BioHiTech, a solid waste company, plans to move forward with construction of a new solid waste processing facility in Rensselaer without a comprehensive State Environmental Quality Review. The company received a negative declaration by the City of Rensselaer, which in effect waived the SEQRA requirement. The proposed site for what's described by BioHiTech as a "regenerating landfill" is on an already existing hazardous waste landfill contaminated with BASF. We speak to Dave Ellis of the Rensselaer Environmental Coalition about the project.

The Police Reform Organizing Project is one of the groups calling for $1 billion in funding cuts for the NYC police force. We talk to their Executive Director Robert Gangi, a 40 year veteran on police reform, about the city, state and national reform efforts. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Radio Network. (Radio version)

The Police Reform Organizing Project is one of the groups calling for $1 billion in funding cuts for the NYC police force. We talk to their Executive Director Robert Gangi, a 40 year veteran on police reform, about the city, state and national reform efforts. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Radio Network. (Radio version)

(INTRO)Next we air excerpts from the Justice for Dahmeek press conference related to the historic protest for Black lives that took place last weekend in Troy. WOOC correspondent Elizabeth Press (EP) brings you this piece.

(OUTRO) That was Amani Olugbaga and Naomi Jaffe from Justice for Dahmeek talking about criminal justice reform and the historic protests that took place last weekend for Black lives. Stay tuned for more coverage of the rally including demands from Justice for Dahmeek moving forward.

The Troy Rally for Black Lives was a statement by the greater community of the NY capital region, but it was also a proudly Black American event. In the introduction, organizers spoke to the crowd about the traditions they draw from, what the protest was about, and the way it would unfold.

Recorded by Dave Publow

At the beginning of Sunday's Troy Rally for Black Lives, S. Neal Currie performed a moving libation ritual. The ritual is based on African traditions and is meant to venerate and remember the ancestors of those present. The Rally drew approximately 11,000 people, who stood up to demand justice and change, and an end to police brutality and murder of Black people,

Recorded by HMM Correspondent Dave Publow

At Sunday's Troy Rally for Black Lives, Danielle Williams spoke out about corruption in the court system, and about abuse her son suffered at the hands of prison guards after he advocated on behalf of his fellow prisoners.

Recorded by HMM Correspondent Dave Publow

One of the many powerful moments at Sunday's Rally for Black Lives was when one speaker galvanized the crowd to raise their fists in the air in unison and say in a unified call-and-response "Black Lives Matter!" This same speaker also spoke out about the American prison system, which he stated subjects Black Americans to enslavement-like conditions.

Recorded by HMM Correspondent Dave Publow

During the middle section of the Troy Rally for Black Lives, most of the crowd left the riverfront and marched through downtown Troy to send a message to the City and the Troy Police. Meanwhile, several speakers and performers stayed behind with the remaining crowd. This segment includes:

Aaron reading from the play Whitewashed with D Colin;

D Colin reading her poems "For Every Black Woman Who's Been Called Angry," and "If I Ever Get Questioned About Doing Too Many Black Poems";

Anastasia Robertson reading from a letter she discovered online, entitled "Dear Black Americans;"

D Colin re-reading her poems for the returning marchers;

Included in this segment is the poet Jade, near the close of the Rally, reading two unnamed poems.

Recorded by HMM Correspondent Dave Publow

Jamaica Miles, co-founder of the community action group All of Us, spoke at Sunday's Troy Rally for Black Lives. All of Us seeks to break down the subdivisions of black and latinx culture to unite and fully empower the greater community.

Recorded by HMM Correspondent Dave Publow