Virginia Needs a New Way
It’s time to build a new Democratic majority, one that puts people ahead of corporate money and influence. Virginia Justice Democrats envisions building this New Way by advocating for social, racial, economic and environmental justice in our state. Whether it’s electing representatives that embody these values or supporting existing legislators who promote them, VAJD creates the grassroots support infrastructure necessary for this growing progressive movement. While these forms of justice are interrelated and dependent on one another, distinct policies and issues on which to focus may grouped in this way:
Social Justice
Social justice demands equality in the distribution of wealth, opportunity, and privilege within society. In Virginia, this means that our democracy must be resilient and just, where no one is disenfranchised or marginalized.
Example Legislation:
- Clean Campaigns—Prohibit political donations from publicly regulated utilities, Campaign Contributions Limits, Disclosure Requirement of Contributions, Publicly Financed Campaigns
- Voter Protection – No Excuse Early Absentee Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, Constitutional Amendment Guaranteeing Right to Vote, Invest and Update Voting Infrastructure, Election Day as a Holiday
Racial Justice
Racial justice is the systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all. In Virginia, this means not just the absence of discrimination and inequality based on race, but the presence of deliberate systems to right historical wrongs and achieve sustained racial equity through proactive and preventative measures.
Example Legislation:
- Criminal Justice Reform – Legalize Marijuana, End Cash Bail, Increase Felony Larceny Threshold, Record Expungement Reform, Reform Pretrial System, Eliminate Mandatory Minimums, Eliminate Civil-Asset Forfeiture Without Due Process
- Fair Redistricting and Representation in positions of power #EndGerrymandering
Economic Justice
Economic justice is the opportunity for each person to live dignified, productive and creative lives free from poverty, hunger and the destabilization caused by unsustainable gaps in wealth. In Virginia, economic justice means fighting for communities that are falling behind in terms of good jobs, quality healthcare and affordable housing.
Example Legislation:
- Raising the minimum wage #FightForFifteen
- Repealing the ‘Right To Work’ #UnionStrong
- Medicare For All #HealthcareIsAHumanRight #BeAHero
- Addressing the Housing crisis (eviction, homelessness, etc.), Fair Housing
- Paid Family Leave
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. In Virginia, environmental justice means transforming our economy to address the dual crisis of massive socioeconomic inequality and the existential threat of human-induced climate change such as those proposed through the Green New Deal Virginia.
Example Legislation:
- Moratorium on all fossil fuel infrastructure #StopThePipelines
- Promote investment in mass transits & smart urban development
- Incentivize land & soil health through sustainable agricultural practices
- Utility Regulation Reform (SCC)
This is not a full list of our priorities for the 2020 Virginia legislative session but rather a summary of key justice issues and related legislation that we believe can be accomplished this year.