Mikki Norris, activist and author, remembers friend and colleague Virginia Resner:

Virginia Resner, a great activist who worked tirelessly to put a human face on the injustice of the Drug War, succumbed to a five and a half year battle with breast cancer at age 60 on July 18, 2007.

Virginia first became involved in drug policy reform in 1991. Unbeknownst to her, her companion Steven Faulkner had engaged in a plan to sell drugs. Coming home to find federal agents in her San Francisco residence on a warrantless search for evidence to use against him became her wake-up call. Through Faulkner’s arrest, prosecution, and 5-year mandatory minimum sentence as a first-time non-violent, drug offender, she quickly learned about the excesses of the Drug War.

Virginia found her way to the national organization Families Against Mandatory Minimums and volunteered as their California representative from 1992 to 2002. In this capacity, she provided information and support to prisoners and their families in similar situations, and advocated to public officials and the media for an end to mandatory minimum sentencing. She initiated a Women’s Project that collected stories and photos of women serving long sentences for low-level, non-violent drug offenses and conspiracy charges, to bring attention to the growing number of women in prison. She was instrumental in the effort to attain Presidential Clemency from Bill Clinton in 2000 for Amy Pofahl, who had already served nine years of a 24-year drug conspiracy sentence.

In 1995, Virginia joined forces with Mikki Norris and Chris Conrad of the Family Council on Drug Awareness to co-create HR95, now the Human Rights and the Drug War Photo Exhibit project. This compelling photo exhibit shows the faces and tells the stories of non-violent drug offenders and their families. It was first shown at Fort Mason during festivities commemorating the United Nations 50th Anniversary. It later was exhibited at libraries, universities, government buildings and events across the USA and Europe, including a six-week showing at the San Francisco Main Library in 1998.

The trio co-authored the acclaimed book, Shattered Lives: Portraits from America's Drug War, and Human Rights and the US Drug War. Their work has moved and inspired activists everywhere to take action and get involved with the drug policy reform movement. It has influenced the media through subject matter used in the local and national press, political ads, documentaries, etc., influenced politicians and opinion makers, and shifted public perception to see the negative impact of the Drug War on the American people. For their efforts, they received a Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action from the Lindesmith Center/Drug Policy Foundation in 2001. 

Until her untimely death, Virginia continued to be intricately involved with the Ed Rosenthal case as president of Green Aid: Medical Marijuana Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. Although seriously ill, she took the time to come to court regularly to attend his trial and take care of the administrative tasks for his defense.

The daughter of famed labor and plaintiff attorney Herb Resner, Virginia came from a Jewish family with a tradition of strong political activism. Her father worked in behalf of such labor icons as Tom Mooney and Harry Bridges, and she attributes her commitment to activism and justice to his influence. Born on October 4, 1946, she was a native San Franciscan who had a turbulent upbringing, with the loss of her mother, Dorothy, at a young age. Her brothers, Hillel and Bill were founders of the Straight Theater in the Sixties. She was an organizer in the truest sense of the word, not only in the grassroots sector, but also in her career as an office support service. She was a true fighter for justice, and her commitment, courage and inner-strength, warm and generous spirit, as well as her dignity in her battle with cancer, has been an inspiration to many who had the fortune to know her.

An indication of the special love that Virginia brought to her work can be seen in the outpouring of personal messages of support that she received during her final days. She will be dearly missed.

Her family requests that donations in Virginia Resner’s name to be made to Coming Home Hospice, Green Aid: Medical Marijuana Education and Legal Defense Fund, Inc., and to programs at Temple Emanu-El.

Memorial Service to be held on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Temple Emanu-El, Martin Meyer Sanctuary, located at 2 Lake Street 
(on the corner of Lake and Arguello Streets) San Francisco, CA 94118.

A second gathering to celebrate Virginia’s life is being planned for Sunday, September 30, 2007. Details to come.