycampaign.org
THE VIRGINIA DEFENDER NEWSPAPER - Founded in 2005, the Defender is a statewide, quarterly newspaper with a press run of 15,000 available in 14 cities and counties across the state. It’s our main way of promoting unity among all communities and struggles. https://defendersfje.blogspot.com/p/virginia-defender.html
And remember, the Defenders are an all-volunteer organization. No paid staff, no salaries. This makes us increasingly unique along activist organizations, more and more of which are nonprofits funded by foundations that strictly limit the kinds of issues they can take on. No one tells the Defenders what we can address or what we can say.
So on this Giving Tuesday, please think about making a donation, no matter how modest. Every penny will be used to promote the ideals of Freedom, Justice & Equality.
HOW TO DONATE:
By debit or credit card or PayPal: Go to https://defendersfje.blogspot.com/ and click the “Donate” button on the right side of the screen.
By check or money order: Make it payable to “Defenders” and mail it to “Defenders, PO Box 23202, Richmond, VA 23223.”
TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION, make your check or money order payable to United Parents Against Lead, with a notation that the donation is for the Virginia Defenders. Send the check or money order to the Defenders or to: “UPAL, PO Box 24773, Richmond, VA 23224.”
Thanking you in advance,
Ana Edwards - Chair, Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
Phil Wilayto - Editor, The Virginia Defender