Wingnut Food Distribution Program!

This Saturday is the second monthly event coordinated between the Wingnut Anarchist Collective and the Virginia Food Bank. The Wingnuts have been handing out food vouchers throughout the neighborhood over the past month.

So Saturday the 14th at 12noon the Wingnuts will begin setting up the food with the food bank at the parking lot at the corner of Graham and North Avenue in Southern Barton Heights. Then at 1 the distribution will begin. Folks with vouchers will get priority, just because that is the only method we have to keep it organized. The Food Bank only brings but so much food a month, but will hopefully continue to bring more each month.

This month the Wingnuts will also be tabling with fliers about the numerous events and programs they are involved with, as well as know your rights literature.

Thanks to all Anti-Racists

To preface this, I am white- just to let you know if you don’t know me.

And where I was born and raised (Hanover and Richmond Virginia) the issue of racism is not dealt with particularly well. When I went to college in Massachusetts I found myself very out of my element. I did not want to be a racist, but back in Virginia had never encountered anyone challenging me on issues of race, privilege, appropriation, prejudice etc.

I had a hard time learning to deal with being called out on my behavior. I had a hard time coming to understand the difference between racism and prejudice. I was very difficult and I’m sure seriously upset and traumatized and angered people who were fighting racism and privilege. I’m sorry for any tears, sleepless nights etc. that my insensitivity contributed to.  I’m sorry it takes me being in your shoes to be able to even begin to understand the shit you have to deal with.

Now that I am going through the ordeal that is trying to explain to people what racism and prejudice are and are not etc., I have a serious appreciation for how much upset and strife I no doubt caused everyone who called me out in the past. I wish there was a better way to let everyone know how sorry I am for being so ignorant/resistant/defensive.

I am trying to not be so ignorant/resistant/defensive. I think working on privilege and race are life long tasks, so I am sure I am going to be making more mistakes.  I want to try not to, but I also want to try to be open to criticism and to avoid getting defensive. Please do call me out, preferably in a non-attack manner.  Genuine attempts to call me out will be met with a ready listener.

Richmond Punk and DIY

When I was a young punk in Richmond I went to a ton of shows at the Nancy Raygun on Grace Street. The shows were cheap enough that I would just pay the 5 bucks and see what the band was, even if I had never heard of them. Then it later seemed like venues were charging more. And now even the venues that charge more, like Alley Katz are shutting down.

I’m really glad that we are having sober, all ages shows at the Wingnut. Yea, the music has to be acoustic since it is a DIY space. But I think it is worth it- better DIY acoustic than clear channel amplified. House shows are hard to have- but I strongly believe that by keeping them acoustic and sober we can prevent almost all of the problems and run-ins with the law that they often have.

I am really happy to be trying to promote local and travelling bands with positive messages and attitudes. Allies in the struggle against oppression, and really talented people who are excited to come entertain richmonders.

Hopefully, our space and shows there can avoid a lot of the macho bullshit that occurs frequently in the punk scene- where going to a show is more about showing how tough you are than enjoying music with people you enjoy.

I am excited at the concept of building SOLIDARITY, not a SCENE!!!!!

RVA Food Not Bombs Stickers!

I just ordered Food Not Bombs Stickers, so hopefully they will come in the next two weeks and we can hand them out, get some donations for them, and help promote Richmond Food Not Bombs this way. The stickers will look like this:

If anyone wants one, well they should come to Food Not Bombs once we have them OR you can get one from us at the Tim Barry Show in Richmond on October 15th:

TIm Barry Revival Tour! FOOD NOT BOMBS

Food Not Bombs Tabling at the show!

Host:	The Canal Club
Type:	Music/Arts – Concert
Network:	Global
Price:	$?

Date:	Thursday, October 15, 2009
Time:	7:00pm – 11:55pm
Location:	Canal Club
City/Town:	South Richmond, VA

Phone:	8043000023
Email:	xveganarchistrvax@gmail.co m

Description

Food Not Bombs will be tabling at the Revival Tour Tim Barry Show at the Canal Club.

Huge thanks to Tim Barry for letting us table at his show.
Please come out to support Tim and Richmond Food Not Bombs.
We will have a table and hopefully pamphlets, fliers, buttons, stickers, shirts, and maybe patches.
Donations definitely accepted!

www.timbarryrva.com

August Really Really Free Market

August Really Really Free Market

Sharing is Caring, Trying is Daring??

Host:	RICHMOND
Type:	Causes – Rally
Network:	Global

Date:	Saturday, August 29, 2009
Time:	12:00pm – 6:00pm
Location:	Monroe Park
Street:	Main and Laurel
City/Town:	Richmond, VA

Write Political Prisoners Letters!! Its easy and you can do it!

Its rainy where I am, and maybe where you are too. What better time to take a minute to write a letter to a political prisoner or two. Here are the most recent addresses I have of a bunch. It doesn’t take much to show solidarity with our comrades in prison- so write them a letter.

Here are some tips:

A Few Do’s and Don’ts in Correspondence A few dos and don’ts on writing prisoners whose backgrounds/politics you may not know.

Help Stop Virginia’s 103rd Execution on Feb. 19th

HELP STOP VIRGINIA’S 103rd EXECUTION – February 19th, 2009

2009 does not need to be another banner year for Virginia Executions- we can all help stop them.

There will be a protest on Broad Street in Richmond on Thursday February 19th from 4-6 p.m. at the intersection of Broad and 11th (outside of the Governor’s office). Please come help show that Virginians are not for the Death Penalty. We will have some signs but feel free to bring your own. Bring your phones too so we can call the Governor’s office to ask him to stop the execution.

If the sentence is not commuted, there will also be a vigil outside of the prison where the execution is taking place that night. Details are at the bottom of this article.

www.myspace.com/richmondabc

Edward Nathaniel Bell is scheduled to be killed by the Commonwealth of Virginia at 9 p.m. on February 19th, 2009 for the shooting death of Sgt. Ricky L. Timbrook, 32, from the Winchester police Department during a late evening police chase on Oct. 29, 1999.

At a time when most of the country is turning away from the death penalty, Virginia has already scheduled her first execution of 2009. We are second only to Texas in the number of prisoners killed, and if this scheduled execution isn’t halted, Bell will be the 103rd person killed by the Commonwealth since 1977. Please take a few minutes to say “Enough!” and help us fix this broken system.

Please take one or more of the following actions – Details below:

Bike Safety!!!

www. myspace. com/rvacriticalmass

Hey Yall
Lets work on bike safety. I’m pretty sure everyone is tired of their friends getting hurt or worse because they are on a bike. Add RVA Critical Mass as a friend, and lets start talking about what we can do to make RIchmond Safer on bikes.
What can we do ourselves as cyclists to be safer??

Also, make sure you and allllll your friends come on out to this months Critical Mass Ride, on Friday January 30ths at 5pm, meet in Monroe Park at the corner of Laurel and Main (across the street from the Landmark Theater). We will leave around 5:30 on a fun group ride.
Dress warm and wear a helmet!!!! And some blinky lights!!!!

Its 2009, and fashionistas everywhere are proclaiming that Helmets are IN!

<3 Mo

Help Stop Immigrant Detention Center in Farmville!!!!

So, the Town of Farmville and a private company called Immigrant Centers of America are trying to build a 1,000 bed immigrant detention center in Farmville. ICA has zero experience with prisons or detention centers. Their previous experience is constructing Arby’s and BP Gas stations. This project has already received over 500,000 dollars from the State Tobacco Commission. This is not a done deal, the project can still, and will be stopped.

You can help stop it by sending an email to some of the folks involved, letting them know you think it is a bad idea. I’ve put a list of emails below, that includes people on town council, people from the VA Tobacco Comission, people from DHS, and people who run ICA.

Also below are copies of a couple letters- one from the Richmond Anarchist Black cross, one written to farmville religious community, and one written to the farmville business community. Feel free to use any of these letters as a format for your own, or just copy one. THough creating your own email will help them see just how much resistance there is. The more emails we send them, the more pressure will be put on them to stop the construction.

Keep alert for more news from the People United, the Richmond Anarchist Black Cross, and other organizations in the Commonwealth working to stop this detention center from being built.

Richmond Food Not Bombs Spoke Cards- $2

Love Richmond Food Not Bombs? Ride a bike? Oh, hey, now there are sweet Food Not Bombs spoke cards. How freaking convenient. And they are lime green (duh).

2 dollars please! (one to cover the cost of copying and laminating, one for Food Not Bombs!).

If you want one of these hot, trendy bike accessories contact Mo.

And if you don’t come to Food Not Bombs, well we would love it if you did, and either way spoke cards would be a cool way to help us advertise!

Sundays at 12 we start cooking.
Sundays at 4 we are in Monroe Park serving food- you can come help serve or eat.
Sundays at 5 we are cleaning up.
If you work somewhere that has extra food see if you can snag it for Food Not Bombs.
If you have a band you could do a benefit show for us.
If you go lots of places you could flier for us.
If you want to help gimme a call at 804 300 0023 or email foodnotbombsrichmond@gmail

.com