What: Media conference with community leaders to provide updates on police transparency campaign and speak in support of community values
When: Monday, November 14 at 5:45 p.m.
Where: Danville City Hall Steps (427 Patton St., Danville, VA 24541)
Danville, Va. — Virginia Organizing will hold a media conference to provide an update on the Danville Chapter’s police transparency campaign on Monday, November 14 at 5:45 p.m. at the City Hall steps. Speakers will also reaffirm Virginia Organizing’s commitment to fight racist, sexist, anti-gay, and anti-immigrant policies at all levels of government.
“Our work with the City of Danville to increase police transparency shows that progress is possible,” said Ebony Guy, a leader in the Danville Chapter. “We will continue to hold our elected officials accountable while fighting for equality.”
Since 2009, Virginia Organizing has worked to improve relations between the Danville Police Department and communities of color. Following last month’s successful campaign to change the department’s policy of raising the hoods of patrol cars, Danville Chapter leaders are meeting with city officials to ensure that future policy changes include input from the communities most directly affected by these decisions.
Police transparency is only one of the ways that Virginia Organizing is working to build a more just Virginia. Local leaders have also committed themselves to protecting immigrant rights, affordable health care, voting rights, and more.
“America has prided itself on protecting families. We must continue this important work by protecting undocumented immigrants,” said Matt Bailey, a Danville resident and Virginia Organizing leader.
“I am concerned for the health care of over 20 million Americans if the Affordable Care Act is repealed,” said Correll Townes, a Virginia Organizing leader and social action chair for the Danville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “The American people have not heard clearly what any new health care program would look like or how it will be beneficial to them. Too many unanswered questions! We’re going to continue to fight for all people to have access to affordable health care no matter what.”
“Since 1995, Virginia Organizing has been working with local, state, and federal officials on real issues that affect Virginians,” said Guy. “In the City of Danville, Virginia Organizing has engaged local officials to ensure that residents have a voice on issues that directly affect us. We’ll continue to champion those issues for years to come.”
To learn more about the Danville Chapter of Virginia Organizing, residents can visit www.virginia-organizing.org or contact organizer Nik Belanger at 434-709-4953 or nik.belanger@virginia-organizing.org.
For more information or to interview a spokesperson, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@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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