1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: with Reizent Choice Media. 3 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 2: Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: Home, everyone to this edition of Native Land Pod. And 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: we have a really great striking conversation to have today. 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: If like the rest of America, you have seen the 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 1: number one movie on Netflix, The Perfect Neighbor, you know 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: it is quite a striking, striking documentary, and I feel 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: like striking doesn't really do it justice about the heinous 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: murder of A gk aj Owens. The world should know 11 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: her name at this point. It was such a moving documentary, 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: a moving film. And we of course are joined by 13 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: Miss Pamela Dias. She is the mother of aj and 14 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: she's joining us with Takima Robinson, who mobilized activists and 15 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: worked really hard to bring this really important film to 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: the forefront. So thank you, ladies so much for joining us. 17 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: We are honored. And Miss Dias, I cannot get too 18 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: far in this conversation without saying I am so incredibly 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: sorry for your loss. It was enraging to see the 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: sequence of events that led to this moment. So just 21 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: in awe of your strength to even join us for 22 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: this conversation today, so welcome home to you both. 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 3: Well, thank you so much for that. 24 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: Andrew is actually a fellow Floridian, so I would be 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: remissed if I did not let him kick off this 26 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: conversation with you. Guys. 27 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: I want to thank you both for joining us and 28 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: obviously really regret the occasion that we find ourselves having 29 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 2: this conversation, Miss Diaz, to you first, if for those 30 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: who may not have yet gotten around to the documentary, 31 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: help us how you came to the conclusion that you 32 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: wanted this important story told. Almost I likened it this 33 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: morning with my colleagues to made me tell moment of 34 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: her you know, having to make the difficult decision around 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: an open casket for her son so that the world 36 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 2: could see what the South had done. I imagine, although 37 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: I have no first hand experience myself, that you probably 38 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: entered a similar set of questions about is this the 39 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: right thing to do? Is this? Is this going to 40 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: achieve the results that we want? How do we guide 41 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: it the right way and make sure it's not misinterpreted? 42 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: You know, really frankly, taking on all of the offenses 43 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 2: of the tragedy that you were visited with from from 44 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 2: from the start, And I know that has to be 45 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: a hard thing, but if you wouldn't mind just enveloping 46 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: that for us and helping us, your supporting community on 47 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: this side, understand some of your own thinking what led 48 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: to it, and and sort of whether or not you 49 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 2: feel like you've you've stood in the right place and 50 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: making those decisions. 51 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 3: Sure, so I have to say first that I'm deeply 52 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 3: honored to be even my name, or my story or 53 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 3: my courage to be even referenced with MADEI till it 54 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 3: just warms my heart. And I still can't believe that 55 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: people see it in that manner, but grateful. So Geeta Ganbier, 56 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: she's the director of the film, And when she showed 57 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 3: me the unedited version, I watched it from a mother, 58 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 3: a grandmother grieving standpoint. I cried and I cried, and 59 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: then I was actually kind of ill. You know, I'm 60 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 3: watching my daughter lose her life in front of my 61 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 3: very own eyes. I'm watching the sequence of events that 62 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 3: led up to her losing her life, which was ridiculous 63 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 3: and senseless. And then I watched it a second time, 64 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 3: and then that's when it really resonated with me how 65 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 3: important this story was. To be told, and I had 66 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 3: several things I considered before I said, okay, let's share 67 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 3: it with the world. First and foremost, I thought about 68 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 3: my grandchildren. How would they feel about it, you know, 69 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 3: seeing their raw emotions and the fact that their mother 70 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 3: losing their life is displayed in the film. Then I 71 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 3: also consider it the community, the neighborhood where Ajaka resided. 72 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: You know, they too were deeply affected. This was a 73 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 3: very close knit community. They looked out for one another, 74 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: so they also shared pain and grief and sorrow. And 75 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: then even though a community, society at large, you know, 76 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 3: and one of the things that my daughter would say 77 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: is that the world was going to know her name, 78 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: and unfortunately it came to pass in this manner. So 79 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 3: I considered that. But ultimately I considered what impact and 80 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 3: what changes this film could do. I wanted to serve 81 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 3: as a blueprint to change hearts and minds of society, 82 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 3: to be the lens that people may not know what 83 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 3: people of color experience on a daily basis, because we 84 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 3: have racial epithets, we have biases, and standard ground law 85 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 3: is prominent in this film. So we need reform, We 86 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 3: need education, We need people to understand what happens when 87 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 3: guns are placed in the wrong hands, especially someone who 88 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 3: was a racist. So when I considered all of that, 89 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 3: I could not I could not just sit on this. 90 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 3: I had to share it. 91 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 4: I am, I want to go to you takeema. Also, 92 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 4: I think one thing that's important about this particular case. 93 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 4: Of course, Susan Lawrence was charging convicted. She was convicted 94 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 4: of manslaughter. But one thing that's important is the history 95 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 4: of this neighbor Uh to aj they have had they 96 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 4: had a pattern of engagement or And I would argue 97 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 4: in some ways, just based on what you see, it 98 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 4: sounds like Susan Lawrence was harassing aj and her children. 99 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 4: And so I would love for you to get into 100 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 4: that a little bit, because on the other side of 101 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 4: a bullet that is marked for a black person, we 102 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 4: find ourselves constantly defending our personhood, our humanity, our innocence, 103 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 4: even when we're the person is no longer alive to 104 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 4: tell their story. 105 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 5: Absolutely, yeah, thank you so much for asking that. So 106 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 5: what's so interesting about this film is that the footage, 107 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 5: which we received through a four year request in the 108 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 5: couple of weeks after Ajan's taken from us, the footage 109 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 5: goes back to twenty twenty one. So AJ is taken 110 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 5: in June of twenty twenty three. The footage goes back 111 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 5: two years. There were multiple calls, and what is so 112 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 5: interesting is no one else called the police but Susan, right, 113 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 5: So it was clear this was this pattern of her 114 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 5: clearly harassing and terrorizing this community, but then also trying 115 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 5: to weaponize her whiteness in the police against this community. 116 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 5: What stuns me is that two years, in numerous calls 117 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 5: you'll see this in the film, the police will even 118 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 5: recognize her and call her a psycho and say, yeah, 119 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 5: we know about this situation, that systemically no alarms ever 120 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 5: went off, that she was actually the danger in plain 121 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 5: sight to the rest of this community. It stuns me 122 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 5: when you see one of the opening scenes where you 123 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 5: see AJ herself interacting on one of these calls with 124 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 5: the police. You see how she postures herself because she 125 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 5: clear she might not be safe in this situation if 126 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 5: she says the wrong thing. And so I think, what 127 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 5: is just brilliant in this film is that all of 128 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 5: this is exposed. None of this is coming through interviews, 129 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 5: none of this is sort of biased by our opinion, 130 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 5: This is raw bodycam footage from the police, the system itself, 131 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 5: and I think so brilliantly put together that we can't 132 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,679 Speaker 5: deny literally what happens. And so to your point, Angela, 133 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 5: I see systemic failure when I look at that, and 134 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 5: I think that she should have been flagged long before 135 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 5: this occurred. 136 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: That so honestly came out. Want to stick with you 137 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 1: for a moment here, because that is what was so striking. 138 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: She was not just calling the police on AJ's kids. 139 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: She was calling the police on everybody's children in that neighborhood. 140 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: And not only that she had been violent towards these children. 141 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: She even had that violent episode where she was ramming 142 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: her truck into a fence single time. I kept looking, 143 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: and of course, what we all do with black folks 144 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: is had this been a black person doing any of this? 145 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: And in that opening scene where you see AJ, she 146 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: looks so exasperated dealing with these police officers. There's a 147 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 1: white man there who was a police officer. There is 148 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: a black woman there. The black woman saw her humanity. 149 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: The black woman kept talking to her, the black woman. 150 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: She was given that secret black woman language like yea girl, 151 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: I know, like I already know who she is. And 152 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: I just think it's why it's so important that we 153 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: take space in some of these careers to be there 154 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: for each other. So I don't know how when this 155 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: initially happened. I don't know how, but I ended up 156 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: in a group chat with you and others. Angela was 157 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: in this chat, and people were mobilizing immediately. You were 158 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: leading the charge in those moments where we're just all stilled. 159 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: How did this even come to be? Like, how did 160 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: this fall on your radar? And what was it that 161 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: made you say we need to rally around this specific issue. 162 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, So for me, it starts with my sister. AJ 163 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 5: was my little sister's best friend, you know. So I 164 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 5: started here as a big sister. I spent most of 165 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 5: my career in social justice and moving money in philanthropy 166 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 5: towards social justice. Never did I think I be getting 167 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 5: that call from my sister about her best friend. So 168 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 5: it starts there. As I scrambled to activate folks like 169 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 5: Latasha Brown, like our good sister, Christy Henderson and others 170 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 5: who brought you all into the space. You know, Joy Reid, 171 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 5: who broke the news nationally because it wasn't even covered locally. 172 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 5: When this happened. It was like keep saying this the 173 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 5: underground railroad of black women who who really just rallied 174 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 5: behind us. So that is how it came. And then 175 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 5: in terms of connecting this to the film, the director 176 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 5: is also my sister in law and my brother is 177 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 5: one of the producers, and so like, this is like 178 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 5: literally made by our family who wrapped our arms around 179 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 5: on Pam and the children and have not let them 180 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 5: go and will not let them go. When Pam said 181 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 5: that she wanted to, you know, to share this with 182 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 5: the world. You know we are we are here to 183 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 5: fulfill her promise to her daughter. And that is how 184 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 5: this comes to be. 185 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 4: You know, I go ahead, Andrew, just just to loop 186 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 4: in the public policy. 187 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 2: Part of this. It was referenced earlier in our conversation 188 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 2: standard ground law and standard ground which has now been 189 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 2: repeatedly weaponized in the state of Florida on behalf of 190 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 2: people who would frankly otherwise be guilty of almost uh. 191 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 2: It is used oftentimes a violent incident against violent incident, 192 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 2: much of which in the drug sales on our streets. 193 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 2: But the ways in which we see this and experience 194 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 2: this thing and really outsized and traumatic display which you 195 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: all make clear here in this film. I think it 196 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: just makes the horror of standard ground even worse because 197 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: right now in Florida, you can't flag for a person 198 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: for being a racist and therefore have them go through 199 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 2: the three day weight period and have their guns taken 200 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 2: from them and have those individuals be flagged. So you 201 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 2: can be an ovote racist. You can be and admitted 202 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 2: races by yourself and by all the people who are 203 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: around you, stimulated by the same stimuli that might irritate 204 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 2: a child pornographer, if you will, from the standpoint of 205 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 2: the inducements that you get and the rage that these 206 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: folks embody when confronted with the abject of their of 207 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 2: of of their of their anger. And so I'm just wondering, 208 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 2: from a public policy standpoint, how are we raising the 209 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: specter of our elected officials to see race and the 210 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: venomous of race being weaponized against a group of people 211 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 2: to also raise the flag. But this person cannot be 212 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: trusted with the power of gun, you know, of God 213 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: at their waistbelt. They cannot be trusted with responsibility of 214 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 2: having this in society When you can be so overcome 215 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 2: by your race towards a group of people because of 216 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 2: their race. To me, it it's as large of a 217 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 2: red flag as anybody with a mental incapacitation, Yet we 218 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: don't get to talk about it in those terms. 219 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I think that was interesting Iron And 220 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 5: I don't know if everyone knows, but the original standard 221 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 5: ground legislation was written by the legislator in Marion County, right, 222 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 5: And so we literally have a full circle moment. We 223 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 5: know Trayvon Martin happened right down the street from Okalla, 224 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 5: and so you know, as we do this work together 225 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 5: Pam and I, that is one of the things that 226 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 5: we are really trying to use the film to sort 227 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 5: of resurface that conversation about this law and about the 228 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 5: disparate impacts on our community. We have seen some legislative 229 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 5: change in some particular states which we are going to 230 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 5: be working with. There's been some changes in Georgia. There 231 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 5: looks like there's been some traction in Pennsylvania, in Minnesota. 232 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 5: We know that we might have a longer road to 233 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 5: go in Florida itself. But part of our reasoning behind 234 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 5: making the film and putting it out there was to 235 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 5: really lend this piece of art to that dialogue in 236 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 5: AJ's story to that dialogue. So we hope that it 237 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 5: brings about change. We hope that it hits people deep 238 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 5: enough in their heart that they're willing to re examine 239 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 5: this piece of policy that is disproportionately impacting our community. 240 00:14:53,040 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: Negative missus das we see in the film. Another moment 241 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: that it just two moments broke me and I was thinking, like, 242 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: how could you as her mother watching this? Two moments 243 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: broke me. There is one moment where you see little 244 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: boy on the porch and they ask are you okay? 245 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: And he says, I'm not physically hurt, but he says, 246 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: my heart is broken. It was the just the hardest moment. 247 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: It brought pain. The other moment that bought sheer rage 248 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: was in the interrogation room with her and the police 249 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: officers and she feigns ignorance to stand your ground. I 250 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: don't know, it's something something when somebody got shot a 251 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: while and they say, oh, so if we search our computers, 252 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: we won't find anything that you recently searched stand your 253 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: ground laws. 254 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: And at that. 255 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: Point she knows, oh, they're going to search my computers. 256 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: They say, oh, well, today I may have looked at 257 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: it on Facebook. I just want to know, when you 258 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: see that happen, would you call what has happened with her? 259 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: This murderer being convicted, would you call what has happened justice? 260 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 3: None at all. Justice doesn't end with a conviction at all. 261 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: Twenty five years. It's like they put an expiration date 262 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 3: on her accountability, whereas my daughter's life is, she's gone forever. 263 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 3: Those two scenes that you reference Firsus my grandson saying 264 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: that he's not okay, but his heart is broken. That 265 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: breaks me every time. That's my one. Well, the film 266 00:16:55,280 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 3: itself is devastating, it's hurtful, but to see and hear 267 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 3: my grandson in that moment at that time, he was 268 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 3: twelve years old. Why should a little boy's heart be broken? 269 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 2: You know? 270 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: And that scene where she keeps saying no, no, no. 271 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 3: I counted and I lost track at about nineteen times 272 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 3: that she said no. And I can only imagine if 273 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 3: it was a person of color in that seat, and 274 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 3: for her it was the audacity. It was as if 275 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 3: she was bargaining, like she had a choice. You just 276 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 3: shot and killed, You have been convicted of manslaughter, and 277 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 3: you're telling the police no. That just shows her whiteness, 278 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 3: her entitlement, and they accommodated her, they coddled her. If 279 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 3: it had been a person of color, if they had 280 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 3: survived it, they would have been beaten, probably ended up 281 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 3: in the hospital. And the director always says that she 282 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 3: left that chair and that scene for a reason, like 283 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 3: to focus on that like she was. It's and then 284 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 3: also the letter, the apology that she wrote to the children, 285 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 3: she's still not taking accountability. I shot out of fear 286 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: when you knew the police was gone their way. But again, 287 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 3: that just shows racism, whiteness, whiteness, entitlement. And that's what 288 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 3: this film really does. It explores and examines all of that. 289 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 3: It shows America how privileged that we are not as 290 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 3: a color. We've been saying this and we know this, 291 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 3: but now they see it. It's just not another black 292 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 3: person or another black family saying it's racism. It's shown 293 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 3: to them. It's no one's opinion. You can't help but 294 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 3: walk away and see this film for what it is, 295 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 3: to see whiteness, to see what entitlement looks like. 296 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: Even her white neighbors, even her white neighbor, that woman, 297 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: they said you better not come outside when you saw 298 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: the white woman on across the street, like she knows 299 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: she better stay inside, don't come out. It gave me goosebumps. 300 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 4: I wonder, yes, just asking miss Diaz, you mentioned that 301 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 4: aj would say that the world would know her name 302 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 4: one day, and I think so often for those of 303 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 4: you who end up losing loved ones tragically at the 304 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 4: hands of police violence or vigilantes, which I definitely put 305 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 4: her in the category of a vigilante. What do you 306 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 4: want the world to know about your daughter that they 307 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 4: didn't get the chance to know on a broad scale. 308 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 3: Obviously, you know, we know that she was a single 309 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 3: mom of four. She was the sole provider, breadwinner for 310 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 3: her family. She was very present in their lives. She 311 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 3: made a lot of sacrifices, as most moms do. She 312 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 3: was present at football, being the football team mom, cheer mom. 313 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 3: She had her children, her daughter and gymnastics. Her kids 314 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 3: were honorable students. She was a woman of faith. She 315 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 3: taught her children respect of their elders. But she had dreams. 316 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 3: You know, she wanted better for her family. And that's 317 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 3: why I said that she would say the world would 318 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 3: know her name, Because we were oftentimes tried to come 319 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 3: up with different ideas, businesses or different ventures that she 320 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 3: could pursue to increase her economic situation. But you know 321 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 3: that was all taken from her. But I'm grateful that 322 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 3: out of this we were able to birth a I 323 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 3: would say, a purpose which to Kim and I co 324 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 3: founded the Standing in the Gap Fund, So it's not 325 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 3: only through the film, but also we have a vehicle, 326 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 3: a mechanism that honors her legacy and also can help 327 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 3: other families who may eventually be unfortunately impacted by such 328 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 3: hate violence. But it's not a film that I want 329 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 3: people to walk away with being sad and grieving and 330 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 3: devastation and tragedy. I want people to see the beauty 331 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 3: in that community and see what we can do collectively 332 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 3: to make real changes in this world if we come 333 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 3: together as one and let our voices be heard. And 334 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 3: I think the film and the fund is a voice 335 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 3: for Asuka, who's no longer to speak. 336 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: I just want to be clear because I heard her 337 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: name pronounced in the film A GK. I heard people 338 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: saying that, and you're saying Ajka. So I want to 339 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: be respectful and get the property. 340 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 2: I must always get it right. 341 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, so yeah, I wanted to correct myself because 342 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: in the film they were saying, so we should just 343 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: say a J and ajuka that is this. 344 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 3: So I will give you the background on a GK. 345 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 3: So she says that for two reasons. One is that 346 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 3: most people can't pronounce her name correctly the first try 347 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 3: at it, so she will say a GK. And then 348 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 3: also that was her being a little facetious with the 349 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 3: police officer, you know, because she's not agreeing with the situation. 350 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 3: So I'm not going to give it to you the 351 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 3: right way. I'm going to give it to you the 352 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 3: way you would say it. 353 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: I love our defiance. Our defiance comes in all forms, 354 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: even in that you don't even deserve to say my name, 355 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: but certainly the rest of the world deserves to know 356 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: her name. This entire documentary is comprised of police footage. 357 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: It is striking. I encourage everyone to check it out. 358 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: It reached number one on Netflix at its debut. It 359 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: still maintains in the top ten, might even be in 360 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: the top five. So please check out this very important film. 361 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: It is the Perfect Neighbor, available on Netflix now. It 362 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: is capturing a global audience. So not only will everyone 363 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: in this country know the name of Ajka, but people 364 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: all across the global as well. Tahima Robinson and missus 365 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: Pamela Dayas, thank you so so much for coming on 366 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: with us to talk about this very important film and 367 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: sharing a bit about your daughter's legacy. We thank you 368 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: and welcome blessure. 369 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 2: Thank you. 370 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio and partnership 371 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: with Recent Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit 372 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,199 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 373 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.