[PRESS RELEASE] May Day 2010 -- Richmond, VA

May Day! Schedule of Events
http://maydayrva.org
maydayrva@gmail.com

May Day 2010 Richmond, VA | Workshops | Rally | Parade
April 30, 2010 – May 1, 2010

Endorsed by 24 organizations [ endorsements ] we will rally and march in celebration of workers rights, and the upward struggle for freedom, justice and equality! We march for an end to all wars and occupations! We march for the right to food, housing & jobs for everyone!  We march for the workers right to organize! We march for Women's right of control over their own bodies! We march for education for all! We march for a living wage! We march against racism! We march for health care for all. And we march for the legalization of all workers, for no one is illegal!

::::WORKSHOPS::::

Friday April 30, 2010
William Byrd Community House
5:00pm – 10:00pm

Saturday May 1, 2010
Workshops @ Gallery 5
10:00am – 3:00pm

::::RALLY & PARADE::::

Saturday May 1, 2010
Abner Clay Park (Clay & Brook Rd in Jackson Ward)
4:00pm (Rally w/ Speakers)
5:00pm (Parade Begins)

May Day! Workers of the World Unite!

This is our day! International Workers Day! Our day to recognize and appreciate the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. The struggle began in 1884 when the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution that would enact an eight-hour workday beginning on May 1, 1886. On May 4th, 1886 during a general strike for the eight hour day in Chicago, police fired on strikers and killed a dozen people in what has become known as the Haymarket Massacre. In 1890, Labor activists, Leftists, Socialists and Anarchists began celebrating May 1 as the International Worker's Holiday to achieve "…the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, the class demands of the proletariat, and universal peace."

With the specter of a market free of government regulation that reaches far beyond the familiar borders of the United States, there is a need, more than ever, for a labor movement that demands for the rights of working people, and holds accountable the government and corporations for the injustices that we are forced to endure at the mercy of the wealthy.

The Struggle Continues!  We must Organize!

There is no time better than now! From the office worker in a business suit to the construction worker in coveralls, no one has been left untouched. Corporate greed permeates every aspect of our lives as workers are laid off without benefits and left to fight to save their homes from foreclosure. While the city becomes a destination for the suburban middle class, protections for lower income residents are virtually non existent. Urban planners are heralded for ushering new life, income and opportunities into the area, but they also inadvertently pave the way for gentrification and the displacement of those who depend on the proximity of jobs and public transportation to survive. Developers left unchecked by city government are threatening Public Housing residents with the prospect of becoming homeless. All the while, institutional racism continues to permeate our culture, with hate groups on the rise in both membership and influence. And despite the popular movement demanding health care for all, the decision has been handed over to the insurance companies.

The economy has reached an all time low and workers are left to fend for themselves with few solutions. Immigrant and migrant workers continue to be scapegoated drawing attention away from the role of corporations and the destabilizing effects of free trade agreements. Recognizing our similarities rather than differences, we are united around the core principle that we must link arms and fight back in the spirit of those that came before us in a true display of solidarity.

This May Day we wish to demonstrate the presence of a labor movement in Richmond that is ready to fight against the multitude of injustices in our communities. We wish to unite individuals, faith based groups, unions, students, teachers and progressive organizations who will stand in solidarity with one another, for economic & social justice, freedom, and equality! And overall, we wish to better define the overlapping issue of capitalism that exists at the root of all our working class woes.

In Solidarity, Yours Truly!

Workshop Schedule:

In an effort to facilitate dialog and provide an opportunity for the community to network, share information and become involved with the various existing movements in Virginia, May Day 2010 will play host two a series of workshops, discussions, and lectures on Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1, 2010 ending with a rally and parade through Jackson Ward (a historically black neighborhood struggling with gentrification) and Broad St (a business district laden with art galleries and restaurants, who contribute to said gentrification of Jackson Ward) led by All The Saints Theater Company (a local socially conscious collective of puppeteers).

Friday April 30, 2010
William Byrd Community Library [ http://wbch.org/ ]
224 S. Cherry St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804)643-2717

5:30pm – 6:00pm "STOP MEANS STOP!" | The Active Hand Ministries
6:00pm – 7:00pm "VCU Students For Social Action" | VCU Students for Social Action
6:00pm – 7:00pm "Restoration of Voting Rights" | Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged
7:00pm – 9:00pm "Conflict Resolution for Activists" | Richmond Peace & Education Center
7:00pm – 9:00pm "Reproductive Justice Within The Prison System" | Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project
9:00pm – 10:00pm "One City, One Community." | RePHRAME

Saturday May 1, 2010
Gallery5 [ http://gallery5arts.org ]
200 W. Marshall St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804)644-0005

10:00am – 2:00pm "How To: Food Not Bombs" | Richmond & Norfolk Food Not Bombs
10:00am – 12:00pm "Case for a Richmond Industrial Workers of the World" | Industrial Workers of the World
11:00am – 12:00pm "Virginia Peoples Assembly" | Virginia Peoples Assembly
12:00pm – 1:00pm "Roads to Democratic Socialism" | Socialist Party of Central Virginia
12:00pm – 2:00pm "Understanding the RIGHT to Self-Determination" | Defenders For Freedom, Justice & Equality
12:00pm – 2:00pm "Introduction to DIY Flyer Design" | There Once Was a Rebellion
1:00pm – 2:00pm "Building Power in the Workplace: Worker's Rights and Non-majority Union Organizing" | Breanne Armbrust
2:00pm – 3:00pm "May Day & Beyond! What's Next?" | Open Discussion

Workshop Descriptions & Details:

:::: Friday April 30, 2010 @ William Byrd Community House ::::

STOP MEANS STOP!
Description: Red Band for Stop: This community Kick Off event will target young adults, church members, and others who either have been or know of a statutory rape victim. People shall be ask to acknowledge their stance against statutory rape by signing a petition type pledge and wearing of, or obtaining a red, rubber, wrist band signifying this acknowledgment. The Stop Means Stop Pledge sheet, ask signers that if "you or somebody you suspect is within an underage, unlawful, sexual relationship that you shall make a concerted effort to investigate and report it to the proper authorities.
Facilitator: Rev. J. E. Gash
Short Bio: Rev. Gash is a native of Jamaica New York, but he was raised in the back woods of Powhatan County, Virginia. He received his graduate and undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University. He earned an A. A. S degree from J.S.R.C.C. And he earned a Certificate of completion in Non Profit Management from VCU.

Rev. Gash witnessed the racial fifties and turbulent sixties first hand. Vowing to rise above such foolishness, Rev. Gash dedicated his soul to the salvation of all humanity's oppressed people. TAHM is a 501 c 3 physical manifestation of his vow. TAHM is not a church nor does it recognize any denomination. It is a 501 c 3 grassroots, community organizing, organization and was incorporated on May 17, 2007 and exempted April 11, 2008 as a public charity.

TAHM'S mission is to train marginalized leaders in community organizing, who shall form grassroots agencies in the Greater Richmond area, that will get people Actively Involved in solving their own spiritual, social, and economical conditions, without waiting on government subsidies. By forming grassroots agencies in the Greater Richmond area, people can become a Unified Voice For Force and demand changes in their spiritual, social and economic conditions by protesting, pressuring and lobbying the powers that be. The Active Hand Ministry says: STOP THE NONSENSE!
Website: http://www.vahealth.org/Injury/sexualviolence/varapelaws/crossing.html
Suggested Material for Reading: www.vahealth.org

Restoration of Voting Rights
Description: Orientation & Application Filing Assistance
Facilitator(s): Lillie Branch-Kennedy
Facilitator: Lillie is the Executive Director, for the nonprofit, statewide advocacy for prisoner education & rehabilitation organization, Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD), as well as a member of the Virginia Peoples Assembly (VPA).
Web site for more info: http://rihd.org/RestoreRights.aspx

VCU Students for Social Action
Description: Informational workshop focusing on the activities of the VCU Students for Social Action. Our activities include fighting university budget cuts, protesting America's imperialist wars, and teaching people about the struggles of oppressed people in the third world.
Facilitator: Nicolas Defilippis
Website: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47260741591

Conflict Resolution for Activists
Description: Participants will be given communication skills on how to listen and talk to allies in ways that build up solidarity. They will practice listening skills that create empathy and understanding and will be given ways to handle conflict that will strengthen and unite an activists group.
Facilitator(s): Santa Sorenson
Short bio: Santa Sorenson is the workshop coordinator for the Richmond Peace Education Center. She is a Certified Facilitator in Help Increase the Peace [a youth empowerment program] and Alternatives to Violence Project and is the AVP Chair. AVP facilitators facilitate Conflict Resolution Workshops in the prison system and community. She is also an RPEC board member.
Website: www.rpec.org

Reproductive Justice Within The Prison System
Description: info coming soon…
Facilitator:
Short Bio:
Website: www.rrfp.net

One City, One Community.
Description: Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Eviction (RePHRAME) is dedicated to the empowerment of public housing residents and community stakeholders in the face of redevelopment and gentrification by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authoirty (RRHA). By creating a powerful community voice consisting of public housing residents, community members, and city leaders RePHRAME is working towards housing communities by design and not by default. RePHRAME members Max Daniel and Vanessa Valentine will discuss the history of north Jackson Ward, public housing, and the future of community redevelopment. Come learn about a movement dedicated to housing issues, as well as social and economic justice for all peoples.
Facilitator(s): Vanessa Valentine & Max Daniel
Short Bio: Max Daniel is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's(VCU) School of Social work. After being connected with RePHRAME through an internship opportunity, he has continued work to increase his awareness of human rights, housing issues, and community organizing. He hopes to attend VCU's School of Social Work graduate program for community organizing in the fall of 2010.
Vanessa Valentine is a graduate of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Tidewater Community college in Social Sciences with an interest in advocating for the disadvantaged and disabled. A certified carpenter, she has worked for Goodwill and Henrico County. She has lived in Richmond for thirty years and was a proud home-owner, however after a medical disablement she is now a resident of the Gilpin Court Housing Community. She is dedicated to creating a strong voice and a better community for herself and her neighbors.
Website: http://rephrame.blogspot.com

:::: Saturday May 1, 2010 @ Gallery5 ::::

How To: Food Not Bombs!
Description: Richmond and Norfolk Food Not Bombs will be teaming together to talk about and demonstrate what exactly folks DO at Food Not Bombs. Then all workshop participants will get some hands on practice with food preparation and cooking by actually preparing a snack/meal to be shared with all workshops participants!
Facilitator(s): Richmond and Norfolk Food Not Bombs
Website: www.myspace.com/richmondfnb

Case for a Richmond Industrial Workers of the World
Description: We will be discussing the history and relevance of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), the difference between trade unionism and industrial unionism, union solidarity, anarchist syndicalism, and recent activity within the IWW nationally and internationally. We'd like to make a case for why people should consider joining the IWW as well as what benefits to the working class movement creating a Richmond chapter of the IWW would have.
Facilitator(s): Koala Largess & Kenneth Yates
Short Bio: Kenneth Yates is an activist and organizer living in Richmond, Virginia.  Involved in various organizations, mainly concerned with issues of public housing, gentrification, and workers rights.  Kenneth organizes with the Virginia Peoples Assembly, Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Eviction, & Richmond Jobs With Justice.
Website: http://iww.org

Building A Virginia Peoples Assembly
Description: Founded in the fall of 2008, the Virginia People's Assembly works to bring together all of Virginia's many communities and struggles into a united movement for "Jobs, Peace & Justice!" Just before the General Assembly sessions in January of 2009 and 2010, we held "people's assemblies" in Richmond in which representatives from across the state shared their stories, concerns and demands. The demands then became the basis of our "People's Agenda," which we carried to the General Assembly, backed up by rallies and marches. Between legislative sessions we maintain the VPA as a network to promote communication, cooperation and mutual solidarity. If you're interested in seeing how one group of activists is working to bring together Virginians across racial, gender, geographic and issue lines, we invite you to stop by the VPA workshop.
Facilitator(s): Breanne Armbrust, Lillie "Ms.K" Branch-Kennedy, & Phil Wilayto
Short Bio: Breanne Armbrust – Labor Leader; Chair, Richmond Jobs with Justice; VPA Labor Focus Group and Staff. Lillie "Ms.K" Branch-Kennedy – Executive Director, Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD); VPA Prisoner Advocacy Focus Group and Staff. & Phil Wilayto – Editor, The Virginia Defender; VPA Staff
Website: http://vapeoplesassembly.org

Building Power in the Workplace: Worker's Rights and Non-majority Union Organizing
Description: A discussion around basic worker's rights.
Facilitator(s): Breanne Armbrust + 1
Short bio: Breanne Armbrust is a labor leader from the Richmond area and an elected Vice-President with the Communications Workers of America Local 2201*, the Chair of Richmond Jobs with Justice* (listed for identification purposes only), and member of the Continuations Committee for the Virginia People's Assembly.

Understanding the RIGHT to Self-Determination
Description: As the African-American economics writer Oliver Cox once put it, class is primary, but race is not secondary. Understanding and correctly applying the principle of the right of oppressed peoples to self-determination is the key to a successful people's movement. International Workers Day presents a hot opportunity to discuss this historically contemporary issue in the cold light of today's economic crises.
Facilitator(s): Queen Zakia Shabazz, Dieyah Rasheed, Ana Edwards
Short Bio: Queen Zakia Shabazz, Founder/National Director, United Parents Against Lead, Inc. / Member/Steering Committee, Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality.  Dieyah Rasheed, Member/Community Outreach, Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality / former Member, Black Panther Party of Richmond / Shop Steward, AFSCME. Ana Edwards, Founding Member, Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality / Host, DefendersLIVE radio show / Chair, Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project.
Website: http://defendersfje.tripod.com/

Roads to Democratic Socialism
Description: Forum and Open Discussion about democratic socialism, solidarity, and activism
Facilitator(s): Brandon Collins, Aaron Smith Walter
Short bio of facilitator(s): Brandon Collins is secretary of SP-CVA, peace and justice activist, lives in Charlottesville. Aaron Smith-Walter is treasurer of SP-CVA, involved in socialist activism in Harrisonburg as a student, now lives in Harrisonburg and attends college in Blacksburg.
Website: www.socialistparty-usa.org http://sites.google.com/site/spcentralva/
Suggested (not required) Material for Reading: Statement of Principles of the Socialist Party USA

Introduction To DIY Flyer Design
Description: The first job of flyer design is to retain an audience's attention. It is arguable that the average person spends 11 seconds deciding whether or not they want to ignore a flyer – when in passing. There are several design tools available to aid one in acquiring the attention of your audience. This workshop will go over several of these rules and provide a mini exercise to practice composition.
Facilitator: Bizhan Khodabandeh
Short bio: Bizhan Khodabandeh is a visual communicator who moves freely across the professional boundaries as a designer, illustrator, artist and activist. His works vary from small graphic art projects to major public campaigns such as the internationally recognized, "I Dream of a Richmond . . ." project. Khodabandeh is particularly fascinated by how art and design can be a catalyst for social change.
Website: www.thereoncewasarebellion.org
Suggested Material for Reading: "DIY Design" by Ellen Lupton, "Typographic Design"
(http://www.typographicdesign4e.com/) by Rob Carter, Philip Meggs and Ben Day, Type and Image by Philip Meggs

May Day 2010 has been endorsed by: Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Eviction (RePHRAME), Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, Virginia Peoples Assembly, NJ May 1st Coalition, Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, All The Saints Theater Company, WRIR 97.3 LPFM Richmond Independent Radio, The People United, Richmond Green Party, VCU Students for Social Action, The Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, Militant Pedestrian Production, Socialist Party of Central Virginia, Charlottesville Food Not Bombs, Norfolk Off Base, The Flying Brick Library, Richmond Food Not Bombs, After Downing Street, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), The Active Hand Ministry, Mended Arrow Design, There Once Was A Rebellion, Richmond Free Party, Teamsters Union Local 322.