In this episode, Jess and Aja discuss Cop City and the #StopCopCity campaign in Atlanta through the lens of rape culture, expanding into other areas of local and state politics and their connection to the foundations of white supremacy, capitalism, and colonization. The two pull on personal experiences, their own healing journeys through abolition and political education, and feminist theory to consider how these dynamics play out—both in our external world and our internal world.

This episode originally aired on WRFG Atlanta 89.3 FM on Fri., Feb. 25, 2022.

Jess & Aja refer to a letter that Aja wrote to a former Atlanta city councilmember leading up to the council's vote to authorize the ground lease for Cop City, following another tragic event that took place in Aug. 2021—the abduction and murder of 27-year-old Mariam Abdulrab, a bartender in Atlanta.

Access the letter, which is only referenced and not read verbatim, here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G94IMkVLm7UU4AP4YtTRQxfpEEdzg6zEFyCeVDmX0y8/edit?usp=sharing

Read Aja's curtain-raiser piece about Cop City (a good intro piece for those unfamiliar with this important issue in Atlanta) published in the Intercept in Aug. 2021 here: https://theintercept.com/2021/08/11/atlanta-police-training-center/

Read Aja's piece featured in The Appeal, "Why Atlantans are pushing to stop Cop City" here: https://theappeal.org/atlanta-cop-city-police-training-facility/

Read "Cop City & the prison industrial complex in Atlanta" by Micah Herskind here: https://www.mainlinezine.com/cop-city-and-the-prison-industrial-complex-in-atlanta/

For the extended version of this episode & access other extended pieces & bonus content (and to help pay for labor costs for this work), become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

Or to just give us money with nothing in return (thanks!), go to https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week we’re interrupting our standard schedule for a special episode as this story develops. In 2011, 178 Atlanta Public School teachers were investigated for purportedly changing student test scores. Twelve were brought to trial, all Black. Ten were found guilty. Seven are still in limbo as they hope for appeals, and fear the very real and imminent threat of imprisonment. Of them is Dana Evans, who will come to trial on Mon., Feb. 14, where Judge Jerry Baxter could singlehandedly decide to send her to prison.

On today’s episode of The Mainline Podcast, we speak with Sarah Abdelaziz of the Abolitionist Teaching Network and Shani Robinson, one of the accused educators who was indicted under RICO charges and is also awaiting trial. Shani is also the co-author with Anna Simonton of 'None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators.'

Following Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN) on Twitter @ATN_1863

Donate through ATN to the APS campaign and other resources - https://linktr.ee/atn1863

To support our work and unlock bonus content and receive early releases, go to https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

This week, Aja catches up with Athens City Council Commissioner Mariah Parker / rapper Linqua Franqa to discuss their new single "Wurk," off their upcoming 'Bellringer' LP (via Ernest Jenning Record Co. in April). The two discuss the single, labor organizing in Georgia, what it means to empower ourselves/fellow workers, and the ongoing battle to Stop Cop City in Atlanta.

This episode features new segments including local music. Today's set list:
"By Summer" by Often
"Dispossession" by Algiers
"Wurk" by Linqua Franqa

To watch the "Wurk" music video and/or the pre-order 'Bellringer' LP, visit https://orcd.co/qvyaloea

To support our work and access early releases + bonus materials, become a Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

Or if you just want to give us money (thanks!) - https://mainlinezine.com/donate

On this week's edition of the Mainline News Hour, tune in to hear our conversation with the Southern Poverty Law Center's unionizers. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a non-profit explicitly dedicated to protecting the civil rights of the vulnerable and combatting forces of white supremacy, both in the South and beyond, and yet when their employees approached them in November of 2019 asking that management voluntarily recognize their union, their request was denied. So, by December, a vote determined the union's fate instead: with a resounding 142-45 voting in support of unionizing.

So what has happened since that fateful day in December 2019? Why did SPLC's employees feel they needed a union in the first place? What has the journey been like - what's been accomplished and what challenges still lie ahead? Join us in our conversation with Katie and Lisa, both members of the bargaining committee (Lisa has the added responsibility of union steward) as we discuss where they've come from and where they're going.

Listeners can learn more about the SPLC union on Instagram or Twitter @splcunion, or visit their website splcunion.org.

To support our work and ensure the quality of our future coverage, visit https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

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INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This episode was created on the ancestral lands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation now known as "Atlanta, Ga."

This week, Mainline reporter and editor Aja Arnold returns behind the back to present a special conversation with organizer Sunny of mutual aid effort Sol Underground, the self-described "Black-led autonomous anti-fascist anti-capitalist eco-system fighting for Black and Indigenous liberation" based in Atlanta. In this special discussion, recorded on Nov. 11, 2021, in a hotel in downtown Atlanta during a temporary shelter stay organized by Sol for local houseless citizens. The episode airs as temperatures continue to drop as our communities go through another winter, and community resources are strapped in the nonprofit industrial complex, public-private partnerships, and red tape—leaving numerous gaps for mutual aid efforts to fill to provide resources to people when they need them.

Aja also provides a brief recap and update of the ongoing resistance to #StopCopCity. To learn more from our backlog of coverage concerning the city's plans to build a massive police training facility in the South River Forest, visit our website: https://mainlinezine.com

To learn more about Sol Underground, visit their Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/solunderground/

To become a sustaining member of our work to ensure the future of our coverage, free of corporate and outside influence, go to our Patreon: https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

On today's special episode of the Mainline News Hour with our Senior Music Editor Autumn James and Music Contributor Keron Robinson roll out our annual list of Mainline’s favorite Atlanta music tracks. Listen along as Keron and Autumn share about the value of local music criticism, heart-warming live performances of 2021, and what to expect from the Atlanta music scene in 2022.

Including music by @canopyjoc @klark_sound @slopingband @buckheadshaman @allenl0ve @stemlines Antbrain, and our very own Keron Robinson

Fridays at noon on WRFG Atlanta 89.3 FM or stream it early on our Patreon at patreon.com/mainlinezine.

To listen to all the music featured in the show and our complete end of year list, follow our Spotify playlist.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vjx35MvFPDkxkHipCdhmO?si=CWG-iTDzSEyG9pxwtCDbxw

What is voting without organizing? If you vote without demanding action from your elected officials - regardless of who wins - then what is the point of being a citizen of a democratic society?

Movements like Stop Cop City have taught us the importance of using our voices, our feet, our bodies, even when - no, especially when - our elected officials ignore us. That doesn’t always inspire a desire to anticipate upcoming elections and cast our ballots. But that’s why it’s January 5th and we’re already talking about the congressional midterms. Our votes are one more tool in our arsenal, and this year we’re building on the momentum of years past.

The triumph of our voices - one way or another - is inevitable. Here to discuss the how we’re joined by Fenika Miller of Black Voters Matter with host Sylvia Johnson.

To learn more about Black Voters Matter visit https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/

To support our work, get early releases, and extended cuts of our podcast and more, become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

To make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

2021 has been like no other. And yet it still seemed oddly familiar, almost like a strange case of deja vu. The pandemic, racism, and capitalism are all still wreaking havoc along with a few big name politicians. It’s all giving a hint of rinse and repeat. Sylvia is joined by Jess and Chelsea to talk about all things 2021.

To support our work, become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

To make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This special episode of the Mainline News Hour features our Senior Music Editor Autumn James and Music Contributor Keron Robinson. We’ll recap what Atlanta’s music scene brought us during a year that often made it difficult to squeeze into a tight space with 60 of our closest friends & enjoy tunes from our favorite local artists. What’s changed? What are we grateful for? What are we looking forward to?

Including music by @mj.cabra @klark_sound @doudmusic @strandedmusic @twelve.25 @downgradeband @buckheadshaman @slimer_ing @dinnertime.usa @wieucallc

To listen to all the music featured in the show and more, follow our spotify playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UDZX1oJa5l2LP5kINDJsg?si=QBWkpeioTquyW3AqxiE02A

To watch the new Wieuca documentary “Hurricane Laura: One Year Later,”
visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaGh3qVcRtU&t=608s

To watch the video for klark sound’s “Two of Wands”,
visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psH7s8go51E

To support our work, sustain future episodes, and access a back catalogue of bonus content, consider becoming a recurring donor on our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

Or consider making a one-time or recurring donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

On this week's episode of the Mainline News Hour on 89.3FM S.M. Johnson jumps behind the mic with Britney Whaley, Senior Political Strategist with the Working Families Party. They discuss Atlanta's municipal election results which ranged from the status quo to some historic firsts.

For the extended release, sign up for our Patreon at http://patreon.com/mainlinezine to hear more insights on the roles of Atlanta's HBCU students, statewide redistricting, and Stacey Abrams' gubernatorial run.

To make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate