Race Capitol

For the week of June 9, 2021 Race Capitol interviews @nastassjaebony , an artist from Virginia who has a must-see production, Canaan: when I read your letter, I Hear Your Voice. Her show is brought to us by the @_canfoundation and will be shown at a FORMER COURTHOUSE in Hampton Virginia. Her brother Canaan is currently incarcerated, but this love letter to him goes far beyond his current place and this week’s interview is a peek into what it took to create such a powerful story. Not only is her work in a former Hampton courthouse, but specifically a volt, as she re-creates her own walls, not of a cage, just of love and family. Tune in this week to hear more about Nastassja as well the programming that's happening every weekend in the month of June.

Visit Canaan: When I Read Your Letters, I Hear Your Voice

101 Kings Way

Hampton VA

Now- June 26, 2021

This week on Race Capitol, we talk about solidarity from #RVA to #Palestine with journalist Siona Peterous and filmmaker and photographer Michael Kamel, the co-hosts of the @ownyourstories podcast.

Our dialogue centers creative and artistic tactics of resistance - from reclaimed spaces, to movement journalists, to musicians - fighting for collective liberation from the river to the sea.

We also hear Dr. Noura Erakat’s powerful speech from a #SaveSheikhJarrah rally in Washington D.C. last month. As always, we kick off this week’s episode with our Race Capitol #Reframe, looking at the latest local, national, and international headlines.

Support our independent Black media platform by subscribing where you listen to podcasts, sharing + bookmarking this post, and donating to us on #Patreon

Featured Music:

“Free Palestine” - Abe Batson

“Free Palestine” - Genocide

“‘Merica” - Rebelationz

Resources:

Follow on instagram: @OwnYourStories, @KamelWorld, @see.oh.nah, @nouraerakat, @DCPFAF

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions on Israel https://bdsmovement.net/

DC Palestinian Film & Arts Festival https://www.dcpfaf.org/

Justice For Some(book by Noura Erakat) https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=26507

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle (book by Angela Davis) https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/780-freedom-is-a-constant-struggle

Except for Palestine (book by Marc Lamont Hill) https://thenewpress.com/books/except-for-palestine

Gaza in Context http://www.gazaincontext.com/

What Does Palestine Mean for Black America? A Conversation in Partnership with the Dream Defenders (panel discussion) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqn2_os_LJY

Israel now holding 13 Palestinian journalists https://rsf.org/en/news/israel-now-holding-13-palestinian-journalists

Reframe Resources:

Isiah Brown GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-family-of-isiah-brown?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer

Chesterfield's third-largest mobile home park could change hands. Residents worry what comes next https://richmond.com/news/local/chesterfields-third-largest-mobile-home-park-could-change-hands-residents-worry-what-comes-next/article_2ce3f267-a4c4-59e7-96a9-365b66364f69.html

Latinos have become the second-most vaccinated in Virginia. Community clinics are a major reason why https://richmond.com/news/local/latinos-have-become-the-second-most-vaccinated-in-virginia-community-clinics-are-a-major-reason/article_d73629b3-5e11-5881-a67c-f3c5f295b8be.html

Concerns about missing work may be a barrier to coronavirus vaccination https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/05/27/time-off-vaccine-workers/

Historic Deception Bill Passes Illinois Legislature, Banning Police from Lying to Youth During Interrogations https://innocenceproject.org/historic-deception-bill-passes-illinois-legislature-banning-police-from-lying-to-youth-during-interrogations/

Arizona Plans Executions Using Same Poison Gas Used in Nazi Death Camps https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/28/arizona-gas-chamber-executions-documents

U.S. unveils $310 mln in Central America aid https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-unveils-310-mln-central-america-aid-guatemala-agrees-work-together-migration-2021-04-27/

Who is Naftali Bennett, Israel’s potential prime minister? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/naftali-bennett-who-is-israels-new-potential-prime-minister

Israel and Colombia: The ever more special relationship https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-and-colombia-ever-more-special-relationship

Birds of a Fascist feather: why Israel is aiding Colombia’s crackdown on protesters https://mronline.org/2021/05/31/birds-of-a-fascist-feather-why-israel-is-aiding-colombias-crackdown-on-protesters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=birds-of-a-fascist-feather-why-israel-is-aiding-colombias-crackdown-on-protesters

All Eyes on Calí, Colombia https://blackallianceforpeace.com/newsletter/alleyesoncalicolombia

This week on Race Capitol, we spill the tea on the CRB! We talk with Jewel Gatling + Angela Fontaine of the Richmond Civilian Review Board Taskforce to discuss how the taskforce came about, the barriers that they are facing, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and what we can expect moving forward. As always, we kick things off with our Race capitol reframe, diving into local, national and international headlines.

Support our independent Black media platform by subscribing where you listen to podcasts, sharing this track, and donating to us on Patreon (www.patreon.com/racecapitol)

Join RVA CRB meetings each Wednesdays at 6:30pm via zoom: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/97009304361#success. Follow them on twitter @RVACRB and reach out to the taskforce via email at [email protected]

Episode resources:

Who Polices RPD? Race Capitol episode from 2019 https://soundcloud.com/user-461048344/episode-10-who-polices-rpd

Richmond's police oversight board would be among nation's most wide-ranging if funding approved https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/richmonds-police-oversight-board-would-be-among-nations-most-wide-ranging-if-funding-approved/article_f5fbe7b9-57ab-5eaa-ae2d-e404e95dcdea.html

What Can Richmond Learn From Charlottesville CRB: https://vpm.org/news/articles/15921/what-can-richmond-learn-from-charlottesvilles-civilian-review-board

From our reframe:

Floyd one year later: Kalia Harris on holding powerful people accountable and keeping each other safe when governments don't: https://richmond.com/news/local/floyd-one-year-later-kalia-harris-on-holding-powerful-people-accountable-and-keeping-each-other/article_02577e00-0e87-5c82-8bb9-65f98e1b0af9.html

Campaigns to Defund Police Have Seen Major Wins — and They’re Not Stopping

https://truthout.org/articles/campaigns-to-defund-police-have-seen-major-wins-and-theyre-not-stopping/

People Expected Police Behavior to Change After George Floyd’s Murder. The Numbers Tell a Different Story: https://time.com/6046645/police-killings-2021/

Emails show Minneapolis police chief coordinated with PR pros to fight council, protect budget https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/05/24/with-budget-on-the-line-minneapolis-police-chief-coordinated-with-political-operatives-to-lobby-the-city-council-emails-show/

OPINION: Privatizing Creighton: https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/opinion-privatizing-creighton/Content?oid=17474563

CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/

Black Lives Matter activists said a man tried to hit them with his car. The suspect turned out to be a judge

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/17/north-carolina-judge-protesters-hit/

Charleston church shooter starts appeal in conviction, sentencing in Richmond: https://www.nbc12.com/2021/05/25/charleston-church-shooter-starts-appeal-conviction-sentencing-richmond/

IMF pitches $50B plan to end coronavirus pandemic https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/5/21/imf-pitches-50b-plan-to-end-coronavirus-pandemic

SENATE PREPARING $10 BILLION BAILOUT FUND FOR JEFF BEZOS SPACE FIRM https://theintercept.com/2021/05/25/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-senate-bailout/

To distract from Gaza slaughter, Israel lobby manufactures antisemitism freakout

https://thegrayzone.com/2021/05/24/gaza-slaughter-israel-lobby-antisemitism/

Israeli Police Round Up Palestinian Protesters Out of Global Spotlight https://theintercept.com/2021/05/24/israeli-police-round-palestinian-protesters-global-attention-fades/?utm_campaign=theintercept&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

This week on Race Capitol, Juniper (@wetland_maroon) from Maroon Grove Freedom Farms discusses their call to action this Thursday at Sussex City Council to #StopTheQuarry. The council will hear comments regarding the newest quarry being proposed by Titan MidAtlantic Aggregates.

Tune in to hear how the Black Liberated land of Maroon Groove Freedom Farm was attained through reparations & what's at stake if Titan Midatlantic is granted to exploit the land by depleting another quarry. As always we kick off our episode with our Race Capitol reframe, where we explore local headlines such as #evictions, national headlines with our #COVIDWatch and international stories from #Colombia and #Palestine

This week on Race Capitol, we revisit audio from our very first episode in 2018 -- talking about justice for Marcus-David Peters. This Friday, May 14th, 2021 marks three years since Marcus-David Peters was killed by Richmond police officer Michael Nyantakyi while suffering a mental health crisis.

Since then, so much has happened; but the Richmond police department and the City of Richmond have yet to be held accountable for his murder, which was ruled a “justifiable homicide”.

Even after a global uprising for Black lives - including over 100 days of protest here in Richmond last summer - Marcus’ case has yet to be re-opened, and Richmond commonwealth attorney Colette McEachin has doubled down on the ruling in the case. The community has been clear on what their demands are - and these demands can be met swiftly. Colette McEachin can re-open the case. The police, both Richmond police and Virginia State police, can be defunded and abolished.

This year, the Richmond Police have brutalized countless individuals, including many of you, listening to this show. They shot Orlando Carter Jr. from behind on New Year’s Eve, and continue to maintain that there was nothing wrong with their actions. We know that the police are violent, and we will not be silent. Our silence can cost us our lives and the future of our descendants.

we start by hearing from Princess Blanding, sister to Marcus-David Peters, and Princess, by the way, is currently a candidate for governor here in Virginia.

After that, we hear city council testimony from community organizer Rebecca Keel, and delve into co-host Chelsea Higgs Wise’s conversation with Dr. Eli Coston and Cory “Ulysses” Carter of the VCU YDSA chapter in 2018. We will also revisit some archived audio along the way.

This weekend, Marcus-David Peters’ family and the community will gather at Marcus David Peters circle together for a celebration of life beginning at 1pm on Saturday, May 15th.

This week, Race Capitol interviewed the West Catholic Lady Burrs Girls Basketball team, the 2020-2021 PIAA Class AAA Girls Pennsylvania State Champions. Joining us to dive into their journey is Daziy Wilson, Ti’Eisha Walker, Patience Sanders, and Coach Beulah Osueke. Coach Osueke not only led the team to their first state title in the West Catholic basketball program’s history, girls or boys, but this is the first time a girl’s state championship team in Pennsylvania has been led by a Black woman.

We hear about the barriers from the pandemic on top of roadblocks due to their place, space and time of living, going to school and playing ball in West Philadelphia. Listen as we reflect on the stories of our own youth in Richmond, Virginia and leave inspired by these historic champions, the West Catholic Lady Burrs.

The movement for Black lives and liberation is more than just a Chauvin verdict. Throughout the summer, calls for justice extended far beyond police convictions, this week on Race Capitol we revisit archived audio from the streets of Richmond in the summer of 2020 and ground ourselves in the fight for Justice for Black Lives.

At a time where the Richmond City Council is considering giving the racist police almost $10 million more dollars in funding on top of salary raises when the community is demanding that the police be defunded and abolished….what does justice look like?

Tune in as we explore this and speak to community activist Allan-Charles Chipman about the Richmond Budget and hear his thoughts on the implications of the George Floyd verdict for Richmond. As always, we kick off the episode with the latest local, national, and international headlines in our Race capitol reframe. Please like, share, subscribe to our Black feminist media platform #DefundThePolice #AbolishThePolice #RVA #Radio #VA #AbolitionNow #GeorgeFloyd

Resources:

The Black Joy Experience prod. by OnRae LaTeal

Police and Thieves by Junior Murvin

Damon Harris of Tealhouse Company joins Chelsea Higgs Wise to discuss what he sees is stopping Black homeowners, renters and eager home buyers from finding affordable homes.

During the show you'll hear a clip from Omari Al-Qadaffi of Leaders of the New South. His comments come from the Valentine's Controversial History Discussion from 2020

This week on Race Capitol, co-host Chelsea Higgs Wise interviewed four members of the UR Black Student Coalition Coordinating Committee who are organizing the UR disaffiliation starting tomorrow, March 25, 2021 @protectourweb. Thank you to Shira Greer, Jesse Amankwaah, Jordyn Lofton, and Simone Reid who share what it is like to be a Black student on the campus of University of Richmond and why this activism is necessary for the quality of education of future Black students attending UR.

The demands are:

1) We demand the names of Ryland Hall and Mitchell-Freeman Hall be changed, specifically, removing the names of Robert Ryland and Douglas Southall Freeman from these buildings.

2) We demand expanded academic accommodations for all students in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

3) We demand the University subsidize off-campus mental health services for Black students due to the underdevelopment and understaffing of Counseling and Psychological Services.

So far the university has made some steps, but took the most egregious step no one asked for by attaching John Mithell Jr.’s name beside the name of the enslaver. Refusing to keep up with what universities are doing across the nation and commonwealth was the last straw for Black UR students, but you have to tune in to truly grasp the what our young leaders are working through on top of surviving a pandemic.

Email [email protected] for more and be sure to subscribe to Race Capitol wherever you listen to podcast and become a month patreon donor.

Caring for the land is resistance to whiteness. The accelerating climate catastrophe calls upon us to reestablish a relationship to the Earth, as well as connect the struggles of the land to the broader movement for total liberation. This week on Race Capitol we explore the many ways the Amerikan Empire is fueling environmental destruction in Black, Brown, and Native communities, and how oppressed folks are fighting back against this persisting, settler-colonial violence.

First, our co-host, Naomi Isaac, sits down with María Torres-López (she/her/ella), the founder of Diáspora En Resistencia (@diaspora_en_resistencia) , where we discuss the toxic coal ash and other eco-violence impacting Puerto Rico. Maria delves into the fight for total sovereignty for the Puerto Rican people as the question of PR’s statehood continues to become a national discussion.

Next we hear from Eriqah Vincent, Network Engagement Director and long time member of Power Shift Network, Eriqah talks about PSN’s upcoming virtual convergence featuring guest speaker, Dr. Angela Davis! Later, Eriqah gives us the tea on Johnny Appleseed and we discuss how COVID-19, white nationalism, and state-sponsored violence are fueling environmental injustice in BIPOC communities.

Finally, Thelonius Cook, a farmer and the owner of Mighty Thundercloud Edible Forest, talks with us about the importance of Black food sovereignty, as well as the institutionalized racism that keeps Black farmers on the margins.

Be sure to subscribe to Race Capitol on your favorite podcasting app to catch our full interviews!

You can follow our guest speakers on social media:

María Torres-López - Instagram: @diaspora_en_resistencia, Twitter: @diasporaresiste

Eriqah Vincent - Instagram: @e.for.ecowomanist and @power_shift, Twitter: @powershiftnet

Thelonius Cook - Instagram: @thelonius13 and @edibleforest