by Michael Beer
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is your chance to honor MLK’s legacy and to accomplish something important. You can go to Richmond for the day and lobby on issues important to you.
Please form a carpool with some friends and meet your legislators who are in session on MLK Day. If you would like to join organized efforts by progressive campaigns, see below for some groups organizing activities on Monday.
Note that “gun rights” advocates are coming in large numbers. Two groups are organizing alternative events to support gun violence prevention: Black Lives Matter and the Virginia Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention.
1) Asian American Advocacy Day
“Join us for NAKASEC’s Advocacy Day at the 2020 General Assembly in Richmond on Monday, January 20, 2020 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day). Let’s show our elected officials that Asian Americans are impacted by many issues across the state and we are advocating with our community members in solidarity!
If you are interested in participating on the day of, please fill out our form at: http://bit.ly/TakeActionAdvocate
If you would like more details, please contact Joshua Nam at jnam@nakasec.org“
2) Dr. King Day of Advocacy at the VA State Capitol
Patrick Henry Building – 1111 E Broad St, Richmond, Virginia 23219
“Keeping with the spirit of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, it is our goal as civil rights and community organizations to come together and advocate for key legislative priorities impacting communities and citizens of color in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Tentative Schedule.
8:30am Greetings/Continental Breakfast
9:00-10:00 am Ed 2 Action Part 1: Legislative Agenda:
Moderator: Eric Claville
Kayla Hicks, Director of African-American & Community Outreach, Educational Fund to Stop
Gun Violence (EFSGV)
Chelsea Higgs Wise-Co-Founder, Marijuana Justice Reform
Valerie Slater, Esq.-Executive Director, Rise For Youth
Karen Campblin-State NAACP Environment and Climate Justice Chair
10:00 am-11:30 Presentation by House & Senate Leadership/Members of the Governor’s
Cabinet
Mistress of Ceremonies: LaFaye Grooms
10:00-Delegate J. Carroll Foy
10:15-Delegate Cole
10:30 Mayor Stoney-Welcome
10:30-Delegate McQuin
10:40-Delegate Aird
11:00-Secretary Qarni
11:10-Secretary Carey
11:20-Secretary Moran
11:30 am- 12:30 pm Options: Lunch and Learn/Recognition at Session/Organizational
Networking
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:45pm Ed 2 Action Part 2: From Paper to Action:
Eric Claville-The Center for African American Public Policy, NSU ~
Allison Lawrence-Principal and CEO of The Capitol Strategies Group, LLC and Sn. Advisor to the Virginia Senate Democractic Caucus ~ Keenan Caldwell-VP of Government Relations and Public Policy, Sentara Healthcare/Optima Health ~ Reverend Lacette Cross-Co-founder Black Pride RVA and Pastor of Restoration Fellowship RVA
Moderator: Tyrone Williams, Campaign Coordinator
1:45pm Group Photo at the Capitol Steps with EFSGV
2:00pm – 2:45pm Gun Violence Prevention Vigil
3:00pm – 4:30pm Legislative room visits (Pocahontas Building)”
3) Virginia Fire Fighters have Earned American RIGHTs
“Repealing the Prohibition Against Collective Bargaining (HB327 & HB582) Virginia Professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers supports the repeal of the prohibition against collective bargaining in the Commonwealth, . Collective bargaining gives a voice to workers about important issues that affect them and Our communities, . Collective bargaining allows employees to have a say in their working conditions, instead of their wages, health benefits and retirements being at the whim of bureaucrats, . FORTY-FIVE other states allow for this and changing this Law in Virginia is long overdue.”
4) Virginia Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention – 28th Annual Vigil and Advocacy Day
“Capitol
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Vigil to remember victims of gun violence
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Visit lawmakers
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception”
UPDATE:
5) New Virginia Majority – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Action/Día de Acción
“Join New Virginia Majority at our annual MLK Day of Action on Monday, January 20, 2020 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continue the fight for democracy, justice and progress here in Virginia.
When: Monday, January 20, 2020
12 pm – 4:15 pm
Where: Richmond, VA (details provided when you RSVP)
If you have not already connected directly with a NVM organizer to register, please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/1bwxQ994-GdQpdUwwNYEtG2zSJriTOgRTyWZs3qeOgp4/edit
We’ll gather to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy with a rally and march to the state capitol to meet our legislators. We’ll share our stories with our elected officials and ask them to support legislation for voting rights, a statewide living wage, driver’s licenses for all, and housing justice for all.
Please note: you may not be meeting with your specific legislators during your lobby visits. We will try our best to put you in a group based on your legislator or issues that are important to you.
————————————————————–
Únete a la Nueva Mayoría de Virginia en nuestro Día de Acción MLK anual el lunes 20 de enero de 2020 para honrar al Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. y continuar la lucha por la democracia, la justicia y el progreso aquí en Virginia.
Cuando: Lunes 20 de enero de 2020
12 pm – 4:15 pm
Donde: Richmond, VA (detalles proporcionados cuando usted confirma su asistencia)
Si aún no se ha conectado directamente con un organizador de NVM para registrarse, responda aquí:
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/1bwxQ994-GdQpdUwwNYEtG2zSJriTOgRTyWZs3qeOgp4/edit
Nos reuniremos para celebrar el legado del Dr. King con una manifestación y marcharemos al capitolio estatal para reunirnos con nuestros legisladores. Compartiremos nuestras historias con nuestros funcionarios electos y les pediremos que apoyen la legislación sobre los derechos de voto, un salario digno en todo el Estado, licencias de conducir para todos y justicia de viviendas para todos.
Tenga en cuenta: es posible que no se reúna con sus legisladores específicos durante sus visitas al lobby. Haremos todo lo posible para ubicarlo en un grupo basado en su legislador o en asuntos que sean importantes para usted. ¡Únete a nosotros!”
6) Testify Against HB 1381: Anti-Student/Parent/Advocate Law (sponsored by Advocates for Equity in Schools)
“House Conference Room, Third Floor, E300-A, Pocahontas Building to testify against HB 1381, which seeks to deny families the special education advocates of their choice. This bill is racially motivated and targets communities of color as well as economically disadvantaged families.”
7) Hb199 Discussion in the House Constitutional Subcommittee (to effectively end the electoral college)
“Hosted by National Popular Vote – Virginia We’ll be in the House Committee Room on the first floor of the Pocahontas Building, to the left of the entrance (Location Subject to Change). HB177 and HB199 are the first bills on the docket so we will need speakers.”
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
