“It means everyday actions, it means standing up.”

That was one of the takeaways for Church Hill resident Christiane Riederer after attending the “Freedom Rising rally” hosted by 50501 Virginia last Saturday afternoon at the State Capitol.

More than a thousand people attended the group’s latest rally, carrying signs and posters and filling much of Capitol Square as speakers from local and state organizations addressed the crowd and chants rang out. Drivers could be heard honking their horns in approval of the gathering.

Speakers celebrated the number of attendees and continued enthusiasm. However, they stressed the need to turn anger and worry about the deportations, arrests and other actions of the federal government into material acts of community, support and action against systemic injustice.

“Continue to be disobedient, continue to be defiant,” Diversity Richmond Program Director Qing Imzadi said as she addressed the crowd. “Without the people, there is no power.”

Similar goals shaped 12 other events aligned with the rally that occurred across Virginia last Saturday, including a resource fair in Chesterfield County, a march and food drive in Farmville and an anti-bullying walk in Newport News.

More protests were held by other 50501 chapters nationwide during the Easter weekend.

Rally attendees in Richmond wouldn’t have to go far to turn their presence into action, as partner organizations set up informational blankets and moved throughout Capitol Square distributing resources.

The war in Gaza, transgender rights and the arrests and deportations occurring nationally were among the many issues highlighted by these groups, and the value of people using their privileges to aid those without was repeated during the rally.

“If we have the ability to put our lives on the line,” ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer said, “we have an obligation to do that.”

Richmond resident Tara Morand said she was happy with the turnout for the rally and hoped it continued to grow. Like Riederer, she had prior experience with activism and Morand was already brainstorming ways to use her advantages to aid the less fortunate, and encouraged others to do the same.

“Get people out and get people active,” Morand said. “Find something that is important to you in this struggle, whether it’s immigrants, whether it’s LGBTQ, whether it’s Palestine — it’s all the same thing. Find it.”

“Find people that are like-minded and move forward. That’s how we get out of this.”

50501 Virginia is planning another day of action Thursday, May 1, beginning at Monroe Park at 5 p.m., with a march to Capitol Square set to start at 6 p.m.