Chants for justice, equality and voting rights echoed through downtown Richmond on Sunday as about 100 residents marched from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to the state Capitol in the first “United We Stand” March and Rally for Voter Empowerment and Justice.

The march, which was organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was inspired by the No Kings rallies, said William McGee, SCLC Richmond Chapter president and co-chair of the rally. 

The group has taken part in several gatherings and rallies this year and wanted to lead a similar event rather than leaving all of the effort to other organizations. 

“We were just really hyped up,” McGee said. “We decided we wanted to do this also and bring all the different groups together, all the community together.” 

The SCLC was joined by over 14 Richmond-area organizations in establishing and participating in the event, including 50501 Virginia, RVA Indivisible, the League of Women Voters Virginia and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400. 

Attendees shared the organizers’ enthusiasm for the rally and its goals, including support for voting rights, social and labor justice, and other civic issues. Nearly all were registered voters, and most had already cast ballots, with the issues highlighted at the event shaping their outlook on the election. 

“I’m hoping we go in another direction with this administration and the way things are right now,” said Richmond resident Keith Drew, who said he was motivated to join the rally by concerns about the impact of government shutdowns on communities and industries, as well as nationwide deportations. “If we come out and vote like we should, we should have a good outcome.” 

The energy from the march carried into the rally under the Bell Tower in Capitol Square, where attendees joined singer Queen Esther Marrow for a musical performance and listened to spoken word poetry and speeches from featured presenters and partner groups, including the Virginia AFL-CIO and Voters of Tomorrow Virginia. 

The rally was the first of what organizers events annually on the Sunday before Election Day. Organizers are also working to expand the effort statewide, and attendees encouraged others who had not yet participated to get involved. are calling “Freedom Sunday,” and they plan to hold similar 

“It’s a good experience to come out if you haven’t walked in a protest and done anything like this,” Drew said. “The people out here are positive, just want a positive change and a positive outcome.”

Marcia Pope joined dozens of protesters and the Richmond chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, along with more than a dozen local civic and social justice groups, for the “United We Stand” march and rally Sunday, Nov. 2. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)