Angela Rye brings tour to Richmond to re-energize Black voters

State of play: The former Congressional Black Caucus adviser and CNN commentator kicked off the tour late last month in Atlanta with the goal of aiding local Black communities through direct relief and political training.

• That means more than just speeches, Rye tells Axios.
• It's helping with voter registration, utility bills, feeding families and expunging records.
• It also includes banned book giveaways and talking to people about how policy changes are affecting them.

The big picture: The tour emerges as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs are dismantled, book bans spread, and federal funding is thrown into uncertainty — particularly in Southern states, where most Black Americans live.

Yes, but: This isn't D.C. encroaching on our city, though. The Richmond stop is hosted by Richmonders for Virginians.

• And it overlaps with the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Read more on Virginia's role in segregation

What they're saying: "There's no way we were going to do this and not come to Virginia," Wes Bellamy, political science chair at Virginia State University, tells Axios.

Zoom in: Friday kicks off with a reception and call to action at The Len in Shockoe Bottom.

• Sesha Joi Moon, executive director of The JXN Project, will be one of the speakers. Local artist Ease the Architect will be DJing.
• Saturday's event is a "Day of Power" at Abner Clay Park, with breakout sessions from the Black History Museum and food trucks from the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience.

If you go: Both events are free, but registration is recommended.

• Friday: 5-8pm.
• Saturday: noon-8pm.

The bottom line: "People want to be seen, supported and safe," Rye says. "If we don't build that together, who will?"