0:08 – The U.N. Human Rights Council is holding an urgent debate this week, rare in its history, to examine racism and police violence against African-Americans in the United States. The family of George Floyd asked for them to open a formal probe.
We talk with Gay McDougall, distinguished scholar-in-residence at Fordham University’s Leitner Center for International Law and Justice and a former member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She co-drafted a letter — with more than 600 signatories — demanding that the U.N. Human Rights Council convene a session to investigate police violence and repression of protests in the U.S.
0:23 – We hear an update from Zimbabwe, where three young women opposition activists are being jailed and accused of lying about being attacked, raped and tortured. Garikai Chaunza joins us. He is an independent journalist and media professional based in Harare.
0:34 – What are right-wing extremists doing, and what are the so-called “Boogaloo Bois”? We talk with two experts who track white power movements in history and online.
Kathleen Belew is a professor of history at the University of Chicago. Author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement & Paramilitary America.
Devin Burghart is executive director of the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights, based in Seattle, which examines racist, anti-Semitic, and far right social movements.
1:08 – The Do No Harm coalition is organizing medical professionals to take a stand against racism in medicine, racist policing, brutality against protesters and homelessness, and hosting street medic trainings, among other issues. We talk with Dr. Rupa Marya, who works in hospital medicine at UCSF and is a member of the Do No Harm Coalition. They are planning a car caravan for Black lives on Saturday, June 20 at 4PM. Details here.
1:18 – Oscar Grant’s family is calling for BART Board Director Debora Allen to step down after comments that downplayed the death of Oscar Grant. A commenter during a BART Board meeting said that BART police murder people, and Allen disagreed, calling it a “false statement” and “politically motivated.” We talk with Uncle Bobby X, uncle of Oscar Grant, who was killed by Johannes Meserle on January 1, 2009.
1:34 – Young Black Oakland organizers with Black Youth 4 The People’s Liberation are planning a protest and rally at 4PM on Juneteenth (Friday, June 19) at DeFremery Park. Details on their Instagram. Jadyn Polk and Isha Clark join us to talk about the event.
1:42 – A massive port shutdown and rally is planned for the Port of Oakland on Juneteenth. We talk with Trent Willis, president of ILWU Local 10, part of the labor movement leading the shutdown for racial justice. Demonstrators will meet at 1717 Middle Harbor Road at 10AM, with march to follow ending at Oscar Grant Plaza.
1:50 – Travis Watts is an Oakland community staple who organizes events like the FamBam and the Pan African Festival. He is organizing a Juneteenth event at the Lake Merritt Ampitheater from 12PM-9PM Friday June 19. Details here.