In this episode, Ben Theobald is joined by Eddie Prat Jr talking about the Illinois Commerce Commission meeting that occurred on 3/18/2021 which voted not to extend the moratorium on utility shutoffs without any discussion or debate, meaning as of now Illinoisans behind on their utility bills will be cut off on said utilities (water, electricity) April 1 (Thursday) if the ICC does not change their minds.

I interview incumbent city council member, Clarissa Nickerson Fourman, who represents Champaign District 1 in the Champaign City Council.

https://www.facebook.com/fourmancitycouncil

A reminder that general municipal election in Champaign County (Illinois) is on Tuesday, April 6. 

https://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections

https://www.lwvchampaigncounty.org/

Clarissa Nickerson Fourman (Champaign City Council Member) 

https://www.facebook.com/fourmancitycouncil

https://twitter.com/cnickfour

Other Sources/Articles cited:

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-23/damage-from-virus-utility-bills-overwhelm-some-households

https://amp.providencejournal.com/amp/4765046001?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1dLnoP6w0Fr3b8R_Gr0RVBIumqBpZi2KN5WYM3fNp7FdjbEnZ6Dr2loXE

https://amp.providencejournal.com/amp/4765046001?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1dLnoP6w0Fr3b8R_Gr0RVBIumqBpZi2KN5WYM3fNp7FdjbEnZ6Dr2loXE

WEFT Show Where We Are At on 1/4/2021: http://new.weft.org/audio/2021/whereweareat/WhereWeAreAt_2021-01-04.mp3

Please call the Illinois Commerce Commission at 1-800-524-0795. Tell them many Illinoisans are still dealing in this pandemic and that it's cruel to punish people struggling in a pandemic that is no fault of their own.

Ben and Eddie also talk about Illinois governor JB Pritzker press conference where activists were confronted by National Guardsmen and afterwards someone on a hot mic at the press conference told the activists to "go to hell." 

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Press Event

Source: https://twitter.com/i/status/1374815140609196033 and https://twitter.com/runborun93/status/1374792497700945924

If you are able/willing please donate to activist Eddie Prat Jr through his cash app at: $EPJ31

And if you're feeling very generous you can donate/give to the Left of Dial Patreon here: patreon.com/LeftOfDial

Thank you to our Left of Dial listeners/followers!

On this episode of Left of Dial, Ben interviews Allan Max Axelrod, a member of Champaign-Urbana DSA and activist. Axelrod started the #NoAmerenShutoffs campaign and talks about what has been happening with Illinois governor JB Pritzker and how he has been handling the utility shutoffs and why he hasn't passed a moratorium in Illinois. Ben and Allan also discuss what people should do no matter who wins the election and how they should get active and be productive.

Ben interviews Robert Garcia, an activist an organizer in East Central Illinois. Garcia was in Louisville at the protests that happened after the jury found that the police were not guilty for the killing of Breonna Taylor. Only one of the three officers involved was indicted and it was for first degree wanton endangerment. Garcia describes what the scene was like in Louisville was like which included him and a group of protesters being held up in a church for hours while the police waited outside. Garcia talks about what he hopes to see in the future in terms of police reform and where he hopes to see the movement go in the future including beyond the election in November.

Left of Dial hosts Ben and Peter discuss both the DNC and RNC conventions, giving their analysis of the events and the state of the race between Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. Also what does the Progressive Left need to do now that Bernie Sanders is not the nominee and why is America "the country" where a left movement needs to happen? You can follow Ben on Twitter at @theobald_ben.