DEFENDERS for Freedom, Justice & Equality

The DEFENDERS FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE & EQUALITY is an all-volunteer organization based in Richmond, Virginia. We have been working for the survival of our community through education and social justice actions since 2002.

PO Box 23202, Richmond, VA 23223

Phone: 804.644.5834 - Fax: 804.332.5225

CONTACT US AT: DefendersFJE@hotmail.com

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The Defenders depend on our members and friends for the resources to continue our work. And remember, because we are an all-volunteer operation, every dollar you donate goes directly to help cover our operating expenses.

VCU : Shut down the Burial Ground parking lot!

Virginia Commonwealth University students lead Dec. 16 press conference at the African Burial Ground

Marching on Massey Energy's stockholders' meeting.

Click here for more Massey protest photos.

Visiting editor tours Richmond's historical sites

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan African News Wire, visits Black History sites in Richmond.

"RECLAIM OUR SACRED GROUND!"

Defenders and allies march to oppose building a baseball stadium in historic Shockoe Bottom.

DefendersLIVE: The Defenders' weekly radio program of news and analysis, with host Ana Edwards. Listen Mondays from noon to 12:30 pm at 97.3 LP FM or wrir.org.

Click here to Read a Report-Back on the Oct. 17, 2009, Teach-In "Rethinking Afghanistan & Iran," co-sponsored by the Defenders and the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Open Letter to the Anti-War Movement: How should we respond to the events in Iran? Written by Virginia Defender Editor Phil Wilayto, just after Iran's 2009 presidential election.

Ensuring the Appropriate Reclamation of Richmond's African Burial Ground: Send your letter to VCU, and the offices of the Mayor of Richmond and the Governor of Virginia

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Massive Protest Denounces Va. Murder Verdict

RICHMOND, VA, March 30 [2009] – In a scene reminiscent of the 2007 grassroots mobilization around the case of the Jena 6, nearly 700 people marched Sunday from a Baptist church to the courthouse of rural Powhatan County, Va., about 30 miles west of Richmond. The majority-Black crowd, which included a sizable number of local white youths, were denouncing what they charged was a racially motivated decision by a Powhatan jury. (Posted on TruthOut.org and MRZine.)

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It's time to tell the politicians:

'Don't balance the budget on the backs of Virginia's working people!'

In the fall of 2008, the Defenders and Richmond Jobs with Justice initiated an Organizing Committee for a Virginia People's Assembly. Our goal was to convene a statewide gathering of representatives from all of Virginia's diverse communities, movements, organizations and issues. That People's Assembly was held in Richmond on Jan. 10, when close to 90 delegates met to discuss their issues and craft a People's Agenda of common demands. On Jan. 14, the opening day of the Virginia General Assembly, we rallied and marched on the General Assembly Building with our People's Agenda, bringing the issues of working-class Virginians to the politicians and the media. Since then, a VPA Continuations Committee has been meeting to build this coalition and find ways we all can work together to support each others' struggles and build a common movement.

For more information on the work of the VPA, please visit the Web site of Richmond Jobs with Justice at: www.RichmondJwJ.org.

Also, check out the special edition of The Richmond Defender about the VPA(click onto The Richmond Defender at the left side of this page.)

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Read reports and analysis about Israel's invasion of Gaza.