On April 22, Governor Terry McAuliffe restored the rights of 206,000 returning citizens in Virginia — and Virginia Organizing made sure directly affected people were present for that announcement!
We are very excited that 206,000 Virginians have the right to register to vote now — a right they did not have before the Governor’s Order. But this change did not happen overnight. In fact, we worked with several previous governors to streamline the process, but they were not willing to make this dramatic change.
Now, Virginia Organizing leaders are going to be out in communities across the Commonwealth, knocking on doors, going barber shop to barber shop, beauty salon to beauty salon, and church to church to find people who will now be able to register to vote.
Will you consider a donation of $25, $50, $100, or more to support our ongoing efforts? We can promise that your entire donation will go to support our organizers in the field who are moving people to action, including helping them register to vote.(Not one cent will go towards administrative costs!)
There is no master list of returning citizens and this work will take time and patience — but we know a thing or two about organizing for the long haul!
Since 1999, Virginia Organizing has been working to make the restoration of civil rights process easier for Virginians with felony convictions. The idea that every single person deserves dignity and respect and the rights afforded to all Americans is embedded in the very framework of our organization. The initial Organizing Committee made it very clear that if Virginia Organizing was going to do grassroots organizing, we would do it in a way that combats racism and discrimination.
While others are questioning the Governor’s actions, we’re going to keep fighting for the rights of all people, as we have done for many years, no matter what.
Virginia Organizing knows that real change takes a long time and we are going to keep organizing and keep fighting in Virginia for justice for all people for as long as it takes.
I hope you will consider helping us make this work possible.
Sincerely,
Janice “Jay” Johnson
Virginia Organizing State Governing Board
Newport News
