• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu RVA Mag Logo
  • community
  • MUSIC
  • ART
  • EAT DRINK
  • GAYRVA
  • POLITICS
  • PHOTO
  • EVENTS
  • MAGAZINE
RVA Mag Logo
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors

Unite the Right 2: Jason Kessler’s Humiliating Day in Washington

Madelyne Ashworth | August 13, 2018

Topics: antifa, black lives matter, Charlottesville, D.C., Jason Kessler, Unite the Right, virginia, Washington, white supremacists

In a staggering demonstration of solidarity, Washington, D.C. showed Jason Kessler and his supporters how they felt about him entering their city. It was a humiliating display for the alt-right and their white supremacist organizer.

Thousands of anti-racist protesters arrived in Lafayette Park starting around 1 p.m Sunday, later filling the streets and areas surrounding the White House to protest Kessler’s second attempt for a Unite the Right rally. Less than 20 white supremacists arrived in the park later in the afternoon. Heavily guarded by police to minimize violence, the uninspiring group arrived before their scheduled start time of 5 p.m. and stayed for only a short period before being taken away by law enforcement. Heavy rain began around 4 p.m., contributing to the day’s tense, angry atmosphere, and maybe to the early retreat.

Photo by Branden Wilson

Although the neo-Nazis arrived early, dozens of anti-racist groups were already present, shouting chants like, “Go home, Nazis!” “Anytime, anyplace, punch a Nazi in the face!” “No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!” and “Black lives matter!” These groups included the D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter, the People’s Liberation Party, various anti-fascists groups, and the International Socialist Organization.

“[Today] is very serious,” said Jonathan Hutto, a community organizer for the nonprofit Empower D.C., who spoke during the afternoon anti-hate protest. “We have an environment now where these folks, the scum, the Nazis, the klan, they feel very comfortable and emboldened. If we don’t confront them, they grow. They grow in order to hurt, in order to maim, in order to kill and to instill fear in the masses. This is very important. I don’t want to marginalize this at all. I want to say that this is an extension of the institutional economic violence and institutional racism that folks face every day.”

Jonathan Hutto. Photo by Landon Shroder

The demonstration comes one year after the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, in which nearly 500 white supremacists were met by around 2,000 anti-racist protesters before authorities deemed the demonstration unlawful. That rally ended early and in tragedy, after white supremacist James Fields, Jr. drove his vehicle into a crowd, injuring several and killing local anti-hate protester Heather Heyer.

In the days following her death, Kessler tweeted, “Heather Heyer was a fat, disgusting Communist. Looks like it was payback time.” This year, Kessler’s permit to hold a repeat rally in Charlottesville was denied.

Kessler predicted at least 400 white supremacist supporters would come to the D.C. rally, a vast overestimation. During his 15-minute speech, he largely tried to defend the events of last year and repeated claims that his supporters were not violent, despite indictments, charges, and video evidence to the contrary.

Activists said they were fighting for a future without racism. “I want my future kids to grow up somewhere where they don’t have to worry about being racially profiled walking down the street,” said Sydney Davis, a D.C. resident. “Ignoring [white supremacy] does nothing. If our ancestors would have ignored it, we still would be in segregated schools in chains.”

The massive police presence kept the two sides separate, and no instances of violence were reported outside small confrontations between police and protestors towards the end of the rally. Unlike last year in Charlottesville, D.C. police were able to handle and organize the large number of protesters, who seemingly had coordinated with police before the protests began.

“While we are opposed adamantly to what we are going to hear, we know what our responsibility is — to protect First Amendment events, to protect Washingtonians and to protect our city,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in a statement.

Law enforcement’s greatest challenge was transporting Kessler and his supporters into the city to their permit area. Meeting at the Vienna Metro stop at 1 p.m., Kessler and his group were privately escorted to a separate train car and into the city, then led by police from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop to Lafayette Square. The decision to allow Kessler special transportation is in direct contrast with claims made by D.C.’s transit authorities last week.

Photo by Branden Wilson

“Giving white supremacists and hate groups a private Metro rail car is so unbelievably wrong and disgraceful,” read a tweet by D.C. council member Charles Allen. “Beyond the horrible precedent it sets, what does it tell the riding public and operators?”

By 4 p.m., several direct action groups comprised of hundreds of people had flanked either side of the White House on 15th and 17th streets, attempting to block all points of entry for both police and Kessler’s group. Although the crowd lessened by 5 p.m., many anti-fascists on 15th Street were confronted by police from the Secret Service leading to a minor confrontation. Some threw eggs, others tore flags, lit smoke bombs, and set off fireworks; some became aggressive toward photographers and journalists, who anti-fascists see as profiting off their fight against those they describe as dangerous white supremacists. Many counter-protesters carried blunt force weapons, such as crowbars, metal poles, and golf clubs.

Photo by Branden Wilson

“If somebody’s going to attack us, then sure, we should attack them,” said one anti-fascist, who preferred to remain anonymous. “But I don’t want anyone to incite violence.”

When police announced that Kessler’s group had left, many anti-racist protesters became frustrated and remained in the area for conversations and spontaneous displays of solidarity. Although there were some reports of conflict between police and protesters, no arrests were made during this time. Police kept a relatively hands-off approach towards the anti-racist protesters, upholding reasonable distances and maintaining perimeters. 

“My father fought the Nazis in WWII,” said one anti-racist protester, a Vietnam veteran from Pennsylvania who preferred to remain anonymous. “My uncle fought the Nazis in WWII. My kids are mixed. I’m tired of the way the system is set up, tired of the way the system oppresses people. I’m tired of the way everything has been going down. I’m going to fight it ’til the day I die. I know I’m on the right side of history. That’s all there is to it.”

Many organizations and local businesses created plans in anticipation of the rally. Although Washington, D.C. is often seen only as the nation’s Capitol, it is a vibrant city comprised of people from all over the US, including those from Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. Many businesses owners prepared statements warning against any hateful presence in their restaurants and shops, confirming their right not to serve anyone who doesn’t uphold their conduct protocols.

Photo by Landon Shroder

The D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter did their own form of preparation, beginning Friday with a day-long training workshop to prepare protestors for what they might expect from white supremacist protesters, what they might expect from police, and how to handle those situations.

“The country really needs to see a new narrative,” said Makia Green, D.C. chapter leader and one of the key organizers for this weekend, reached before the event. “My goal is that the next day, black and brown people all across the world see images of black and brown people standing up, feeling empowered, not being afraid to confront white supremacists, and going home safely. I hope the rest of the city is also supportive of that goal.”

Black Lives Matter had prepared for several instances in which violence may erupt, but luckily none of those strategies were necessary. 

“I would say that ignoring white supremacy has never been a solution to white nationalist violence,” Green said. “I don’t think history has ever shown us that ignoring white supremacy works. I’m a lot more afraid of what we will do if people try to ignore it, or if they’re too afraid.”

Photo by Landon Shroder

She cited Trump and his administration for emboldening and empowering white supremacists to take public action. After his tweet Saturday condemning “all types of racism” and wishing peace to “ALL Americans,” he received online backlash for using false equivalence to encourage those, like Kessler, who believe in “white civil rights abuses.”

Most of the anti-hate protesters promoted peace and love, and many gave out free hugs, snacks, and water. Antonio Mingo, a member of anti-hate group Making A Difference, was one of these protesters. Mingo and others handed over large amounts of cash to approaching vendors, taking some bottles for free distribution, and instructing the vendors to use the leftover money to supply free water to others.

Photo by Branden Wilson

“I don’t care if you’re black, I don’t care if you’re white, I don’t care if you’re blue, I love all of you,” Mingo said. “Don’t be scared to love, you got to make a statement for peace, one that our city needs.”

Despite the tension, today was a victory for anti-racists, anti-fascists, and those who resist hate. Their concerted effort to show a united front against white supremacy and hate resulted in an entirely lackluster performance from Kessler, who essentially ran from the area, cowering behind police lines. This comes as no surprise since Kessler’s support within his own community has dwindled over the past year as backlash from the first Unite the Right has revealed the alt-right as unforgivably hateful, and placed many hate groups in extensive legal trouble.  

“Numbers show the large recruitment of fascists is youth,” Hutto said. “They target folks who are on the margins, people who feel economically displaced, and they give them an analysis that’s false. They don’t tell them that the economic violence and poverty you’re going through is due to the bosses, to institutional racism, even capitalism, but it is due to black and brown people. No amount of ignoring them, no amount of loving them, peace for them, when they commit themselves to death and destruction that way, humanity has to be just as committed to fight for humanity. We got to be just as committed to preserving humanity as they are to killing us.”

John Donegan contributed to this report. Pictures by Branden Wilson and Landon Shroder.

Ganjapreneurs: The Weed Game Between Washington DC and Virginia

RVA Staff | April 20, 2018

Topics: D.C., Initiative 71, Marijuana, Northern Virginia, Virginia NORML, Washington, weed laws

It’s crazy to think that just 200 yards can be the difference between getting locked up and being fined for enjoying a fatty with friends while overlooking the Potomac. With criminal marijuana laws going up in smoke back in February 2015 due to Initiative 71 – which legalized marijuana for those over 21 – there has been tremendous attention centered around the various distribution loopholes and how that impacts everyone along the DC and Virginia border.

Let’s get one thing straight though, Washington DC is not the wild west of weed. While it has been decriminalized, a person still can’t smoke on public property or sell openly. Nonetheless, some of the district’s more aspirational potheads have started to get pretty creative on circumventing the laws; discovering those loopholes to turn what was once an illegal practice into a legitimate business.

Initiative 71 Campaign Poster

For this 4/20, RVA Mag sat down with some people about their experiences with weed in Northern Virginia (NOVA) since the law in DC has been passed – given their proximity to one another.

Unsurprisingly, they requested to remain anonymous, so we will just call them Cannabis Carl and Stanley the Stoner.  

“There is no doubt the vibe around smoking weed is different outside of the border since its decriminalization in DC,” said Carl, discussing the proximity issue. He went on to say that nobody in the weed game is still 100 percent comfortable with the ambiguities “Now that the laws are more accepting of weed in DC, cops digression has noticeably shifted to be more lenient in response.”  

Yet there are differing perceptions in NOVA. Stanley spoke to RVA Mag about police stalking hot-boxed cars with Virginia license plates right outside of the District’s boundaries – just waiting to pounce. This speaks to containment and a desire to prevent any kind of cross-border ‘weed-culture bleed’ into the surrounding counties.

“Because it is Washington DC, feds are going to be super narky regardless of what the situation is. Weed is still illegal federally obviously, so you will see the saddest of cops itching to bust someone making a wrong turn and ending up in a federal zone with some weed on them,” said Stanley. “It is most definitely not the same as when other more liberal states had originally decriminalized the drug,”

Carl and Stanley both agreed that the cultural experience of smoking has definitely shifted since Initiative 71. “The thing to do back in the day was to sneak around to our favorite secret outdoor spots, said Carl, adding that the Georgetown bridge was his favorite spot given its “sketch factor.” He went on to say that everyone in NOVA now goes into DC to check out the new vendors, which are essentially “pop up shops where home growers showcase their product similar to a farmers market.”

Even as DC has progressed into the 21st Century, it is still important to remember that marijuana laws in Virginia are exactly the same. This means everyone repping the DMV will still not be saved from the DEA. According to Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, “Washington, DC’s Initiative 71 has had no impact on criminal justice reform regarding marijuana policy.” (Check)

When a bill gets introduced, it must be approved by a committee and sometimes even a subcommittee before making it to the full Senate or House for a floor vote. Senior committee members perceive their legislative districts and the District of Columbia quite differently and are not swayed by the District’s loosened marijuana laws. According to Pedini, it is not the legislature as a whole that prevents marijuana policy reform, rather it is due primarily to the majority of committee members who are former or current prosecutors.

Lack of knowledge and the surrounding social stigmas regarding the plant essentially leaves these officials to act as gatekeepers, preventing these marijuana bills from advancing to a full floor vote.

But keep your hopes high as a kite because Pedini predicts that if and when these bills finally reach the Senate and House floors, they are more than likely to pass in our favor.

Nonetheless, RVA Mag talked to a couple dealers from the NOVA area, who once again preferred to remain anonymous, to dig a little deeper into what sort of backlash Initiative 71 has created for the underground weed distribution industry – both inside and outside of District lines.

“Most of the people I serve are still in high school,” said one of the dealers. He went on to say that Initiative 71 doesn’t impact their business because the kids aren’t of age, but they “have such big networks that weed is almost as accessible as water for them.” This means that a lot of people in NOVA would rather stick with the weed they know as opposed to travelling to DC to pay for a more expensive product.

“I did notice a decrease in the older people I used to serve, like businessmen and parents, as well as the guys that pick up weight more frequently and really harp on consistent quality,” said the dealer. “Which makes sense to me because the inflated DC prices are worth a more convenient and legal transaction given their careers and families.”

Proximity doesn’t end in NOVA though, Richmond dealers are also making the trek to the nation’s capital to explore new products and take advantage of the loopholes. After sitting down with a local dealer, “Patrick the Pusher,” over some “coffee”, he described his entire process – from the acquisition of the product – to the curation and transportation across the border, right up until it reaches the hands of the customer.

“It’s much easier to get my shit in Richmond, but when I do make DC runs, I use wheresweed.com,” Patrick said. This app allows a user to see a list of all the specialized vendors in DC, along with a menu of their product.

“Each vendor is a little different, but after you make your selection and put in a delivery address, it usually takes around two hours for them to respond and deliver, which is just enough time for me to make my way up there,” he added.  

The Wheres Weed App

The weed game is also a business, something not lost on Patric, “Like any business review on Yelp, their response time, efficiency, and professionalism is a direct reference to the quality of their product and made me feel like it was less quality.”

In the end, it is the loopholes that many people exploit in order to get their stuff.

For starters, the District does not permit the distribution of marijuana in exchange for monetary compensation, but there is nothing stating that you can’t just give it away.  Most vendors sell a sticker or t-shirt that comes with a complimentary nug as a “free” gift depending on the value of whatever you buy.

Even for something like wheresweed.com, it is only available for people living in DC, but there is nothing stopping an outsider from putting a public parking lot or intersection as their home address.

“I feel a sense of pride buying local,” said Patrick. “It almost reminds me of grocery shopping online, it’s really that easy. I have never used the same service twice, but that’s not to protect me, I hadn’t even considered getting in trouble, it is more just to explore my options.”

Although vendor prices are slightly inflated compared to street prices, it is definitely more consistent. While you can still get great quality weed on the street outside of DC, there are no certainties that it is going to be good every time. That being said, you can’t get more than one ounce at a time, which makes it harder for people looking to resale in Virginia.  

Initiative 71 seems like a win-win for everyone, fewer people are getting incarcerated, the economy is growing, and people are happier and higher than ever. This happening in the Nation’s capital also has a certain kind of poetic justice to it. Times are definitely changing.

Although the weed game is still highly unregulated, Virginians are still finding their way around the law. It is to early to tell if this newly adopted democratic “weetiquette” will immerse itself into the Commonwealth or trigger a greater containment effort by law enforcement. But until then, happy 4/20 everyone, and be sure to fix yourself a nice bowl of Weedies and milk before bed.

Photo By: Vivienne Lee

RVA Mag joins the Charlottesville to DC march against white supremacy

Madelyne Ashworth | September 5, 2017

Topics: #BLACKLIVESMATTER, Charlottesville, Mark Ruffalo, Washington, white supremacy

“How are we doing, family?”

Cheers and calls of affirmation come in response, filling James Madison Highway with sounds of joy in addition to the whirring of cars and overall quiet of Madison County.

“Look at the person to your left, then to your right, make sure they look okay. Just 75 miles to Washington!”

Marchers make their way through Madison County

The group erupts in cheers once more as they march forward, one sore foot after another, enduring sunburn, blisters and hate speech from cars passing by, but this highway-parading family–none of whom are actually related–continue without complaint. To them, these inconveniences are just side effects to marching on the road to equality.

Starting last Monday, people from multiple states began walking from Charlottesville, VA to Washington, D.C.  over a period of 10 days to protest white supremacy. The group has managed to walk an average of 12 miles per day on their 100 mile journey, which will end tomorrow. On Thursday, August 31, RVA Mag joined the group, completing 18 miles of the march through Madison and Culpeper Counties.

“I’m out here to join my brothers and sisters to confront white supremacy, because we can no longer just sit by and wait for the leadership of this country to call it for what it is,” said Tania Maduro, an activist and organizer in Washington who has been marching since Monday. “White supremacy is in the fabric, in the DNA of this country, and it need to start being dismantled, so that way black, brown, Jewish folks, Muslim folks, LGBT folks, we can all have equal right in this country.”

In the first part of the day, actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as Bruce Banner (The Hulk) in the Marvel Comics movie series, made a special appearance in Madison, VA, developing a few blisters of his own. “This is a way for us to show it with our bodies, a symbol of our sacrifice, our time; take the time to come here and travel here and put our bodies in the sun over miles and miles to confront hate,” said Ruffalo.

From left: Anthony Davis, David Moriya, Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo also encouraged people who could not physically march to spread the word through social media, get active with local groups, and donate money to groups who are fighting to sustain the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act (DACA).

“I hope [this march] wakens people to the fact that this is a real issue,” said Ruffalo. “In Nazi Germany, one-third of the population wanted to destroy, get rid of, marginalize a population while one-third of the population stood by and watched. We’re kind of two-thirds of the way there in the United States. The difference between us is the one-third that got to speak up. We have to come together.”

Starting at about 9:30 a.m., the group’s spirit was high as they listed off their community agreements in a parking lot of McDonald’s in Madison County. A list of ten rules, set by one of the organizers, set the standard for conduct while marching.

“We want to center [ourselves] every morning, every day, to remind us not only of why we’re here in ideology and why we’re going to the White House, but also why we’re here together as this group and why we congregate,” said Stephanie Martin Llanes, a young woman from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who works in New York City as a movement lawyer at Center for Constitutional Rights. “The very first one is that ‘Black Lives Matter,’ because that’s really centering for us and informs the work we’re trying to do here, and it comes full circle by the end, by saying we want an end to white supremacy.” This list also includes a sobriety agreement, and encourages the respect and safety of each other while walking down the highway.  

The group walks about three or four miles before taking 15-minute rests, and then pausing for an hour lunch break. So far, they have experienced sweltering heat and pouring rain, with Thursday being one of the hottest days they have experienced so far. Each day includes a different number of people, as some marchers come and go, but on average 30 people have been walking down the highways of Virginia, accompanied by at least 15 police officers who trail the group in squad cars and motorcycles.

Marchers Entering Culpepper County. Photo: David Moriya.

“We worked as best as we could to ensure the safety and security of the march, but also recognizing that we didn’t want the safety and security to be so cumbersome that it would restrict us in any way,” said Mohammed Naeem, one of the lead safety and security organizers for the march. “It’s been a really fine balance [to strike], but I think we’ve kept that balance.”

It’s hard to imagine a group like this, walking through such a rural part of the country, making much of an impact. Over 60 percent of the people living in these counties voted for Trump, and the group had to end their Wednesday journey early due to a gun threat from an armed individual.

“Folks try to give us a hard time, telling us we need to get a job, telling us to go home, telling us we’re not going to make a difference,” said Maduro. “We’ve had people come out and say ‘white power’ to us. We had a ten minute break in a parking lot, and we had folks come out and tell us that it’s a private parking lot and they don’t want us on their property.”

Marching in Solidarity Against White Supremacy

Fortunately, the majority of feedback from passersby on Thursday was positive. Truckers honked their approval, while making peace signs, and local residents passed out apples and water along the route. However, it was  the leadership and encouragement from Stephanie Llanes, who acted as the chant leader on the march, which kept spirits of the marchers high. Of all the things that changed throughout the day–the temperature, incline in the roads, number of blisters–Stephanie’s smile and enthusiasm was a constant. Her chants and songs motivated the marchers to finish that next mile.

“Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States since 1898, ever since the United States bombed Puerto Rico and took it over,” said Llanas, whose family still lives in Puerto Rico and suffers from the island’s severe debt. “Ever since, Puerto Rico has been exploited and dominated upon. Our people lost all of their wealth and now are living in extreme forms of poverty. I believe that Puerto Rico should finally be free. I believe the United States has a duty to pay us for reparations for 100-plus years of colonization and exploitation of my people.”

Many of the marchers came to protest President Trump’s decision to remove the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act (DACA). This policy was implemented during the Obama administration for undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors to ensure a waiting period of two years before threat of deportation, as well as eligibility for a work permit.

From left: Jamal, Stephanie Llanas

“We wanted a program that allowed us to work, that allowed us to stop deportation, that allowed us to tell our parents that we were going to be okay, that we were going to come back home and not get deported,” said Erika Endiola, a Mexican woman who grew up in Arizona. “I’m here because there are people like my own mother who was literally taken by ICE agents from my own home, was handcuffed right in front of me and my brother. They have dehumanized people like me, and they have dehumanized people like my mom.”

Many white allies were present as well, including a 63-year-old woman from Charlottesville and a woman who flew in from Tulsa, OK.

“I feel like it’s time to do more than just say that I care and actually put my body on the line when I’m asked to,” said D.C. resident Shabd Simon-Alexander, 36. “The communities that are directly impacted by Donald Trump asked us to come out here, but more important, [they are impacted] by the policies in this country that have always been there. He’s just a symptom of it.”

Another of these women is Ayelet Wachs-Cashman, a 26-year-old from New York who was the only marcher representing the Jewish community and If Not Now, a Jewish activist organization.

“Jews, we have this principle: ‘Tzedek, tzedek tirdorf,’ or ‘Justice, justice, you shall pursue,’ and ‘Tikkun olam,’ ‘Changing the world,’” explained Wachs-Cashman. “To me, that principle is so embedded into my Judaism and to me it’s shocking that we’re not coming out in droves. I’m hoping we will. I believe we will.”

Ayelet Wachs-Cashman from the Jewish Organization, If Not Now

Wachs-Cashman is marching the full length of the journey, and although this is her first time participating in a protest like this, she dutifully ensured everyone was staying safely to the right of the road and occasionally took over the megaphone.

“There are definitely a few different types of responses to anti-semitism, and the one that is most important is solidarity,” said Wachs-Cashman. “We need to be standing with other marginalized groups. We need to be here because we’re targeted, but we also need to be standing in solidarity.”

Toward the end of our day, a group of Trump supporters could be seen in the distance. Their confederate flags and Trump-Pence yard signs made them unmistakable, and they had hung a poster on a street sign reading, “Go home, Get a life, Get a job.” But instead of inspiring fear, these signs only caused the group to sing louder and chant more passionately.  

Rev. Stephen Green, Senior Pastor of Heard AME Church in Roselle, New Jersey, was one of the marchers standing on the front line, facing these onlookers without so much as a flinch.

“Here we are in a moment of sacrifice and a moment of spiritual depth,” said Green, who spent a greater part of the afternoon dancing down the highway to songs like “Freedom for the People,” written by one of the fellow marchers.

Rev. Stephen Green from Heard AME Church

By the time the group had reached the end of the spectators’ property, some marchers looked back to see that some of these Trump supporters had separated themselves from the others, and were walking toward the group. However, they didn’t yell or threaten. They simply waved.

Walking 100 miles might not change the world, or even the country, but it did bring a group of people together and made them a family for a brief time. Day by day, county by county, that family continues to grow on the road to Washington D.C. 

“There’s an overwhelming amount of support from people while walking through these towns. Folks are seeing our sacrifice and our commitment, and I’m hoping that it is a shift in their heart,” said Rev. Stephen Green. “This is not about black or white, Republican or Democrat, this is about what is truly at the core of our democracy, and really transforming the heart of all people.”

sidebar

sidebar-alt

Copyright © 2021 · RVA Magazine on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Close

    Event Details

    Please fill out the form below to suggest an event to us. We will get back to you with further information.


    OR Free Event

    CONTACT: [email protected]