Sojourner Truth Radio

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We are sad to announce the death of internationally-known peace activist and longtime KPFK programmer, Blase Bonpane. We dedicate today's show to Blase and will let you know when we do a memorial special on his remarkable life. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.

We bring you voices from a Poor People's Campaign hearing held in the Bay Area of California on Saturday, April 6. The hearing is part of a national Poor People's Campaign Emergency Truth and Poverty tour, which kicked off in 30 states nationally on Monday, April 1. Throughout the tour, residents impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism are given a platform. Elected officials are invited to come and listen, but not to speak. The Poor People's Campaign, which points out that there are over 140 million poor and low-income residents in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency. Along with rampant poverty and inequality, this emergency also includes the fossil fuel invasion of Indigenous lands, the destruction of the environment, systemically racist police institutions, military expansion across the globe and the growth of the private prison system. All of these issues, according to the Poor People's Campaign, form part of the real national emergency. As the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II put it, "these are not left or right, but moral issues that must be addressed."

Also, we continue our coverage of National Poetry Month with a poem from Ron Baca, a Chicano poet based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles. His poem is dedicated to Marcos at Homeboy Industries and is called Homeboy 101.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

Trump administration friend Benjamin Netanyahu has won re-election in Israel. There's growing concern about what that means for the Palestinian people, including the possibility of a two-state solution as a resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Our guest is Middle East expert Phyllis Bennis.

On Wednesday, April 10, Mike Pence called on the United Nations to officially recognize Juan Guaido, the U.S.-backed unelected man who illegally declared himself President of Venezuela. The U.S. has also slapped additional sanctions on Venezuela. We get the latest on the ground in Venezuela from Lucas Koerner, a Caracas-based political analyst and editor at the independent news outlet Venezuela Analysis.

For our weekly Earth Watch, what's the problem with electric cars? We speak to Navajo Nation member Beverly Harry and Reno, Nevada resident and environmental campaigner Ian Bigley about the impact of copper and lithium mining on Nevada's environment.

And we continue our coverage of the National Emergency Truth and Poverty Tour of the Poor People's Campaign. We will hear part of the poverty hearing in the Bay Area of California.

Today on Sojourner Truth:

We continue coverage of our recent trip to Haiti, where the Sojourner Truth team covered the graduation of students from the University of the Aristide Foundation, known as UNIFA. Also, we visited La Saline, in Haiti's Port-au-Prince, where residents say the worst massacre since the brutal Duvalier years took place. The massacres began in November 2018 and are continuing. They are being wrongly reported by mainstream media as resulting from gang warfare and we are told they occur with the knowledge and support of the U.S.-backed Haitian government of Jovenel Moise. Our guests are Judith Mirkinson, President of the National Lawyers Guild in the Bay Area, and Seth Donnelly, a human rights campaigner and teacher in Palo Alto, California. They were part of a human rights delegation to Haiti. We spoke to them while on the ground in Haiti about their experiences.

Also, we celebrate National Poetry Month, which is marked in April annually in the United States and Canada. The Academy of American Poets kicked off the month-long celebration in 1996 in order to create awareness and appreciation of poetry. They took inspiration from Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, and Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March. The push to promote National Poetry Month " including the works of Black Women poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gwendolyn Brooks " has proven to be successful. Many educators and librarians in the United States have embraced the initiative, including it in their school curriculums and lesson plans. And according to a 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the National Endowment of the Arts, the number of poetry readers in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to nearly 12 percent in 2017. That means 28 million people read a poem in 2017, the highest number since the first survey was first conducted 16 years ago.

In honor of National Poetry Month, we hear from Ron Baca, a teacher and Chicano poet who grew up in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and is now based in El Sereno, East Los Angeles.