FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2013
CONTACTS:
Lillie Branch Kennedy, 804-426-4426, rihd23075@aol.com
Richard Walker, 804-246-6756, rwalker@bridgingthegapinvirginia.org
Cynthia Gordy, 718-755-4340, cgordy@advancementproject.org
Civil Rights Groups Re-Launch Virginia “Mobile Justice Tour” to Highlight Voting Rights Restoration, “Ban the Box” Fair Hiring Policies, and More
Back by Popular Demand, 10-City Tour Calls for Overhaul of Virginia’s Justice System
Washington – Following the success of their initial series last summer, a coalition of civil rights groups is partnering again for a 10-city tour of Virginia to raise awareness around justice issues that affect people with criminal records, and to provide direct services. Called the Mobile Justice Tour, the event re-launches on Saturday, December 14, with a focus on three key issues: civil rights restoration for citizens with felony convictions, removing questions about an applicant’s criminal background from initial employment forms, and sentencing reform to end mass incarceration in Virginia.
Host organizations for the Mobile Justice Tour include Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD); Bridging the Gap in Virginia; Virginia Organizing; Advancement Project; and Justice Policy Institute. The tour’s second go-around, however, is fueled by ordinary citizens – college students, members of church groups and other individuals across Virginia – who requested additional stops in their cities.
“The first Mobile Justice Tour was so successful, it inspired everyday Virginians to reach out to us and proactively bring this information and these resources to their own communities” said RIHD Executive Director and tour co-moderator Lillie Branch-Kennedy. “Last time, in city after city, we found so many people were simply unaware of laws and policies that can empower them. From the new process for automatic voting rights restoration, to the statewide momentum toward ‘ban the box’ employment application reform, folks had no idea about available alternatives for changing their lives. This tour empowered people just by providing the information, and we look forward to hitting the road again.”
At each stop of the tour, legal and policy experts will discuss:
DECEMBER, 2013
Saturday, December 14, 9:30am to 1pm, Danville Library, 511 Patton Street Danville, VA 24541
Tuesday, December 17, 6pm to 8pm, Main Street Library, 174 South Main Street Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
Wednesday, December 18; 6pm to 9pm, Main Library, 4207 Victory Blvd. Hampton, Virginia 23669
Thursday, December 19, 5pm to 8pm, Garden of Hope Community Development Corporation/Second Chances Program; 1317 East Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23504
JANURARY, 2014
Saturday, January 4; 9am to 3pm; Virginia People’s Assembly (VPA); Wesley Memorial UMC, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond Virginia 23223 (workshops, rally & march)
Thursday, January 9; 6:30pm; Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church; 11400 Northshore Drive, Reston, Va 20190.
Saturday, Jan. 11; 12:30pm to 3pm Lynchburg Public Library, MLK, Jr. , 2315 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg, Va 24501
Thursday, Jan. 16; 6pm-9pm; Ferrum College: Franklin Hall/Blue Ridge Mtn Room; Ferrum, Virginia 24088
Saturday, Jan. 18; 10am 3pm Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Central Rappahannock Library,
1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia (day long community event/vendors)
Tuesday January 28; 4pm to 7pm, William R. McKinney Library, 137 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803
TOUR MODERATORS
Lillie (Ms. K) Branch-Kennedy, Telephone/Text: 804.426.4426, Email: rihd23075@aol.com
Richard Walker, Telephone/Text: 804.248.6756, Email: rwalker@bridgingthegapinvirginia.org
Register for Updates: www.RestorationCampaign.org
Follow the Tour on Twitter: @VA_MJT
