For Immediate Release: July, 28, 2014
What: Mr. Levar Stoney, Secretary of the Commonwealth, will speak about Restoration of Civil Rights
When: Tuesday, July 29 at noon
Where: Calvary Baptist Church (218 Holbrook Street, Danville, VA 24541)
Danville, Va.—Virginia Organizing, VA-CARES, Pittsylvania County Community Action, and Calvary Baptist Church will host Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia Levar Stoney to provide returning citizens information on how to restore civil rights at Calvary Baptist Church on Holbrook Street in Danville on Tuesday at noon. Secretary Stoney will also address community concerns about the restoration of civil rights process and re-entry.
Barry Mayo, a case manager at VA-CARES, helped plan the event to push for automatic restoration of civil rights for all returning citizens.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity because we want to help ex-offenders become full citizens, and restoration of rights is a part of that,” said Mayo. “Through VA-CARES, we’ve helped 34 individuals from Danville and Pittsylvania County restore their civil rights. We’re looking forward to hearing what the Secretary of the Commonwealth has to say in regards to re-entry and the restoration process.”
Virginia Organizing leader Louise Simms of Danville has been through a restoration of rights training and will attend the event.
“As a member of Virginia Organizing, I support restoration of rights so that returning citizens can regain their full freedom, which includes the right to vote.” said Simms. “We’re all encouraged by how much simpler the process has become over the past couple years but still hope for the day when the process is automatic for all Virginians.”
To interview a spokesperson for the event, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 oramanda@virginia-organizing.org.
Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.
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