Gerrymandering is the deliberate manipulation of legislative district boundaries for political gain.
The Washington Post has called ending gerrymandering “the biggest ethics issue facing [Virginia].”
Community Idea Stations and OneVirginia2021 have produced a public television documentary titled “GerryRIGGED: Turning Democracy On Its Head”.
“This one-hour documentary will bring awareness to the impact of gerrymandering, and explore how Virginia can progress from a system where legislators create their own districts toward a system that makes sense for true representative government,” said Blake Wheelock, executive director, OneVirginia2021.
The documentary will be shown in the Fredericksburg area:
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 – 8:30 film presentation
Germanna Community College Workforce & Technology Center, Sealy Auditorium, 10000 Germanna Point Dr., Fredericksburg, Va. 22408
Wednesday, Oct 26, 7 p.m. reception, 7:30 – 9 p.m. film presentation
University of Mary Washington Hurley Convergence Center Digital Auditorium, 1301 College Ave., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401
“Every decade, with recent results of the census in hand, legislative districts are drawn,” Wheelock said. “Redrawing political lines is a powerful tool that determines who wins an election, controls the legislature, and ultimately which laws pass. In Virginia, legislators create the criteria and draw their own districts. This is a manipulative process known as gerrymandering, and we must create a system that more fairly draws political lines.”
“GerryRIGGED: Turning Democracy On Its Head” examines the historical context and consequences of gerrymandering, through a multi-partisan lens that includes Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians and the Tea Party. The documentary explores the impact on communities and individual lives by including testimonials from strategists, political consultants, and map drawers, and by incorporating interviews with the men and women in politics who have the most to win – and perhaps lose – through reform.
“Gerrymandering is the enemy of representative government,” said Producer William Oglesby. “It deliberately manipulates the system to take away from voters the very choice that should be a hallmark of our system. We hope with this documentary to help citizens understand that this isn’t the way it has to be; that the voters have a right to choose their representatives rather than the representatives choose them.”
The documentary is also showing on local PBS stations, including:
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. – WBRA Roanoke
Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. – WHRO Norfolk
Monday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. – WHUT Howard (D.C.)
Monday, Oct. 24, 9 p.m. – WHTJ Charlottesville – 9:00pm
Monday, Oct. 24, 9 p.m. – WCVE Richmond
Thursday, Oct. 27, 8 p.m. – WCVW Richmond
Thursday, Oct. 27, 8 p.m. – WVPT Harrisonburg
Monday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. – WHUT Howard (D.C.)
OneVirginia2021 has additional showings of GerryRIGGED in other areas of the state, and is working to bring it to more communities. “If you’re interested in showing the film and having a conversation about redistricting reform, please email us at [email protected],” Wheelock said.
OneVirginia2021 is a leader in advocating for fair redistricting in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The organization partners with individuals and organizations to raise awareness, provide information, and work with legislators to implement meaningful reform.
