NoVa Justice Reform Pep Rally: Dec. 11 in Falls Church

Please join Justice Forward Virginia on December 11, 2019 for our NoVa Criminal Justice Reform Pep Rally, at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack in Falls Church, VA. We’ll start at 5:30pm and wrap up by 8pm. Special guest speakers include Senators Scott Surovell and Barbara Favola, and Delegates Patrick Hope and Marcus Simon. Please RSVP on our Facebook event page.

Why a “justice reform pep rally?”

The Virginia General Assembly is our state’s legislative body; they write the laws that shape our criminal justice system. The General Assembly’s next legislative session begins in less than two months, and this is the first time in ages that real, meaningful criminal justice reform stands a chance of being implemented. We need it desperately, as well: on issue after issue, Virginia’s criminal courts are among the harshest in the country, decades behind their counterparts in other states in terms of a contemporary, constructive, and evidence-based approach to criminal justice.

You may have followed the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s elections in Northern Virginia this year. Well, we want to make the exact same changes that most candidates -- including the incumbents -- said they stood for. The only difference is we want to make them on a statewide, legislative level. We want a Commonwealth that doesn’t bully and coerce, but rather respects and honors the fundamental rights of the individual, including the many rights that comprise the right to a fair trial. We want to end the pointless, counterproductive war on drugs, and the inhumane over-criminalization of mental illness, and replace those policies with programs that divert and rehabilitate. We want our justice system to treat people like people, whether victims or offenders, and find ways, wherever possible to teach, repair and heal and through restorative justice initiatives. We believe that in doing all of the above, we will not only give more broken-but-deserving people a second-chance -- we’ll also reduce the risk of reoffense and enhance the safety of the community.

To read more about our 2020 justice reform priorities and legislative agenda, check out "Criminal Justice Reform: The Road Ahead,” including a link to our bill summary.

If our movement sounds appealing to you, please join us on December 11 to learn about our plans for reshaping Virginia’s justice system, how to become involved, and to be motivated and mobilized to make a difference. In addition, we will be asking for financial support for our advocacy work; particularly our goals of having an expert criminal justice advocate present in Richmond for every day of the upcoming legislative session, and to cover costs of printing and distributing advocacy materials. Although we have largely been a volunteer organization over the past 2 1/2 years, in order to take the next step and ensure our legislators are informed and accountable -- something you can never take for granted when it comes to this subject -- we need your financial support. Despite the elevated profile of criminal justice reform in public discourse, the fact of the matter is that those who oppose reform are far better funded and connected in Richmond. Bottom line: we need your help.

You can make a donation online, before the event, here: https://www.justiceforwardva.com/take-action

Or you can make a donation in person when you attend. Thank you for your interest and dedication to this important cause. We look forward to seeing you on December 11!

Details:

What: NoVa Criminal Justice Reform Pep Rally
Where: Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046
When: December 11, 2019; 5:30-8:00pm
Who: Justice Forward Virginia, w/special guests Sen. Scott Surovell, Sen. Barbara Favola, Del. Patrick Hope & Del. Marcus Simon
RSVP?: NoVa Justice Reform Pep Rally Facebook event page