The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality will host a public meeting on Saturday, Dec. 7, to examine issues at Red Onion State Prison, a supermax facility in Virginia. The event, titled “Crisis at Red Onion Supermax: How You Can Help!” will take place at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Richmond’s East End.

The program begins at 2 p.m. with a screening of “Up the Ridge,” a documentary by volunteer DJs Nick Szuberla and Amelia Kirby.

Filmed in 1999 after the pair received hundreds of letters from inmates transferred to Wallens Ridge State Prison, Red Onion’s sister facility, the documentary explores the human rights violations and racial tensions described by prisoners.

The meeting will continue at 3 p.m. with remarks from several speakers. Rev. Rodney Hunter, pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, will address the impact of prisons on local communities. Natasha White, director of community engagement for Interfaith Action for Human Rights, will share her experiences of spending four years in solitary confinement in New York. Hassan Shabazz, co-founder of the Prisoners Rights Clinic, will discuss his 23.5 years in Virginia prisons including a year in solitary confinement at Red Onion. Phil Wilayto, editor of “The Virginia Defender” and co-founder of the Virginia Prison Justice Network, will report on the current crisis at Red Onion.

A recording of the meeting will be available the next day on the Facebook page of “The Virginia Defender.” Founded in 2002, the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality is an all- volunteer organization dedicated to advancing education and social justice according to its website. For more information, visit virginiadefender.org