MON., March 4 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon: Ashby Anderson, jazz pianist, composer and founder of the Muse Creative Workspace in Shockoe Bottom discusses the making of the Richmond History Suite and the role of music in struggle, memory and place-making. Listen to this interview at DefendersLIVEradio.blogspot.com/listen
March 7 - 29 - The 60-day public comment period on TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) is now open. The VA Board of Health will make their third and final vote on April 12, and will be hearing public comments in the form of writing, phone calls, and in person hearings from now until March 29th. There are two scheduled public comment periods on March 7 & 12. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/events/495571623823452/
MON, March 11 - “Remembering Fukushima ~ No Nukes ~ Renewable Energy Rally - “We want to let Dominion Virginia Power know that their continued use of nuclear power with it's production of toxic forever nuclear waste is unacceptable. We NEED safe renewable energy NOW ~ NO More Nukes!” 3/11/13 marks the 2nd year of the ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. 11 a.m. picketing, noon rally. Outside Dominion Virginia Power, 701 E. Cary St. Richmond VA. 23219
MON., March 11 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon: Gregg Kimball, author/historian and director of public education at the Library of Virginia launches Pinning Gabriel - an online interactive tool to follow the history through images and places involved in the rebellion. Phil Schwarz, Virginia historian/author of new book Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Document History. TO BE CONFIRMED
TUES., March 12 - 7 pm - Public Knowledge Series: Prison Industrial Complex - Richmond Salon II at VCU Student Commons - Students for Social Action at VCU - - The second event in SSA's Public Knowledge Series for 2013, a forum on the Prison Industrial Complex. Panelists include: Liz Canfield- Assistant Professor: Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Dept. at VCU; Richael Faithful and/or Scott Roberts- Advancement Project: Rights Restoration & School to Prison Pipeline; Lillie Branch-Kennedy-Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (Prison Reform Advocacy); Supporting Prisoners and Acting for Radical Change (SPARC) Virginia Chapter .
WED., March 13 - Two programs to explore “Gabriel's Conspiracy”
7 pm - “Gabriel's Conspiracy: Exploring the Richmond Slave Rebellion of 1800.” Presentations by Dr. Michael Nicholls, professor emeritus of history at Utah State University and author of “Whispers of Rebellion: Narrating Gabriel's Conspiracy,” and Dr. Philip J. Schwarz, professor emeritus of history at VCU and author of “Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Document History.” These two books will be on sale at the program. W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.. Richmond. Presented by VCU Libraries in partnership with the Year of Freedom Committee, the VCU Department of History, the VCU Department of African American Studies and the Library of Virginia. Moderated by Omilade Janine Bell, founder/artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society and Cultural Center, member of the Richmond Slave Trail Commission. Event registration at www.library.vcu.edu/events/gabriel
Noon – 1 p.m. - "Pinning Gabriel's Rebellion" - Using the (relatively) new website HistoryPin (www.historypin.com), historians Gregg Kimball, Michael Nicholls, and Phil Schwarz will trace the activities and events leading up to the best-planned slave insurrection in Virginia. The region's geography and the library's documents are merged on the website to graphically depict the actions and aftermath of the Henrico bondsman. Presented in partnership with VCU Libraries. Lecture Hall, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. Information: Ray Bonis, Archives Coordinator, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, VCU Libraries; Phone: (804) 828-1108; email: rfbonis@vcu.edu
FRI., March 15 - 6:30 pm - Negroes with Guns: Why African Americans Must Exercise their Right to Bear Arms. Rev. Kenn Blanchard, Blanchard Media Group. East District Family Resource Center, 2405 Jefferson Avenue in Historic Church Hill. (near 25th St.) 4th in the Spring 2013 series, Community Course in African American Studies, presented by the VCU Dept. of African American Studies. FREE.
MON., March 18 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon
TUES., March 19 - Join the Richmond Peace Education Center for a community forum about militarism and the U.S. defense budget. 7-9:30 p.m. in the Commons Theater on the VCU Monroe Park campus, 907 Floyd Ave., Richmond.
FRI., March 22 - 6:30 pm - The House I Live In— Documentary Film on the Prison Industrial Complex, Mr. Jesse Frierson, East District Family Resource Center, 2405 Jefferson Avenue in Historic Church Hill. (near 25th St.) 4th in the Spring 2013 series, Community Course in African American Studies, presented by the VCU Dept. of African American Studies. FREE.
SAT., March 23 – 5-7 pm - “'A Thirst for Independence': Richmond's Black Community Shapes Its Emancipation" - A talk by Peter Rachleff, author of “'Black Labor in Richmond, 1865-1890.” Kitty's Grill (bring cash for drink and food; not veg friendly), 2828 Nine Mile Rd. (corner of 29th & Nine Mile in Church Hill). Free. Sponsor: Richmond, Virginia, Industrial Workers of the World. Information: Ph: 804-496-1568; Email: richmondiww@gmail.com; web: www.richmondiww.org.
March 25 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon
THURS., March 28 – New issue of The Virginia Defender. Volunteers needed to help distribute it. If interested, please call 80-4-247-3731 or email DefendersFJE@hotmail.com.
FRI., March 29 -“Being Silent When She Should Be Screaming: The Strong Black Woman Phenomena.” Professor Jasmine Abrams, VCU East District Family Resource Center, 2405 Jefferson Avenue in Historic Church Hill. (near 25th St.) 4th in the Spring 2013 series, Community Course in African American Studies, presented by the VCU Dept. of African American Studies. FREE. http://wp.vcu.edu/vcucollege/aas-spring-2013/
SAT., March 30 - “What's behind the crisis in Mali?” - A talk in Philadelphia by Defender Ana Edwards, who was in the West African country in January when U.S.-backed French forces intervened. Ana, host of the weekly DefendersLIVE! Radio program on WRIR, is also the president of Virginia Friends of Mali. This was her third visit to the former French colony, one of the poorest countries in the world, but one with great geo-political value to the U.S. military. Sponsor: Philadelphia Chapter of the International Action Center. Information: IAC – Ph: 212.633.6646 • E-mail: iacenter@iacenter.org.
SUN., March 31 - “What's behind the crisis in Mali?” - A talk in Norfolk, Va., by Defender Ana Edwards,.4 p.m., House of Consciousness, 650 W. 35th St., Norfolk. Sponsor: Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality. Information: 804-644-5834; email: DefendersFJE@hotmail.com.
MON., April 1 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon
WED., April 3 - LIBERATION DAY: CELEBRATION, African Ancestral Chamber
SAT., April 6 - Civil War & Emancipation Day, sponsored by the Future of Richmond's Past. The Defenders' Sacred Ground Project will have a tent and Ana Edwards will conduct a guided tour of Richmond's African Burial Ground. Visit www.futureofrichmondspast.org for schedule of this multi-site event. 9:30 am - 5:00 pm.
THUR., April 8 - DefendersLIVE on WRIR 97.3 fm - Noon: The final vote on TRAP (Targeted legislation by the Virginia Board of Health will take place at their meeting on April 12th. Molly Taylor Vick will discuss this critical part of the struggle for women's human and social rights.
WED., April 24 – Rally to demand freedom for U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal – Philadelphia, PA. - Mumia’s 59th Birthday.
11 am, Philadelphia’s City Hall Area, Gathering at Love Park. Rally, March, and Other Events to Be Announced. Demand freedom for Mumia now – end police terrorism.
MON., May 20 - Ashley Williams trial opens. 9 am, John Marshal Courts Building, 400 N. 9th zt., Richmond. PACK THE COURTROOM – FREE ASHLEY WILLIAMS!
