NOW through March 29
Urge Governor McDonnell to veto SB 924
From NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
The McDonnell administration is pushing through new overreaching regulations that could force 17 of Virginia’s 21 abortion providers to close their doors. Ask Governor McDonnell to veto this legislation by using the tool at http://action.prochoiceamerica…
Last month anti-choice lawmakers voted to categorize Virginia’s abortion providers as hospitals in an effort to shut down clinics. The new legislation will force clinics to update their buildings to comply with standards of full-service hospitals. This is a well-know tactic that has been tried for 20 years in our General Assembly, but it always failed in Virginia’s Senate. This year it passed due to duplicitous strategy used by anti-choice legislators to distract pro-choice legislators. The public will only have 20 minutes to comment on the new regulations at the September Board of Health meeting. The McDonnell administration is using a stealth strategy to eliminate safe, legal abortion services in Virginia. It is up to us to stop this outrageous attack on women’s rights to make reproductive choices with their doctors.
Tuesday, March 29, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Xtra’s Cafe, 3322 B West Cary Street (above Bangles and Beads)
http://xtrascafe.com/
Cocktails for Choice
Planned Parenthood has been under attack on the local, state, and federal level recently. Despite threats of funding cuts, newly imposed restrictions on abortion providers on the state level, and undercover taping in our clinics, you have stood with us. As a way of saying thank you, we are throwing a little party! Xtra’s is a woman-friendly bar and restaurant that is locally owned and operated. For this event they will be donating to Planned Parenthood $1 from every drink purchased between 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. Additionally, we will have available a hot off the presses book published by Planned Parenthood. This book features stories from patients across the country sharing why Planned Parenthood matters to them. Please join us for this exciting event. Please drink responsibly. Don’t drink and drive. For details contact Courtney Jones at courtney.jones@ppfa.org or 804-482-6132. Visit Planned Parenthood at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Sunday, April 3, 3 – 5 p.m.
“An Emancipation Celebration & Unveiling of the Richmond Slave Trail Markers”
Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archeological Site
(located in Northwest parking lot of Richmond Main Street Train Station)
1500 E. Franklin Street
Richmond
Free Parking
The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission and the City of Richmond will formally unveil 17 markers throughout the Shockoe bottom area that help tell the historic journey, human impact and the role Richmond played in the tragic history of slavery. The event is free and open to the public. Speakers and guests include Governor McDonnell, Mayor Jones, members of the Richmond City Council and the Slave Trail Commission and more. For more information contact Chairman, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission Delores L. McQuinn at 804.698.1070 or deldmcquinn@house.virginia.gov.
Monday, April 4
Union Solidarity
From We Are One at http://www.we-r-1.org/
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding the right to collectively bargain. During the first week of April activities will take place across the country in solidarity with the working people of Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where right-wing corporate-funded politicians are plotting to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for.
The Richmond IWW and Richmond Transit Riders Union are working with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1220 in Richmond to show appreciation for public workers, in this case, drivers and mechanics for the GRTC Bus System.
Fliers have been prepared: “Thank You Bus Driver! We Heart Public Workers’ Unions!” which will include background information on the April 4 action. We will gather on April 4th to distribute these fliers to people at bus stops, and to encourage riders to give the fliers to the bus drivers as they board to let drivers know we think their union is important, and that they have community support. They have been working without a contract since October 2009. New negotiations begin in September, and they will need support. We hope have more details next week.
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