Clad in a red cloak and a white bonnet, Christie Epperson stood among hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a march between Richmond’s Monroe Park and Virginia’s Capitol, a chilling symbol for the dystopian feature she fears is inching closer.
“(America) can be Gilead,” Epperson said, referencing “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Margaret Atwood’s novel about a totalitarian state where women lose all autonomy. “A few more steps and we’re there.”
Epperson, a Bedford County resident, joined a coalition of more than 300 people in Virginia’s capital Tuesday to push back against policies that she and others see as an erosion of women’s rights as well as a general pushback to President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in Congress. The protest was part of a national effort under the banner “March 4th Democracy” with rallies in all 50 states.
A focus of Tuesday’s event was women’s rights in the context of the present as the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority, cemented by Trump’s judicial appointments, led to the overturning of abortion rights. Across the country, Republican-leaning efforts to restrict access to reproductive healthcare — ranging from contraception to vitro fertilization — have only heightened activists’ fears.
As protesters prepared to march to the state capitol, organizer Violeta Vega took the microphone, reminding the crowd that progress has never come without a fight.
“The rights women have won in this country, those in power didn’t give those things to us willingly,” Vega said. “It was through a struggle of working class people, of organized working-class people — emphasis on the ‘organized.’”
Vega’s speech underscored the long history of resistance, from the women’s suffrage movement more than a century ago to the continued fight for equality today. While white women secured the right to vote in 1920, women of color had to fight for decades more to achieve the same.
Another major concern raised at the rally was the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a Republican-backed measure in Congress that would require people registering to vote or updating their voter registration to present documents like passports or birth certificates to prove citizenship. Supporters say the legislation would prevent immigrants without legal status from voting — despite the fact that it is already illegal and rare.
The proposal has sparked backlash from voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, which warns that it could disproportionately affect married women whose last names sometimes may not match across all legal documents.
“That’s really scary,” said Kienan Chung, one of the event organizers. “So today we’re sort of highlighting women’s rights, but what we’re going to be doing going forward is highlighting a different issue at each different protest.”
Tuesday’s gathering was part of state-level organizing with the 50501 movement — shorthand for “50 protests, 50 states, one day.”
Chung described it as a growing wave of political activism that has gained traction since Trump took office. She anticipates the next demonstration will focus on transgender healthcare.
For Richmond resident Nancy Curry, broader healthcare and retirement benefits were top of mind.
Having worked decades, she has paid into Social Security and Medicare — federal programs designed to support retirees with stipends and healthcare. At the same time, she has friends who benefit from Medicaid, which provides coverage for low-income individuals and those without employer-provided insurance.
“It’s really scary to me the number of people in our country who don’t understand that everyone who has worked pays into the system,” Curry said.
Though Trump has repeatedly stated he wouldn’t touch Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security, skeptics like Curry aren’t convinced. The president’s push for tax cuts has raised concerns that reductions in federal revenue could lead to spending cuts — including to healthcare programs.
In January, Trump announced a federal funding freeze, and while a memo asserted that Medicare and Social Security would be unaffected, Medicaid was notably absent. Around the same time, several states — including Virginia — experienced temporary suspensions of Medicaid portals, affecting access for more than 630,000 Virginians.
More recently, House Republicans passed a budget resolution that proposes at least $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade, a move that could put Medicaid on the chopping block. The measure still faces hurdles in the U.S. Senate before reaching Trump’s desk, but for those relying on these programs, the uncertainty remains unsettling.
“How are (people) going to make payments? Making choices between medicines and food – it’s atrocious,” said Curry, voicing frustration over the financial strain healthcare costs place on everyday Americans.
Tuesday’s rally in Richmond came just ahead of Trump’s first joint congressional address in his second term. With midterm elections next year offering the first nationwide test of Trump’s leadership, Virginia voters will have their own high-stakes decision to make this year — electing a new governor and determining the fate of all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.
While some rally goers, like organizer Vega, expressed frustration with the two-party system, Epperson saw a reason for optimism.
“No matter who’s the Democrat running,” she said, things can be better for Virginians.
A goat farm owner, Epperson brought along Mimi, one of her goats, who alternated between munching on grass and soaking up attention from passersby. As she looks ahead, Epperson hopes people stay engaged both online and in real-life activism. And Mimi, she added, will be back for future rallies.
Mimi, a goat from It’s All Goode Farm in Bedford County, attends a political rally at Virginia’s state capitol on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
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www.youtube.com – WTVR CBS 6 – 2025-06-14 11:47:32
SUMMARY: A flood watch remains in effect through tonight for much of the area, with potential for torrential downpours, especially north and west of Richmond. Storms today may produce rainfall rates up to 2–3 inches per hour and gusts near 40 mph. Scattered storms are likely mid-to-late afternoon and into the evening. Sunday, Father’s Day, will be muggy with highs near 80 in Richmond, cooler to the north and east. A marginal risk of strong storms exists south of I-64. Rain chances ease midweek as temps rise to the 90s. A front Thursday brings brief relief before heat returns next weekend.
We’re tracking more scattered storms for Saturday. Showers and storms will increase from mid-afternoon into the evening. Due to the muggy air, torrential downpours will occur, and localized flooding is possible. Some spots could pick up multiple inches of rainfall. A few storms could have some gusts in excess of 40 mph.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-06-13 19:23:36
SUMMARY: Several area high schools competed in state semifinals across baseball, softball, and soccer. In Class 5 baseball, Cox edged Independence 2-1 with MJ Lemke closing the game, advancing to face Ocean Lakes in an all Beach District final. In softball, Great Bridge fell 1-0 to Mills Godwin despite strong pitching by Bailey Blevin. Gloucester, York, and Western Branch advanced to the finals. In boys’ Class 5 soccer, Hickory lost 2-0 to Lightridge, while Kellam beat Riverside to reach the finals. Northampton Boys and Kellam Girls won, but West Point Boys and Lafayette Girls were eliminated from title contention.
Several area high schools punched their ticket to the championship game that included the Cox Falcons baseball team.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-13 18:44:00
Washington, D.C., is preparing for a military parade on Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday, costing $25-$45 million. In response, the ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance movement, backed by over 100 organizations, is organizing protests in more than 2,000 U.S. cities, including dozens near D.C., opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and defending democracy. While no protests are planned in D.C. itself, heightened security has been enforced, with the parade designated a National Special Security Event. President Trump warned that protests in the capital would face strong force. No Kings emphasizes nonviolence, aiming to de-escalate conflicts. The main event will be held in Philadelphia.
(The Center Square) – As Washington, D.C., gears up for an historic military parade coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, with projected costs between $25 million and $45 million, thecapitalregion is also mobilizing a protest response.
There are dozens of locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland within an hour’s drive of Washington where protesters can gather as part of the official nationwide ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance.
No Kings is a movement supported by more than 100 partner organizations opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and gathering in “[defense] of democracy.”
There are over 2,000 cities and towns hosting No Kings events Saturday, where in some cases local or state leaders will speak, and “millions” that have RSVP’d, according to event communications.
Some events in thecapital regionwere at capacity as of Friday evening. One event in Kingstowne, Va., was expecting 250 people, according to an email from an organizer.
The group is not holding a protest in the district itself, however.
“Real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” its website reads. “Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”
However, the district is also in a state of heightened security, as the parade has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Extra security measures were installed throughout the week leading up to the event and some will be in place through the days immediately following the event, as well. The president also told reporters that any protests in D.C. during the parade would be met with “very big force.”
No Kings says it is committed to nonviolence.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” its website says.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article presents information on both the planned military parade and the associated protests without adopting an overt ideological stance. It accurately reports the logistical and security aspects of the parade and describes the protest movement’s messaging and scale. While the article references phrases like “authoritarian overreach” and “defense of democracy,” these are clearly attributed to the protest organizers rather than the article itself. The tone remains factual and avoids emotionally charged or opinionated language. The article provides balanced coverage of actions from both the Trump administration and its critics, maintaining journalistic neutrality throughout.
