Reparations Circle update
Let's continue to imagine and create this future!
Reparations 101

Zoom -  December 8th, 2020
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm EST

After this conversation not only will you gather a deeper understanding of reparations and why it is important but, you will also have more tools for confident conversations with others about why reparations to Black Americans is necessary.  

Reparations for RVA / VA

Zoom -  January 11th, 2020
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm EST

Let's continue our conversation around reparations for RVA / VA. If you want to be part of this conversation, please register. This is our second conversation on this topic and we welcome all who wish to create a just and equal Richmond.
BE THE CHANGE
Join The Movement To Pass HR 40

Please consider adding your voice and energy in passing HR. 40. This landmark piece of legislation would establish a commission to fully study the impacts of slavery and other racist laws and practices and recommend proposals to provide reparations for redress and repair. The passage of this bill would help pave the way for a full and truthful reckoning and accounting for past and present harms.
Support Black Business

"By diverting your purchasing power to more Black-owned businesses, you’re not only helping to strengthen local Black economies — it can also contribute to shrinking the racial wealth gap, foster more job creation for Black people, and help to hold larger companies accountable in regard to diverse representation. But make no mistake, this only happens if Black-owned businesses are supported on a wider scale, not just by a few people." - Mashable: Dylan Haas



"Coming To The Table-RVA has been amazing! Catering your events and the dine-in traffic have been vital to our success. During the pandemic, your patronage has helped keep our doors open. Thank you for spending your dollars with us and supporting black owned business."  -  C.B. Nutty Buttery Eatery
Learn More And Encourage The House To Pass The MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act H.R.3884

This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana.
The bill also makes other changes, including the following:

  • Replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis,
  • Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees,
  • Establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs,
  • Imposes a 5% tax on cannabis products and requires revenues to be deposited into the trust fund,
  • Makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers,
  • Prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions,
  • Prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction), and
  • Establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses.
ANOTHER STEP TAKEN
A Better Approach To Minor Drug Possession Is Emerging

During this past election cycle, multiple states passed legislation to legalize mamajuana. Oregon passed legislation to decriminalize use of all drugs if in possession of small amounts, including cocaine and heroin This is important because it
  • Reduces unneeded, racially disparate arrests each year
  • Ensures more emphasis and resources are directed toward addiction treatment and recovery programs
  • Enables police to redirect their resources to move violent crimes
  • Reduces those in the "prison pipeline" for minor drug possession
OTHER EVENTS TO CONSIDER
A panel discussion series curated by Brown’s Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America in partnership with the Office of the Provost.

Anti-Black racism remains an enduring and foundational feature of American society that requires illumination and informed discussion. This series draws on the expertise of Brown scholars to investigate the origins, history and enduring contemporary effects of racism in America from a range of fields and scholarly perspectives. It seeks to advance knowledge and understanding and promote a more just and inclusive community and world.

The following webinar sessions will take place monthly on Wednesdays at 12:00 to 1:30 pm over the course of the 2020-21 Academic Year.
In Conversation: Michael Eric Dyson and Jemele Hill

Mon, December 7th, 2020
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm EST
Virginia Criminal Justice Town Hall: Rolling Back Mandatory Minimums and Providing Second Chances

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm EST
Racial Trauma

Wed, December 16th, 2020
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Race & Image in America

Wednesday, January 27th, 2020
12:00 to 1:30 pm EST
Sonya Clark: these days. this country. this history.

Thu, January 28th, 2021
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm EST
GET A DISCUSSION STARTED
Lynching: Reparations as Restorative Justice

"On November 17, 2020, CRRJ (Civil Rights and Restorative Justice) brought descendant families together with longstanding leaders of US reparations movements, racial justice activists, and scholars to discuss avenues for compensatory reparations and other forms of individual and community repair. Panelists explored fundamental questions at the heart of a successful case for reparations: (1) why reparations for lynching; (2) what modes of redress; and (3) from whom should descendants and the collectivities they represent seek reparations? Discussants addressed several projects of historical redress, including the Chicago Torture Justice memorials, the Rosewood, Florida project, and the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. After the public forum descendants held workshops with a group of experts to discuss strategy." - https://crrj.org/efforts/lynching-reparations-as-restorative-justice-conference/

To see and hear the recorded sessions click here. The 10am session " Family Members Address Reparations for Lynching" was incredibly powerful as descendants of lynched family members shared their stories.
Why This Moment a VPM Documentary

"Protests erupted across the country after the death of George Floyd in late May of 2020, including Richmond, Virginia. Filmmakers Domico Phillips and Metta Bastet captured the local outcry as people expressed their frustrations over repeated acts of police violence. The documentary “Why This Moment” details the emotions and events surrounding the protests from the perspective of the activists." - VPM
Reimagining Public Safety
"Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minnesota talks about the loss of George Floyd and Philando Castile, how his city is reimagining public safety, and why he’s learned to bet on the human spirit." - Conan

How could RVA reimagine public safety?
Hacking Your Mind: Us Vs Them

"Many of the divisions tearing our country apart arise from our autopilot biases against ‘them’ and how authoritarians ‘hack’ those biases to gain power. Find out how each of us can overcome our autopilot biases and see the world as it really is." - VPM