Sojourner Truth Radio

In this week's installment of “Campaigners for Black Lives," we speak to Jade Daniels, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, about Harvey relief efforts in Houston and the impact of the hurricane on Black and Brown communities.

In a move that astonished governments around the world, Kenya's Supreme Court has nullified the August 8, 2017 presidential election due to fraud and has called for new elections on October 17. To discuss this, our guests are Africa-based Kumi Naidoo, launch director of Africans Rising; and Assumpa Oturu, host of Pacifica Radio's “Spotlight Africa.”

Today: a one-hour special with Susan Burton, where we discuss her brand new, blockbuster book, "Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women." After cycling in and out of the criminal justice system for nearly 15 years, Susan Burton gained her freedom and sobriety. In 1998, she founded A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project. Burton and her story of perseverance serve as inspiration to women across the world, particularly formerly incarcerated women and women in recovery from addiction. In the foreword to her new book, Michelle Alexander referred to Susan Burton as "the modern-day Harriet Tubman."

Today, on our annual labor day special, there is good news and bad news. The good news: a new Gallop poll shows U.S. approval of labor unions is at 61 percent – its highest since 2003. Could this be a reaction to Donald Trump? And the fight for 15 is gaining strength. Plus, in the red state of Missouri, unions are moving closer to overturning the state’s right to work laws.

The bad news: Nissan workers in Canton, Mississippi again lost their bid for a union in this southern right-to-work state. And Trump’s economic policies make it clear he is no friend to labor unions. Indeed, union members were split in the vote that elected Trump, with some formerly blue states going red.

As Labor Day approaches, activities are being planned across the country. In Southern California, the 38th annual Los Angeles–Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition is planning its solidarity parade and rally. Our guests are Barbara Maynard, Daniel Uainia and Larry Barragan.

What are the implications of what happened in Charlottesville? What are polls saying about support for Trump, and what does that tell us about the state of race relations in the United States? How are members of Congress reacting to Trump's comments? How is the charge of identity politics being used? And what about Trumps solution to the race problem of simply providing jobs? Is this enough to quell white supremacy in the U.S.? Our panelists are Jackie Goldberg, Laura Carlsen, Dr. Gerald Horne.

Today, we continue our in-depth coverage of the aftermath of the modern-day white riot in Charlottesville that left 32-year-old Heather Hayer dead and at least 19 others wounded. Heyers memorial was yesterday, and her mother called on all of us to follow her example and stand up for justice.

Meanwhile on Capitol hill, GOP elected officials are not directly attacking Trump for his outrageous reaction to Charlottesville, instead making mild comments against racism and Nazis. None are showing any willingness to break with Trump.

What lessons can we learn from Charlottesville? Is this only a discussion on the immorality of racism? What about legislation specifically to attack communities of color? And what has been the history of white riots in the U.S.? Our guests are veteran civil and human rights campaigner and attorney Barbara Arnwine; author and journalist Greg Palast; photo journalist; photojournalist Zachary Roberts, who was on the ground in Charlottesville; and Dr. Sheila Smith-McKoy, author of When Whites Riot: Writing Race and Violence in American and South African Culture.

Trump gives overt support for white supremacist organizations as they let the world know they are no longer hiding under sheets as in the days of the Ku Klux Klan. On Friday, August 11, they descended on Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting "blood and soil," a slogan from Nazi Germany; "Jews will not replace us," "white lives matter" and more. By Saturday afternoon, 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed, run over by a vehicle driven by James Fields, Jr. At least 19 others were hurt in the incident. Two law enforcement officers were killed in a related helicopter incident.

Donald Trump has come under fire for twice now laying the blame for what happened in Charlottesville on both sides and defending what he called peaceful, good participants in the white supremacists' protest. He also complained about the bringing down of Confederate statues, including of Robert E. Lee, who led the South against the U.S. government during the Civil War.

What got us to this point? Did the Civil War ever end? What is the historic context? Why is Trump still holding strong in the polls among his base? How is Black Lives Matter " now referred to by white supremacists as a "terrorist organization" " and other movements on the ground responding? Our guests are historian Dr. Gerald Horne; Ash-Lee Henderson of the Highlander Institute; and Evan Bunch, a divinity student with Black Lives Matter Nashville.

– Friday, August 11, 2017 –

On our weekly roundtable: The North Korea crisis is growing. China has threatened that if the U.S. makes a pre-emptive strike, they have an obligation to defend North Korea. Then, we discuss the differences in response to the War on Drugs and the opioid epidemic. Also, whatever happened to healthcare reform? Trump and McConnell are feuding, and Bernie Sanders will introduce single payer for all. Plus, the latest on presidential elections in Kenya. Our panelists are Laura Carlsen, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Gerald Horne.

For this week's update on Venezuela, we speak to Susan Scott, human rights attorney and member of the National Lawyers Guild Task Force on the Americas.

For our weekly Earth Watch, we are joined by Pablo Solon, Director of Fundacin Solon, former Executive Director of Focus on the Global South and former Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations. Solon has been targeted by the Bolivian state for his vocal criticism of the government and the construction of two hydroelectric projects, El Bala and El Chapete in the Amazonian region.