The Radical Reverend

The whole world is rethinking its approach to policing. Police forces were created to be occupying armies, slave catchers, and plains clearers, and this historic uprising has made it clear that reforms will not solve the problems of police violence and anti-black racism. This revolutionary moment is allowing us to reimagine what's possible and enact transformative changes in our communities.

Defunding the police allows us to redirect resources away from services the police were never intended to perform in the first place, towards services that promote health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we can house homeless people instead of sending police to ticket and harass them. We can respond to people having mental health crises with professionals trained in de-escalation and emergency mental health support. We can make sure sex workers are protected and not victimized by police. We can fix our criminal justice system that completely fails in the context of sexual violence. And by doing these things we can make our communities safer and healthier for everyone.

Guests:

Andray Domise [@AndrayDomise], writer for Maclean's, founder of TXDL, community advocate, and fellow at the Nathanson Centre at York University 

Joshua Sealy-Harrington [@joshuasealy], doctoral candidate at Columbia Law School, lawyer at Power Law, and writer

The first Pride was a riot against police brutality led by the most marginalized in the queer community, including homeless youth and trans women of color. Despite incredible civil rights victories in the decades that followed, queer and trans communities continue to face disproportionately high rates of discrimination and police violence. Black Lives Matter has made it possible to have mainstream conversations about removing uniformed police officers from Pride and defunding the police, investing instead in professionals trained in de-escalation and programs that reduce poverty. This year, because of COVID-19 we can't celebrate Pride by dancing in the streets, but we'll continue to fight for justice and equality.

Guests:

Andrea Houston [@dreahouston], executive assistant to MPP Jill Andrew, journalist for Xtra, and activist with Rainbow Railroad.

Adrienne Wu, Canadian fashion designer, contributing writer at Huffington Post, and activist with Supporting Our Youth.

The deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet and George Floyd are the latest tragedies of hundreds of years of ongoing colonialism and indigenous genocide.

How do we fight back when the institutions we rely on are designed to uphold white supremacy? How can we speak out against anti-black and anti-indigenous racism within our faith communities, and how can we center the voices of racialized people? How can we talk to people sensitively about their own anti-black and anti-indigenous racism in ways they can hear, and what do we do when it's time to scream instead?

Guests:

Fizza Mir [@MIRfizza], Muslim activist

Annie Matan, Jewish priestess

Right-wing politicians are looking for scapegoats to focus people's rage and fear on, stoking anti-lockdown sentiment and receiving wall-to-wall coverage in the corporate media. But where's the coverage of the rent strikes and walkouts, and why isn't the NDP able to move the conversation to the left? 

We're beginning to reopen the economy but who stands to benefit—working people or the rich? With CERB running out soon, people are being forced to return to unsafe workplaces while big businesses are receiving massive bailouts. Who's paying for these bailouts, and who's paying with their lives?

Guests:

Emma Wakelin [@cwakelin], Liberal Party strategist, on the ongoing fight for progressive values.

Alex Grant [@alexg_fightback], editor at Fightback, on building the movement for a socialist future.

COVID-19 has suddenly placed increased pressure on post-secondary students and institutions, exposing longstanding problems and creating new ones. Many students are finding themselves in difficult situations, supporting themselves and their families with precarious work while burdened with astronomical tuition fees and soaring costs of living. Institutions are facing huge projected deficits, with cuts and austerity a likely outcome. But a crisis also creates opportunities for positive change.

Guests:

Lina Medaglia, professor of liberal arts and sciences at George Brown College

François Tanguay-Renaud [@FTanguayRenaud], law professor and co-director of the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security at York University

For-profit long-term care homes have been in need of major reforms for decades, with workers underpaid and denied safe working conditions, and residents suffering the tragic consequences. The city of Toronto has started issuing tickets to homeless people and forcing them into unsafe shelters, but why can't we house them in empty hotel rooms and empty condos instead? Why are we using taxpayers' money to bail out corporations that don't pay taxes here? And could we see the rise of the right wing in Canada?

Guests:

Alex Grant [@alexg_fightback], editor at Fightback, on taking private companies back into public hands under workers' control.

Emma Wakelin [@cwakelin], Liberal Party strategist, on the path forward for liberal politics.

Pride Toronto will go ahead virtually this year throughout the month of June, complete with music, performances, community programming, and parties! But Pride is also a protest, and queer and trans people are continuing to fight for justice.

Plus, a conversation about indigenous resistance. Indigenous nations are facing police violence for protecting their lands, and are trying to stay safe during this pandemic without parity access to clean water or healthcare. What can we do?

Guests:

Shakir Rahim [@szrahim], Pride Toronto board co-chair and criminal defense lawyer, on celebrating pride virtually, and how policing disproportionately affects those in the queer and trans community who are the most marginalized.

http://www.pridetoronto.com/virtualpride/

Patty Krawec [@gindaanis], author and Medicine for the Resistance podcaster, on building relationships, finding somebody to disrupt with, pushing back against unjust policies, and lifting up the voices of those who are resisting.

https://sojo.net/magazine/april-2020/christians-romanticize-wandering-yet-rendered-my-people-homeless

Music: Strong Water Women

What do Islam and Judaism say happens after we cease to be in our bodies? Is there an afterlife? What are the traditions around death and mourning, and how have they changed as a result of COVID-19?

Plus, a look at how Muslims can observe Ramadan without being able to gather or pray together in person.

Guests:

Fizza Mir, Muslim activist

Annie Matan, Jewish spiritual leader (mentioned in the podcast: Rabbi Dr. Simcha Raphael, scholar on Judaism and the afterlife)

What is it like to be in recovery now that 12 Step groups can't meet in person anymore? This week, The Radical Reverend looks at where people can go to find love, support, and help. Plus, how COVID-19 impacts children around the world who are already affected by war, food insecurity, and overloaded healthcare systems.

Guests:

Natalie Harris, city councillor in Barrie, Ontario, on finding support while in recovery.

Judith Slivinski, national manager at World Vision, on how COVID-19 impacts the most vulnerable people around the world and what World Vision is doing to help.

We're living in unprecedented times. What are we doing to make the world a better place? We are seeing that it is possible to feed everyone, house everyone, and provide healthcare, childcare, and education.

Celebrate Easter online with us! Trinity-St. Paul's United Church has services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tsp427bloor/

Originally broadcasted on CBC Fresh Air with Nana aba Duncan.