Sojourner Truth Radio

Today is Election Day! And it promises to be one of the most important elections, some say, in their lifetime. The outcome of todays vote will determine the direction the country will take for generations to come. It will either be a solidification of Trumpism, racism and other divisions or a repudiation of Trumps agenda. Democratic voters will have to turn out in large numbers to overcome voter suppression and other dirty tricks. Youth will have to turn out. People of color will have to turn out. And if you dont vote, please know that counts towards a continuation of Trumps agenda.

While this is not a presidential election year, there are many federal, state and local races taking place that have a huge impact on our daily lives. These races include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of all U.S. senators, 36 state governors, 3 U.S. territory governors and dozens of city mayors. Also on the ballots are a wide variety of citizen initiatives and propositions, touching on issues from housing to healthcare.

In states like Georgia and North Carolina, attempts have been made to suppress voters from turning out, especially those from Black and Brown communities. From the moving of polling locations to the shifting of voting districts, many voters of color are complaining that the elections have been manipulated in favor of Donald Trumps Republican Party. In some instances, language interpreters are being blocked from asking immigrant voters if they need help while waiting in line. And just yesterday, on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. Border Patrol announced that it would be conducting a so-called crowd control exercise on Election Day in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto ORourke and near a Latinx neighborhood in El Paso. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maiser claims there is no link to the election date.

Nonetheless, young people and progressive voters of color are heading to the polls in droves, presenting major challenges to the ruling GOP.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as two-thirds of state governors seats. Lets not forget " people died for the right for all U.S. citizens to vote, including Black and Brown people. The Voting Rights Act, a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, wasnt signed until 1965. That was just 53 years ago, which is not very long. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, over 40 people were killed during the 1950s and 60s for their participation in protests demanding that Black and Brown people get the right to vote.

Before then, voters of color were systematically marginalized from participating in this countrys political system. Some argue, however, that that systematic marginalization is still taking place today with voter suppression and gerrymandering. Also, much of the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013 with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the legislation as unconstitutional.

Overall, a lot is at stake today.

How and where can you vote? Why should you vote? Where can you get polling information? What do you do if your name isnt on polling lists? How is the media covering all of this?

Today is Election Day! And it promises to be one of the most important elections, some say, in their lifetime. The outcome of todays vote will determine the direction the country will take for generations to come. It will either be a solidification of Trumpism, racism and other divisions or a repudiation of Trumps agenda. Democratic voters will have to turn out in large numbers to overcome voter suppression and other dirty tricks. Youth will have to turn out. People of color will have to turn out. And if you dont vote, please know that counts towards a continuation of Trumps agenda.

While this is not a presidential election year, there are many federal, state and local races taking place that have a huge impact on our daily lives. These races include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of all U.S. senators, 36 state governors, 3 U.S. territory governors and dozens of city mayors. Also on the ballots are a wide variety of citizen initiatives and propositions, touching on issues from housing to healthcare.

In states like Georgia and North Carolina, attempts have been made to suppress voters from turning out, especially those from Black and Brown communities. From the moving of polling locations to the shifting of voting districts, many voters of color are complaining that the elections have been manipulated in favor of Donald Trumps Republican Party. In some instances, language interpreters are being blocked from asking immigrant voters if they need help while waiting in line. And just yesterday, on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. Border Patrol announced that it would be conducting a so-called crowd control exercise on Election Day in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto ORourke and near a Latinx neighborhood in El Paso. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maiser claims there is no link to the election date.

Nonetheless, young people and progressive voters of color are heading to the polls in droves, presenting major challenges to the ruling GOP.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as two-thirds of state governors seats. Lets not forget " people died for the right for all U.S. citizens to vote, including Black and Brown people. The Voting Rights Act, a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, wasnt signed until 1965. That was just 53 years ago, which is not very long. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, over 40 people were killed during the 1950s and 60s for their participation in protests demanding that Black and Brown people get the right to vote.

Before then, voters of color were systematically marginalized from participating in this countrys political system. Some argue, however, that that systematic marginalization is still taking place today with voter suppression and gerrymandering. Also, much of the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013 with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the legislation as unconstitutional.

Overall, a lot is at stake today.

How and where can you vote? Why should you vote? Where can you get polling information? What do you do if your name isnt on polling lists? How is the media covering all of this?

Today is Election Day! And it promises to be one of the most important elections, some say, in their lifetime. The outcome of todays vote will determine the direction the country will take for generations to come. It will either be a solidification of Trumpism, racism and other divisions or a repudiation of Trumps agenda. Democratic voters will have to turn out in large numbers to overcome voter suppression and other dirty tricks. Youth will have to turn out. People of color will have to turn out. And if you dont vote, please know that counts towards a continuation of Trumps agenda.

While this is not a presidential election year, there are many federal, state and local races taking place that have a huge impact on our daily lives. These races include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of all U.S. senators, 36 state governors, 3 U.S. territory governors and dozens of city mayors. Also on the ballots are a wide variety of citizen initiatives and propositions, touching on issues from housing to healthcare.

In states like Georgia and North Carolina, attempts have been made to suppress voters from turning out, especially those from Black and Brown communities. From the moving of polling locations to the shifting of voting districts, many voters of color are complaining that the elections have been manipulated in favor of Donald Trumps Republican Party. In some instances, language interpreters are being blocked from asking immigrant voters if they need help while waiting in line. And just yesterday, on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. Border Patrol announced that it would be conducting a so-called crowd control exercise on Election Day in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto ORourke and near a Latinx neighborhood in El Paso. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maiser claims there is no link to the election date.

Nonetheless, young people and progressive voters of color are heading to the polls in droves, presenting major challenges to the ruling GOP.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as two-thirds of state governors seats. Lets not forget " people died for the right for all U.S. citizens to vote, including Black and Brown people. The Voting Rights Act, a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, wasnt signed until 1965. That was just 53 years ago, which is not very long. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, over 40 people were killed during the 1950s and 60s for their participation in protests demanding that Black and Brown people get the right to vote.

Before then, voters of color were systematically marginalized from participating in this countrys political system. Some argue, however, that that systematic marginalization is still taking place today with voter suppression and gerrymandering. Also, much of the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013 with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the legislation as unconstitutional.

Overall, a lot is at stake today.

How and where can you vote? Why should you vote? Where can you get polling information? What do you do if your name isnt on polling lists? How is the media covering all of this?

Today is Election Day! And it promises to be one of the most important elections, some say, in their lifetime. The outcome of todays vote will determine the direction the country will take for generations to come. It will either be a solidification of Trumpism, racism and other divisions or a repudiation of Trumps agenda. Democratic voters will have to turn out in large numbers to overcome voter suppression and other dirty tricks. Youth will have to turn out. People of color will have to turn out. And if you dont vote, please know that counts towards a continuation of Trumps agenda.

While this is not a presidential election year, there are many federal, state and local races taking place that have a huge impact on our daily lives. These races include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of all U.S. senators, 36 state governors, 3 U.S. territory governors and dozens of city mayors. Also on the ballots are a wide variety of citizen initiatives and propositions, touching on issues from housing to healthcare.

In states like Georgia and North Carolina, attempts have been made to suppress voters from turning out, especially those from Black and Brown communities. From the moving of polling locations to the shifting of voting districts, many voters of color are complaining that the elections have been manipulated in favor of Donald Trumps Republican Party. In some instances, language interpreters are being blocked from asking immigrant voters if they need help while waiting in line. And just yesterday, on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. Border Patrol announced that it would be conducting a so-called crowd control exercise on Election Day in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto ORourke and near a Latinx neighborhood in El Paso. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maiser claims there is no link to the election date.

Nonetheless, young people and progressive voters of color are heading to the polls in droves, presenting major challenges to the ruling GOP.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as two-thirds of state governors seats. Lets not forget " people died for the right for all U.S. citizens to vote, including Black and Brown people. The Voting Rights Act, a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, wasnt signed until 1965. That was just 53 years ago, which is not very long. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, over 40 people were killed during the 1950s and 60s for their participation in protests demanding that Black and Brown people get the right to vote.

Before then, voters of color were systematically marginalized from participating in this countrys political system. Some argue, however, that that systematic marginalization is still taking place today with voter suppression and gerrymandering. Also, much of the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013 with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the legislation as unconstitutional.

Overall, a lot is at stake today.

How and where can you vote? Why should you vote? Where can you get polling information? What do you do if your name isnt on polling lists? How is the media covering all of this?

Today is Election Day! And it promises to be one of the most important elections, some say, in their lifetime. The outcome of todays vote will determine the direction the country will take for generations to come. It will either be a solidification of Trumpism, racism and other divisions or a repudiation of Trumps agenda. Democratic voters will have to turn out in large numbers to overcome voter suppression and other dirty tricks. Youth will have to turn out. People of color will have to turn out. And if you dont vote, please know that counts towards a continuation of Trumps agenda.

While this is not a presidential election year, there are many federal, state and local races taking place that have a huge impact on our daily lives. These races include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of all U.S. senators, 36 state governors, 3 U.S. territory governors and dozens of city mayors. Also on the ballots are a wide variety of citizen initiatives and propositions, touching on issues from housing to healthcare.

In states like Georgia and North Carolina, attempts have been made to suppress voters from turning out, especially those from Black and Brown communities. From the moving of polling locations to the shifting of voting districts, many voters of color are complaining that the elections have been manipulated in favor of Donald Trumps Republican Party. In some instances, language interpreters are being blocked from asking immigrant voters if they need help while waiting in line. And just yesterday, on Tuesday, November 5, U.S. Border Patrol announced that it would be conducting a so-called crowd control exercise on Election Day in El Paso, the hometown of Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Beto ORourke and near a Latinx neighborhood in El Paso. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maiser claims there is no link to the election date.

Nonetheless, young people and progressive voters of color are heading to the polls in droves, presenting major challenges to the ruling GOP.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as two-thirds of state governors seats. Lets not forget " people died for the right for all U.S. citizens to vote, including Black and Brown people. The Voting Rights Act, a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, wasnt signed until 1965. That was just 53 years ago, which is not very long. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, over 40 people were killed during the 1950s and 60s for their participation in protests demanding that Black and Brown people get the right to vote.

Before then, voters of color were systematically marginalized from participating in this countrys political system. Some argue, however, that that systematic marginalization is still taking place today with voter suppression and gerrymandering. Also, much of the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013 with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the legislation as unconstitutional.

Overall, a lot is at stake today.

How and where can you vote? Why should you vote? Where can you get polling information? What do you do if your name isnt on polling lists? How is the media covering all of this?

Today on Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod, our weekly roundtable is back!

Congressional elections, known as the midterms. States are just days away and the future of the country, if not the world, remains at stake. The elections are about race, with Donald Trump seemly happy in his role as white supremacist in chief. Indeed, he is hoping to bring home the elections for the GOP by running racist ads, calling for 15,000 troops at the border to protect the U.S. from the migrant caravan, which he calls an "invasion." In his role as commander in chief, Trump has told the troops he is sending to the border to shoot any rock-throwing migrants. Additionally, he is attacking birth rights enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has called Andrew Gillum, a Black man running for governor in Florida, a "thief" and more. It is reported that the administration is aiming to move the focus from unification to invasion.

All of this is interrelated to the spate of home-grown terrorism over the past few weeks. The mailing of home-made bombs to Democrats who have been especially critical of Trump, which fell under the radar for what it was: a mass assassination attempt. The murders of two Black people by a racist in Kentucky, after he failed to gain entrance into a Black church. No doubt lives were saved because the doors of the church were locked. The slaughter of 11 Jewish people while they were in the Tree of Life Synagogue, a massacre that was a combination of the killers anti-semitism and his belief in Trump's declaration that the migrant caravan is an invading force. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which helps migrants and immigrants, was based at the synagogue.

It remains to be seen if Democrats will come out to vote in the numbers needed to defeat Trumpism, and if those numbers will be sufficient to overcome voter suppression laws put in place in 34 states since the 2013 SCOTUS decision to scrap the heart out of the hard-won Voting Rights Act. Predictions continue to be that the Democrats will likely retake the House but not the Senate and indeed may lose a few Senate seats.

And on the international front, a disturbing result of the presidential election in Brazil; the U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is getting away with murder of a Washington Post journalist. After all, business is more important, and to Trump friend Benjamin Netanyahu, one can't let the murder of Khashoggi get in the way of the alliance with the Saudis against Iran. On the Pacific front, China is looking for alternatives to continue to build its economy despite the trade war with the U.S. And the U.S. continues its saber rattling aimed at China.

Our weekly roundtable guests are Laura Carlsen, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Gerald Horne.

Today on Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod, our weekly roundtable is back!

Congressional elections, known as the midterms. States are just days away and the future of the country, if not the world, remains at stake. The elections are about race, with Donald Trump seemly happy in his role as white supremacist in chief. Indeed, he is hoping to bring home the elections for the GOP by running racist ads, calling for 15,000 troops at the border to protect the U.S. from the migrant caravan, which he calls an "invasion." In his role as commander in chief, Trump has told the troops he is sending to the border to shoot any rock-throwing migrants. Additionally, he is attacking birth rights enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has called Andrew Gillum, a Black man running for governor in Florida, a "thief" and more. It is reported that the administration is aiming to move the focus from unification to invasion.

All of this is interrelated to the spate of home-grown terrorism over the past few weeks. The mailing of home-made bombs to Democrats who have been especially critical of Trump, which fell under the radar for what it was: a mass assassination attempt. The murders of two Black people by a racist in Kentucky, after he failed to gain entrance into a Black church. No doubt lives were saved because the doors of the church were locked. The slaughter of 11 Jewish people while they were in the Tree of Life Synagogue, a massacre that was a combination of the killers anti-semitism and his belief in Trump's declaration that the migrant caravan is an invading force. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which helps migrants and immigrants, was based at the synagogue.

It remains to be seen if Democrats will come out to vote in the numbers needed to defeat Trumpism, and if those numbers will be sufficient to overcome voter suppression laws put in place in 34 states since the 2013 SCOTUS decision to scrap the heart out of the hard-won Voting Rights Act. Predictions continue to be that the Democrats will likely retake the House but not the Senate and indeed may lose a few Senate seats.

And on the international front, a disturbing result of the presidential election in Brazil; the U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is getting away with murder of a Washington Post journalist. After all, business is more important, and to Trump friend Benjamin Netanyahu, one can't let the murder of Khashoggi get in the way of the alliance with the Saudis against Iran. On the Pacific front, China is looking for alternatives to continue to build its economy despite the trade war with the U.S. And the U.S. continues its saber rattling aimed at China.

Our weekly roundtable guests are Laura Carlsen, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Gerald Horne.

Today on Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod, our weekly roundtable is back!

Congressional elections, known as the midterms. States are just days away and the future of the country, if not the world, remains at stake. The elections are about race, with Donald Trump seemly happy in his role as white supremacist in chief. Indeed, he is hoping to bring home the elections for the GOP by running racist ads, calling for 15,000 troops at the border to protect the U.S. from the migrant caravan, which he calls an "invasion." In his role as commander in chief, Trump has told the troops he is sending to the border to shoot any rock-throwing migrants. Additionally, he is attacking birth rights enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has called Andrew Gillum, a Black man running for governor in Florida, a "thief" and more. It is reported that the administration is aiming to move the focus from unification to invasion.

All of this is interrelated to the spate of home-grown terrorism over the past few weeks. The mailing of home-made bombs to Democrats who have been especially critical of Trump, which fell under the radar for what it was: a mass assassination attempt. The murders of two Black people by a racist in Kentucky, after he failed to gain entrance into a Black church. No doubt lives were saved because the doors of the church were locked. The slaughter of 11 Jewish people while they were in the Tree of Life Synagogue, a massacre that was a combination of the killers anti-semitism and his belief in Trump's declaration that the migrant caravan is an invading force. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which helps migrants and immigrants, was based at the synagogue.

It remains to be seen if Democrats will come out to vote in the numbers needed to defeat Trumpism, and if those numbers will be sufficient to overcome voter suppression laws put in place in 34 states since the 2013 SCOTUS decision to scrap the heart out of the hard-won Voting Rights Act. Predictions continue to be that the Democrats will likely retake the House but not the Senate and indeed may lose a few Senate seats.

And on the international front, a disturbing result of the presidential election in Brazil; the U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is getting away with murder of a Washington Post journalist. After all, business is more important, and to Trump friend Benjamin Netanyahu, one can't let the murder of Khashoggi get in the way of the alliance with the Saudis against Iran. On the Pacific front, China is looking for alternatives to continue to build its economy despite the trade war with the U.S. And the U.S. continues its saber rattling aimed at China.

Our weekly roundtable guests are Laura Carlsen, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Gerald Horne.

Today on Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod, our weekly roundtable is back!

Congressional elections, known as the midterms. States are just days away and the future of the country, if not the world, remains at stake. The elections are about race, with Donald Trump seemly happy in his role as white supremacist in chief. Indeed, he is hoping to bring home the elections for the GOP by running racist ads, calling for 15,000 troops at the border to protect the U.S. from the migrant caravan, which he calls an "invasion." In his role as commander in chief, Trump has told the troops he is sending to the border to shoot any rock-throwing migrants. Additionally, he is attacking birth rights enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has called Andrew Gillum, a Black man running for governor in Florida, a "thief" and more. It is reported that the administration is aiming to move the focus from unification to invasion.

All of this is interrelated to the spate of home-grown terrorism over the past few weeks. The mailing of home-made bombs to Democrats who have been especially critical of Trump, which fell under the radar for what it was: a mass assassination attempt. The murders of two Black people by a racist in Kentucky, after he failed to gain entrance into a Black church. No doubt lives were saved because the doors of the church were locked. The slaughter of 11 Jewish people while they were in the Tree of Life Synagogue, a massacre that was a combination of the killers anti-semitism and his belief in Trump's declaration that the migrant caravan is an invading force. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which helps migrants and immigrants, was based at the synagogue.

It remains to be seen if Democrats will come out to vote in the numbers needed to defeat Trumpism, and if those numbers will be sufficient to overcome voter suppression laws put in place in 34 states since the 2013 SCOTUS decision to scrap the heart out of the hard-won Voting Rights Act. Predictions continue to be that the Democrats will likely retake the House but not the Senate and indeed may lose a few Senate seats.

And on the international front, a disturbing result of the presidential election in Brazil; the U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is getting away with murder of a Washington Post journalist. After all, business is more important, and to Trump friend Benjamin Netanyahu, one can't let the murder of Khashoggi get in the way of the alliance with the Saudis against Iran. On the Pacific front, China is looking for alternatives to continue to build its economy despite the trade war with the U.S. And the U.S. continues its saber rattling aimed at China.

Our weekly roundtable guests are Laura Carlsen, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Gerald Horne.

Today on Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod:

Countdown to Election Day! On today’s Sojourner Truth Election Watch: the eyes of those around the country who have been calling out corrupt practices of private banks including the banksters who despite bringing the economy of the country in 2008 to near collapse, their eyes are on Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest city. Voters in L.A. will vote on Measure B, which opens the possibility of creating a public bank. Our guest is Madeline Merritt, lead organizer of the campaign in favor of Measure B.

For our Weekly Earth Watch, the dire environmental implications of the election in Brazil, Latin America’s most populous nation and where the world’s lungs are located — 60 percent of the world’s rainforest is in the Amazon. Brazil’s newly elected president, Jair Bolsonaro, is far to the right of even Donald Trump. Among other things, Bolsonaro says he will lift ecological regulations on agribusiness, giving companies far greater leeway to plunder natural resources, including in the Amazon rainforest and other Indigenous lands. We speak to Saulo Araujo, Global Movements Program Director at WhyHunger.

And actress and activist Mimi Kennedy joins us in studio to discuss the contributions to movements for human rights and against war of the legendary Blasé Bonpane. Blasé a former Catholic priest thrown out of Guatemala for his support for the peasant revolutionary movement there and then shunned by the Church because of his implementation of liberation theology, actually standing with the poor in practice rather that only saying one stands with the poor. Blasé Bonpane went on to host World Focus on Pacifica Radio’s KPFK for 50 years. He retired from the show in May of 2018.