A political mailer referencing Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan is circulating in Virginia ahead of the April 21 redistricting referendum, prompting criticism from state lawmakers and members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. The mailer urges voters to oppose the...
Merenda Cecelia, a Richmond-based artist and instructor, was recently dismissed from her teaching position at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) after reading a statement aloud in class. She describes the statement as a personal expression of artistic and academic freedom, which led to the termination of her contract just three days later....
Music has always been a mirror. It tells us who we are, what we value, and, sometimes, what we’re too afraid to face. But if music is supposed to reflect the world around us, then what does it say that so much of today’s mainstream music says… nothing at all? Richmond once had something to say. It made music that rattled cages, music that took a...
Several hundred demonstrators gathered at Capitol Square Park on Saturday for the International Women’s Day - Unite & Resist march, voicing opposition to policies that threaten civil rights and marginalized communities. The rally, which began at noon, drew advocates from across the region calling for gender equity, reproductive rights, free...
In a rare public statement of solidarity from a city government, the City of Richmond has aligned itself with a coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations, vowing to push back against policies that threaten the rights, health, and safety of queer and transgender individuals. The statement, shared on the city’s official Instagram account,...
A social media post circulating online, allegedly from Donald Trump, declares that all federal funding will be cut for any college or university that “allows illegal protests.” The statement also warns that “agitators” will be imprisoned or deported, while American students could be permanently expelled or arrested. The message ends with a blunt...
On March 4, 2025, the Virginia chapter of the 50501 Movement will march from Monroe Park to Capitol Square as part of a nationwide day of action opposing the erosion of democracy, the rollback of women’s rights, and the influence of corporate elites in government. Branded as "50 States, 50 Protests, 1 Movement," the...
Starting tonight at midnight, Americans are being asked to do something that might feel unnatural in a culture built on convenience and consumption: stop spending. For one day, The People’s Union USA is calling for a nationwide economic blackout—a pause on shopping at major retailers, skipping fast food, and holding off...
Placing a swastika to intimidate churches has been a felony in Virginia for years. However, the seldom-used law has only ever been applied once since the rise of fascist movements in the last decade. The difficulty in charging neo-Nazi vandals lies in proving intent to intimidate. Simply placing a hateful symbol is not enough for the law to step...
A Year of Magical Thinking—or Rather Dancing (Self Care for Black Men) How does self-care show up for you, especially in the wake of January 20, 2025? As we witness rollbacks in DEI initiatives and shifts in race relations, it seems that external affirmation is becoming harder to find. More than ever, it must come from within. For me,...
