Workers Over Billionaires: Rally & March -- Norfolk, VA
We're planning more than a barbecue on Labor Day this year because we have to stop the billionaire takeover. Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy, and building armies to usurp local control of our cities.

Workers Over Billionaires is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.

Our democracy is under attack. But we will not yield to authoritarianism. We will stand together and we'll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities, and our values!

RALLY
Monday, September 1, 11:00am

Town Point Park
113 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510
Rally Map
Please Note: Restrooms are available in Waterside District. (333 Waterside Drive)

Rally Speakers
Carrie Short, Co-Founder of CoVa Coalition, returns to MC the rally!

Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander serves as the Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture, and is the former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University.

Eddie Seay is the Organizing Director of Freedom Virginia, an organization dedicated to advancing policies that will create a commonwealth where hardworking Virginians have the freedom to thrive.

Delegate Jackie Hope Glass of the Virginia House of Delegates, 93rd District, is here for the working people of Virginia!

MARCH
March Route Map 

After the rally we will march from Town Point Park along a 2-mile route. We will start by moving west on Waterside Drive. Curve onto Boush St., heading north. Turn left (west) on Brambleton Ave. While walking along Brambleton, at Yarmouth Street, the sidewalk ends, so we will take a slight detour (to the left) onto Yarmouth and then onto York Street (technically walking through the Tide Station), where we will follow the sidewalk to the end of York Street (at NOAA) take the switchback to the Elizabeth River Trail (which at that point is the Brambleton sidewalk). A short walk on the Elizabeth River Trail/Brambleton brings us across the mouth of The Hague to 2nd Street, where we will take the sidewalk again, past the Fort Norfolk Tides Station. When you reach Fort Norfolk Plaza, keep to the right, and get back onto the Elizabeth River Trail, past Exercise Park, over the Midtown Tunnel until you end up at Benchtop Brewing Company (1129 Boissevain Ave.) 

This sounds more complicated than it is! Just follow the people in front of you. Sharon McQueen will lead the march.

Please remember to bring water with you!

Hearty souls may opt to march back to Town Point Park for optimum visibility. Roundtrip is approximately 4 miles. There are two Tide Stations along the march route if you find you would like to head back early. The closest station to Town Point Park is MacArthur Square Station. The cost is $2.00 for a one-way fare

Please Note: We will NOT be marching in the street. We have a permit to march on the sidewalk.

RSVP: If you haven't already done so, please consider letting us know that you will attend, here.

Please consider carpooling and ridesharing.

City of Norfolk Police will be on hand to assure a safe event. Thank you NPD!

A core principle behind all Workers Over Billionaires 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.

Benchtop Brewing Company
1129 Boissevain Ave.
The good folks at Benchtop will do their best, but depending on crowd size, they might not be able to serve you. Please be patient and understanding. There will be a lumpia food truck. 

Signs
During the past two Norfolk rallies, we have been very impressed with the powerful, and often playful, messages on your signs, t-shirts, and hats. We don't want to hamper creativity or free speech, but consider avoiding anything that can be seen as violent. The right will use that against us, and it will undermine our message.

Lawn Chairs & Blankets
Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome! It can be difficult for people in the back to see and hear. More attendees will be able to enjoy the event if some folks sit on the grass in front of the stage, some sit behind them in low beach chairs, and some behind them in folding lawn chairs. If you wish to participate in the march, you should have time to put your blankets and chairs in your car. If the No Kings Rally & March - Norfolk, VA is any indication, there is likely to be a wait to work your way into the march once it gets started. And that's a GOOD thing!

Bring
In addition to your signs and something to sit on, consider bringing water, sun screen, a hat, and insect repellant.

Children
People under the age of 18 are allowed at Workers Over Billionaires: Rally & March -- Norfolk, VA. The protest event is being held in a public space, and everyone is welcome. We issue no advice or recommendations. For underage participants, we defer to the parents' comfort level.

Why Protest?
Some people question the efficacy of protest events. Not us! Protest events provide community, solidarity, a release, inspiration, hope, and COURAGE. The larger the numbers, the more others think "I can join that." Protests give people the courage to stand up. To resist. And they provide connection, so that folks can organize and take more action (such as phone banks, campaigning, etc.) And the larger the numbers, the more press you generally get! And the more visibility, the more... It's cyclical. Look back to the Vietnam War and how the growing protests contributed to growing anti-war sentiment.

Organizational Structure
Workers Over Billionaires: Rally & March -- Norfolk, VA is part of the national Workers Over Billionaires initiative, a nationwide day of community and defiance on Labor Day being organized by May Day Strong and their allies. The Norfolk events are being organized by the same folks who brought you No Kings Rally & March - Norfolk, VA, an all-volunteer local alliance co-sponsored by CoVa Coalition. Please consider becoming an active member of the all-volunteer CoVa Coalition and/or making a donation.

May Day Strong is a grassroots movement of working people rising up to stop the billionaire takeover–not just through the ballot box or the courts, but through building a bigger and stronger movement. May Day Strong held a national event this past May stating that "Musk, Trump and their fellow profiteers are trying to create a race to the bottom—on wages, on benefits, on dignity itself. They want to erase labor rights, break our unions, and silence immigrant voices. This May Day we are standing united."

Now May Day Strong is organizing a Labor Day national protest called "Workers Over Billionaires." On September 1st we will continue the movement they launched on May 1st. Thousands of communities across the country are taking a stand on Labor Day. Join us!

OUR DEMANDS TO BUILD THE SOCIETY WE ALL DESERVE

1. Stop the billionaire takeover corrupting our government.

2. Protect and defend Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs for working people.

3. Fully funded public schools, and healthcare and housing for all. 

4. Stop the attacks on immigrants, Black people, indigenous people, trans people, and all our communities.

5. Invest in people not wars.

Proper permits have been secured through the City of Norfolk. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP?
Post this event on social media!