Vernon Tillage’s 🦃 Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway; Honoring Historic Communities in Virginia Beach; Sears Challenger?; Virginia Defender on Red Onion
🚩 3 days until 🦃 Thanksgiving
🚩 30 days until Christmas 🎅🏽 Dec. 25
🚩 44 days until the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2025
🚩 56 days until Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025
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TONIGHT in Hampton
Historic African American Community Honored
The Beechwood neighborhood received the first of over a dozen new signs that will be put up to recognize historic Black neighborhoods. The idea for the historic markers was spearheaded by Virginia Beach Councilwoman Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond.
The below photo from the social media account of Del. Michael Feggans, shows him and other members of the community, including Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer and Councilwoman Ross-Hammond at the newest sign.
LeOtis Williams Thanksgiving Giveaway
It’s the season of community and giving as the Thanksgiving holiday is days away. One of the longest running events in Virginia is hosted by LeOtis “Turkeyman” Williams. Williams is a member of the Suffolk City Council.
Above: Councilman LeOtis Williams, Congressman Bobby Scott and Suffolk Mayor Mike Duman at the annual turkey giveaway.
Vernon Tillage’s Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway
Portsmouth City Councilman Vernon Tillage held his first Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway event in Portsmouth on Nov.
In a message on social media, Vernon Tillage wrote, “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who volunteered their time and effort to make my first Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway a resounding success! Together, we distributed over 500 turkeys along with some fixings, bringing joy and nourishment to so many families in our community.
A special shoutout to Rivers Casino for partnering with me on this initiative. Your support made a significant difference, and I’m truly grateful! Also, thank you to Yolks on Us for being a sponsor! A special thanks to Congressman Bobby Scott and Delegate Cliff Hayes for joining us! Thank you all for spreading the love and being blessing to so many people! Here’s to more moments of giving and community spirit!”
The photos below are from Vernon Tillage’s Facebook.
Sears Primary Challenger?
From the Nov. 25, 2024 Suburban Virginia Republican Coalition Newsletter: As we take a few days to celebrate the Republican trifecta sweep in Washington, we immediately start the clock on our 2025 elections (and special elections - see below).
“This past Monday, Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that he'll seek a second four-year term as Virginia's top law officer… Governor Youngkin quickly came out and endorsed both AG Miyares and Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in her bid for the Republican nomination for Governor.
🚩 However, rumors abound that LG Earle-Sears will not be unopposed for the GOP nomination. In November of 2022, the Lt. Governor stated, after the lower-than-expected performance of Republican candidates in the national mid-term elections, that former President Trump should not run in 2024 (HERE) and called him a "liability to the mission".
Though no one has announced against Sears, there is time for candidates to enter the race. The filing deadline for Governor of Virginia is April.
Virginia Defender Event on Red Onion Prison
The Virginia Defender is holding an event at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 regarding the situation at Red Onion Prison in Wise County.
The full message from the Virginia Defender: Please join us on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for the first public expression of concern about the ongoing crisis at Red Onion. Hear first-hand accounts of the conditions from the prisoners - and learn what you can do to help.
THE CRISIS: Over the past few months, men held at the Red Onion supermax prison in rural western Virginia have taken the desperate step of setting themselves on fire in order to try and force their transfer out of that notorious hellhole.
Although the warden denied this had happened, the Defenders were able to prove that at least two men had indeed set themselves on fire. (See the lead story in the Autumn 2024 edition of The Virginia Defender https://virginiadefender.org). The Department of Corrections later admitted to Radio IQ that at least five men had set themselves on fire. The prisoners themselves say as many as a dozen men took this action.
Red Onion is an infamous prison that has been the subject of reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, many news stories and numerous lawsuits. The Defender newspaper regularly receives letters from prisoners there about racism, brutality, the arbitrary use of various kinds of punishments and more.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? There needs to be an independent, outside investigation into the conditions at Red Onion that have led prisoners to subject themselves to great harm and pain in order to try and get transferred to a different prison. And we need to make sure that these men are not being retaliated against for trying to get out of an intolerable situation.
At the request of the prisoners, the Defenders are working to bring public attention to this crisis. Just appealing to the Department of Corrections is unlikely to produce any meaningful results, so we are opening a campaign to convince members of the Virginia General Assembly to go to Red Onion, talk with the prisoners, see for themselves the reality there and then issue a public report.
The immediate goal is to ensure the safety of the prisoners and expose the conditions that have led to the current crisis. The ultimate goal is to have Red Onion shut down. But to accomplish any of this, there must be strong community pressure.
Whatever crimes these men may have committed, they are still our brothers, our sons, our fathers and our fellow human beings. They have sent out a ferocious cry for help. It’s up to us to respond.
Note: From 2-3 pm we will show the documentary film “Up the Ridge,” a gripping look inside Virginia’s other supermax prison, Wallens Ridge. The meeting itself will begin at 3 pm. For more information, email the Defenders at DefendersFJE@hotmail.com or call or text 804-644-5834.
Events
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