The ACLU of Virginia announced today that a settlement agreement was reached in Burke v. Clarke, a federal lawsuit on behalf of Randy Burke, a practicing Rastafarian who was put in solitary confinement for over five years for refusing to cut his hair.

Solitary confinement by any other name is still solitary confinement

Today with the stroke of Gov. Ralph Northam’s pen, Virginia became the first state in the South and the 16th state in the nation to legalize marijuana. We stand with Marijuana Justice, and as a coalition, we believe there is still work to be done.

The ACLU of Virginia, Marijuana Justice, RISE for Youth, and Justice Forward Virginia applaud the governor for understanding that justice delayed is justice denied as he proposed legalizing small amounts of marijuana on July 1, 2021.

Our Commonwealth has executed more people than any other state under the guise of justice, but it is a racist, barbaric practice. And thankfully, it ends today.