1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: You're listening to Waiting on Reparations, the production of I 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we wait in a reparations Yeah, 3 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: ye know, how are you supposed to rock the boat 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: when they're trying to stop you up? Got the polls 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: looking like the place that you don't want to go, 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: standing in these long lines wrapped around this block and 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: moth if somebody give you water, then the tops to show. 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: I think about the ship while going through a box 9 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: of smoke, knowing that they slopped the most spit flames, 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: dropping rope, Rick James cows approach, big brain, dropping clothes, 11 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: flip the table because we need that swift change, not 12 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: the post going through the concert pros. But I'm keeping 13 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: honest though Dope Knife rap phenomeno. While playing dominoes linga 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: Frank's Revolution, I'm saying vominos, looking down the barrel of 15 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: a gun, yelling geronomo, goo, hey, this is dope knife, 16 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: and are waiting on reparations, hurry up? All right? So 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: we are here with Devin Barrington Ward, a founding member 18 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: I believe of the Black Futurist Group. Yes, absolutely, all right, 19 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: Well you know I am a new UH City council 20 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: candidate UM here. I was so exciting, Like I heard 21 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: that you were maybe going to run. I didn't know 22 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: that you were like in, yeah, that's all my paperwork, 23 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: it's official. Congratulations, Thank you, thank you, so thank you 24 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: so much for joining us today to talk a little 25 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: bit about just everything that's been going on in Georgia lately. 26 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: UM And we talked about this a little bit before 27 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: we started recording, but I think you said something very insightful, 28 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: and we love the listeners also sharing this discussion of 29 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: like why is so much crazy shit happening in Georgia 30 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: right now? Georgia is is ground zero for what is 31 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: the past. We're at the intersection of what's the past 32 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: and what is possible for the future. UM And when 33 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: I say that, UM, we are a jurisdiction of state, 34 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: particularly in metro Atlanta, but across Georgia where there are 35 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: lots of black people like yourself that are in UM leadership, 36 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,959 Speaker 1: that are decision makers, that are you know, trying to 37 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: blaze the path forward for something that is different, that 38 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: are an extension of the vision and the dream that 39 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: Maynard Jackson had when he first ran for office in Atlanta. 40 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: UM And we are also still in a state that 41 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: very much is plagued by history that has not been resolved, 42 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 1: the history that has not been atoned for, in a 43 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: history that's still celebrated. UM. And so there is a 44 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 1: battle when you have a county like the Cab County 45 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: that has had black leadership for so long. UM. But 46 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: in the Cab County, I mean there is also the 47 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: world's largest monument to the Confederacy. The symbolism is is 48 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: quite powerful. And so it is UH symbolism that illustrates 49 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: why Georgia is in the situation that it's in. Of course, 50 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: this would be happening in the cradle of the civil 51 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: rights movement. This is truly white supremacies last stand. Then 52 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,119 Speaker 1: the battle lines in the battle UM. The battlefield most 53 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: certainly runs through Atlanta, just like it did during the 54 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: Civil War. UM. And so while the methods UM at 55 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: this point, UM have you know been a battle that 56 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: has been waged in the political process, UM, we also 57 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: know that it has real consequences as far as UM 58 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: life and death. UM. We saw an insurrection that was 59 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: connected to the fact that black people UM and a 60 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: part of a broader coalition UM of people of color 61 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: and white people would sense sent John ass Off and 62 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: m um Don alsof and Reverend Warnock Um a Jewish 63 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: man and a black pastor that used to uh that 64 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: is still the pastor of Dr King's Church, even eizer Um. 65 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: The response was to try and uh stage and insurrection 66 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: to overthrow an election. And what it really was about 67 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: saying was, um, you know, we don't believe in democracy 68 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: because democracy allows black people and people who don't look 69 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: like me to have a voice. And I heard something 70 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: on NPR today that was really um thought provoking, is 71 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: that democracy only works if we care for one another. 72 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: The poor fundamental belief of democracy is that people outside 73 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: of yourself map um. And so democracy in America will 74 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: never truly function so long as we continue to collude 75 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: and make bedfellows with by supremacy. And so in Atlanta 76 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: uh and in Georgia uh Stacy Abrams and her candidacy 77 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: UM was a indication that the tide is changing. And 78 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: so of course we would see in the legislature that 79 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: respond with egregious odor suppression legislation because it is a 80 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: response to what is the inevitable, which is that the 81 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: me equal inherent Yeah, exactly, And so I love for 82 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: you to talk as well a little bit about UM, 83 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: your background and organizing and particularly uh you're organizing that 84 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: you've done with the Black Futurist Group and even more 85 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: granular than that, y'all's effort that's still ongoing to close 86 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: the the Atlanta jail. M hm. Well, you know, I 87 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: can tell you all of the great things and organizing 88 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: that I've done as far as like being a co 89 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: movement builder, helping start um b y P one hundred 90 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: and it's in in in its exception UM and more 91 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: broadly than movie for Black Lives UM and for b 92 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: l UM. But my advocacy and my activism and my 93 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: organizing is shaped by my lived experiences as a black 94 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: weird men's grown up here in the South. UM. I 95 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: have parents who are Caribbean. I have parents who had 96 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: me who we're young. I've seen all of the things 97 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:32,239 Speaker 1: that I fight for daily, like affordable housing and fighting 98 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: to reimagine public safety and reduce the scope of the 99 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: criminal legal system UM and to reform how we build 100 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: wealth in black communities. Is a direct result of having 101 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: the background that I have. I saw my dad get 102 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: beat up by the Cab County police UM, and nothing 103 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: happened to them, UM, and I was five years old. 104 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: Those are the type of experiences that shape the experiences, 105 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: excuse me, that shape the advocacy that myself and other 106 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: frontline organizers engaging on a daily basis. And so it's 107 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: why the Black Futures Group UM I founded it. Co 108 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: founded it to really reimagine the ways in which we 109 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: use the systems that we have, the systems that we 110 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: have dreamed up through creativity and black excellence and the 111 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: brilliance and of of our collective community. UM. How do 112 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: we UM reimagine our pathways towards liberation in our in 113 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: our lifetime. UM. A future where we are no longer UM, 114 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: you know, engaging with voter suppression, the future where we 115 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: are no longer engaging with police brutality and an expansion 116 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: of the police state. UM. A truly reimagined future that's 117 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: grounded in the perspective that black lives do matter, and 118 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: that in order for the world to be said, we 119 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: have to um UH and our our greatest atrocity, which 120 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: is the ongoing UM hatred and death in genocide against 121 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: black people across the world, and so UM more granular 122 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: UM that means doing the hard work of like uh 123 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, being on the campaign to close the Atlanta 124 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: City Detention Center, a campaign that was dreamed up by 125 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Maryland Win, a formally incarcerated woman who helped ban the 126 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: Box under Nathan Deal UM and said that, you know, 127 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: her last work would not be finished until she saw 128 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: the Atlanta City Detention Center closed. And so she worked 129 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: in partnership with immigrant right communities UM, with people from 130 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: the queer and trans community like Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative 131 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 1: and Racial Justice Action Center and Project South and Southerners 132 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: on New Ground to formulate this alliance that has successfully 133 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: UM introduced the end of cash fail of the City 134 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: in Atlanta help end the contract of the City of 135 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:09,599 Speaker 1: Atlanta had with UM the federal Immigration Customer Enforcement authority 136 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,719 Speaker 1: to hold undocumented people UM and uh you know, to 137 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: decriminalize cannabis after the killing of DeAndre Phillips, a black 138 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: father who was murdered by an Atlanta police officer who 139 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 1: was on undercover, who was in UM playing clothes and 140 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: only engaged with DeAndre because he smelled cannabis coming from 141 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: the car UM and that was probable cause for him 142 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: to UM open fire and UM you know, send another 143 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: black father to a graveyard and sent a home um 144 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: and so all of these things, these reforms again birthed 145 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: out of the experiences in the trauma of our people, 146 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: help inform the public policy that we use um to 147 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: what we call dismantle and starve the beast. And so 148 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: we because of these reforms, we were able to drastically 149 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 1: reduce the population of the Atlanta City Detention Center and 150 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: put it on a pathway where now we went from 151 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 1: seven hundred people on any given day at the City 152 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: Detention Center to less than thirty and so that and 153 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: and and that is the testament of of a broad 154 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: coalition of people focused on justice now and taking really 155 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 1: actionable steps towards liberation through something as granular as a 156 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: city detention center, but a city detention center that was 157 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: built one of the first Olympic facilities because Atlanta at 158 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: the time did not want to acknowledge that it had 159 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: a problem as far as people um, you know, suffering 160 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: from substance abuse and mental illness and homelessness. And we 161 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: decided to try and lock away our problems instead of 162 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: owning our our our community members, instead of owning people 163 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: um and and recognizing that these are our this is 164 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 1: our constituency, this is our community need, these are our neighbors, 165 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: and it's imperative that we provide solutions and oppunchments. Um 166 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: and So now we're moving in that direction, there's still 167 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: work to be done. The mayor um has introduced a 168 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: plan to close the City Detention Center. We are in 169 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: negotiations with her to bump up that date of the 170 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: City Detention Center closure because unfortunately, our newly elected sheriff, 171 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: who ran on a platform that he was going to 172 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: engage in criminal justice reform, has doubled down on trying 173 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: to expand the Pulton County Jail, instead of working with 174 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: the court system, working with community, the district attorney to 175 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: ensure that we can appropriately decarcerrate the facility because there 176 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: are people there who are not thrust the public safety, 177 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: who can be at home while their cases being adjudicated. 178 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: There are people there who don't even need to go 179 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: to court. They just need to have some services. They 180 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: need some housing, they need some food, they need some healthcare. 181 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: Um and So instead of moving in that direction, he's 182 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: trying to um reneg on the reforms that he initially 183 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: supported as a member of the task force to close 184 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: the Atlanta City Detention Center, a task force that I 185 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: was proud to be a member of. And so we're 186 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: holding everyone accountable to what they said they were going 187 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: to do, including the mayor who says that she wants 188 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: to get Atlanta out of the jailing business. I agree 189 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 1: with that as well, um, But also the sheriff who 190 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: says that he wants to engage in criminal justice reform. 191 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,599 Speaker 1: And we know that criminal justice reform or um, you know, 192 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: things that are rooted in the abolitionist lens doesn't start 193 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: with jailing more people. It starts as figuring out how 194 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: we get when people home, um, and recognizing that bringing 195 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: people home doesn't mean that they have to be a 196 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: threat to public safety if we are truly intentional about 197 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: to wrap around services that our community and that our 198 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: government provides, because um, it's actually a cost benefit. Because 199 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: you know, as a county commissioner UM in Athens Cark County, 200 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: that it is cheaper to provide someone services than to 201 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: jail them. It is cheaper to build mental health facilities 202 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: than to build prisons and jails, um. And so we've 203 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: got to hold local government accountable. And so that's the 204 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: work that the Black Teachers Group allows me to do 205 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: along with advocating for UM the end of HIV with 206 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: our clients, the Black Aids Institute UM, and reimagining the 207 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: cannabis industry UM through our grant with the Drug Policy 208 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: Alliance UM. And so the Black Features Group has allowed 209 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: me to UH think, use my imagination UM to dream 210 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: of a future uh that is greater than the one 211 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: that we're currently in. Today we talked a lot about 212 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: local efforts around reimagining public safety and trying to enact 213 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: abolitionist future. Let's move to the state legislature and talk 214 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: about some attempts at that level to style me that 215 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: word we have. I don't want to go there either, 216 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: but you know, people people want to know and people 217 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: don't understand, Like especially with the marquee like voter suppression 218 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: bill that was passed last a week, a lot of 219 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: people are missing some of these, like you know, also 220 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: very critical pieces of legislation that respond to other issues 221 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: of racial justice. I we've been fighting for for over 222 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: a year and maybe people might not even pay paying 223 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: attention to. Unfortunately. Yeah, I think, UM, it's really important 224 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: that we give people a timeline, Like I mean, voter 225 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: suppression in Georgia has been happening since you know, black 226 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: people got the right to them. And so let's just 227 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: be clear, none of this is new. It is just 228 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: remix itself and you know, come up with and in 229 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: another form. But it is the same Jim Crow beats 230 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: that we continue to track to slay in our communities. 231 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: And the end of the State Capital is where Jim 232 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: Crow lives in Georgia. Because it is codified into our laws. 233 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: That means that Jim Crow is oftentimes seen throughout our laws. 234 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: And this voter law that was just passes is another 235 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: example of that. More recently. It is a history that 236 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: is in response to what happened in when Brian Camp 237 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: as Secretary of State oversaw his own election and urge 238 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: people from the voter rolls. I personally was impacted when 239 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: I received a wrong voter registration card that had my 240 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: name spelled wrong. Now I'm a business owner, I've been 241 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: a registered lobbyists, I've worked at the state capitol, i 242 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: have a driver's license in Georgia. There's no way that 243 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: they couldn't match my name up with public databases and 244 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: address to make sure that they sent me the right 245 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: voter registration car. Luckily, I was still registered to vote 246 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: at another address and I was able to go and 247 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: vote there so that I could participate in that historic election. 248 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: In what happened to me happened to so many other 249 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: Georgians who were either furge from the voter rolls or 250 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: sent wrong voter registration cards, forced to vote provisional goal 251 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: to jump through a bunch of different groups, and we 252 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: saw the ramifications of that cheating, and it led to 253 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: theacy Abram's being cheated out of the election. But just 254 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: like black women always do, he said all right that 255 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: I got you, I got you, hold on, I'll be back, 256 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: starts fair fight and engages in lawsuits against the state 257 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: of Georgia and holding the Secretary of State accountable to 258 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: what our current what what our previous election laws were. 259 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: That's forward what happens uh black people, A black woman 260 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: based the nation right because Georgia turns blue, something that 261 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: doesn't happen since Georgia isn't blue. I love that Reverend 262 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: James would all the a c P President made it 263 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: really clear Georgia's black, okay, And that doesn't mean that 264 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: nobody else doesn't live here, but it means that we're 265 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: grounded in the black politics that is grounded in the 266 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: needs of everyone, right, Um, And so we did this 267 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: because not just because it was good for black people, 268 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: but it was for good of the country, which is 269 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: good for black people and everybody who lives here, even 270 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: the folks who can't come to the conclusion that this 271 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: is the right thing. So then we do that. Then 272 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: we also we not only send Biden and Kamala Harris, 273 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: first black woman to the White House, we also send 274 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: dot ofs of and Reverend Warnock to the U. S. 275 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: Senate to make sure that Joe Biden has a Senate 276 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: where he can get something done like the COVID relief package, 277 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: which I as a progressive, as an unabassed progressive, wanted 278 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: to see much more done. But I recognized that, Um, 279 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: until we get rid of the filibuster. This is what 280 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: we were able to get done. And that would have 281 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: been impossible had it not been for the leadership of 282 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 1: Stacy Abrams and so many other black organizers across the 283 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: state of Georgia like ourselves. And so the response to 284 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: that was, Wow, we lost an election for the first 285 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: time in thirty years in Georgia. What are we gonna do. 286 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: We're gonna say you can't hand out water in long lines, 287 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: because we know we love to have long lines at 288 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: voting precincts. We're going to saying that the Republicans can 289 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 1: take over county elections, um as they see fit, as 290 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: a direct response to Fulton County. We're going to outlaw 291 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: mobile voting precincts as a direct response to Fulton County, which, uh, 292 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 1: you know not only always goes blue, but this time 293 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: went blue at a higher level than it had previously 294 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: done before. Um. And so the response to all of that, 295 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: um uh is uh in Senate Bill two oh two 296 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: is really a reflection of how Republicans and folks who 297 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: are grounded and a white supremacist Jim Crawl narrative see 298 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 1: how really went down? Um And instead of just losing 299 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: and figuring out how to retool their party, figuring out 300 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: how they shed some of these really archaic beliefs so 301 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: that they could increase their chances at you know, winning 302 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: political office in the future, they recognize, no, actually, we 303 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: don't want to um let go of these racist, m patriarchal, homophobic, 304 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: and transphobic policies. No, we want to embrace that we 305 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: want to double down on that. We want to double 306 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: down on our support for the rich and how we 307 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: don't care about poor people. And so in order for 308 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: us to double down on that, because we recognize that 309 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: that is not a winning message across the state, so 310 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: in order to increase our chances to win, we have 311 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: to cheat. And so that is what these voter suppression 312 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: laws are about. I hope that was as good as 313 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: an explanation as I can give right there. Just yeah, 314 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: cover to cover. So what so where do we go 315 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: from here as organizers around this law that has to pass. Yeah, 316 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 1: so we organize. You know, I love a good false 317 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: and fail safe. And and I think it's very clear 318 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: that we didn't just send John ass Off and Reverend 319 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: Warnock to d C because there and to men. We 320 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: sent them there to get a job done. And the 321 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: job that they have to get done is to lobby 322 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: to their colleagues and lobby to the administration. And it's 323 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: time to stop the collusion with the filibuster because it 324 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: is a old practice of of an era that we 325 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: say we want to end. Right um, The filibuster is 326 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 1: grounded in racism and a white supremacist history about essentially 327 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: trying to protect the minority party but not protect minority folks, 328 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: and that's unacceptable. UM. And so we need to get 329 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 1: rid of the filibuster so that we can pass HR one, 330 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 1: so that way it would nullify UM anything that the 331 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: Republicans here in Georgia can cook up to try and 332 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: UM impress Trump voters. And let's also be clear, like 333 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: Brian Kemp, if you're listening, you might be listening and 334 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: your people are listening. I want you to be really clear, 335 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: like it's over for you, bro, Like you know you're 336 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: getting primary. Trump is going to primary somebody against you, 337 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: and you probably won't make it out your primary, and 338 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: if you do, you will be so battered and so bruised. 339 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 1: And you see that the momentum is on our side, 340 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: the numbers is on our side, and you've done nothing 341 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: other than fire people up and get and getting people 342 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: really excited about making sure you're a one term governor. UM. 343 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 1: I personally am excited about it because he was involved 344 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: with allowing our state representative part Cannon to be arrested. 345 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: I was arrested in eighteen in response to the election, 346 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: along with then state senator now congresswoman to Kimi Williams. 347 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: So one thing I want to say is we see 348 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: the last black woman that you arrested went to Congress, 349 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: So be careful what you do here, because where's Park 350 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: going to go after this? UM, you know, funk around 351 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: and find out absolutely. And you know what is also 352 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: really clear is is that UM, you know, Brian is 353 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: making policy decisions out of desperation because he knows that. UM. 354 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: While them there is a wing of the Republican Party 355 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: that has been taken over by Trump that's not palatable 356 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: for a general election. Nobody wants to deal with that nonsense. 357 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: People are not going for a governor who campaigns with 358 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: a shotgun on TV anymore. If you know, we're not 359 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: We're not going for that. UM. And I think people 360 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: recognize where UM, the mistake of being apathetic let us 361 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: for four years, and UM, we're realizing that we can't 362 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: make that mistake again because people like Donald Trump, people 363 00:22:54,720 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: like Brian Kemp are essential threat to humanity now just 364 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: the black people. UM. In that UM we're talking about, 365 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: it's like organizing more, getting more people out seeing that 366 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: Brian kempt us defeated. You know, in some conversations I've 367 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: had with organizers, we've been thinking about how to respond 368 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: to the specific contours of the law. So like if 369 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: you have to have a picture I D in order 370 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: to vote absentee going to door to make sure people 371 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: have what they need to get that in in addition 372 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: to the other forms of canvasing the picture. So have 373 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: you thought it all about the ways that are organizing 374 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: might shift around, Um, the particular contours of the laws 375 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: that has been passed. Absolutely, I already know that. You 376 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: know for me like, um, you know how you walk 377 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: up work around making sure that you aren't giving people 378 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: water inline. You give them water when they drive into 379 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: the parking lot boom. You make sure you make sure 380 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: that they have a lunch box when they before they 381 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 1: get in line and they've got a lunch block at 382 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: the parking lot. You know, it doesn't matter. We'll get 383 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,959 Speaker 1: our people what we need. So whether we figure out 384 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: workarounds like that for you know, not allowing folks to 385 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: get water INLINE will go to the courts if we 386 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: have to about the GOP takeovers of local election boards. Um. 387 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: And then the ultimate thing that we can do is 388 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: Brian camp is not the only one who's on the 389 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: ballot and we need to make sure that we get 390 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: these um do you know, we need to make sure 391 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: that we get do nothing democrats out of there and 392 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: and primaries, UM, so that way we have real fighters 393 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 1: down there at the General Assembly, people can actually join 394 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: Park and Renita Shannon and Erica Thomas and some many 395 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 1: of the other black women and progressive legislators that are 396 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: down there, so that we have a fighting chance. And 397 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: then we also have districts that are primarily flipped. Um 398 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:46,199 Speaker 1: you know them quite well, um the one seven Tea 399 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: with Melthel Johnson, the camp close you know absolutely, and 400 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: so we we know what we have to do, uh, 401 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: and so we'll do the workarounds. I think knocking on 402 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 1: doors to make sure that people have what they need 403 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: so that they can go absolutee is amazing. I think 404 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 1: making sure that we can provide our people with lunch 405 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: boxes and water before they even hit the line, so 406 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 1: that way that's not an issue either. But we'll work 407 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: around whatever issues um um this law presents. And I'm 408 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: also confident about our court battles as well. UM. And 409 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: I think the lawsuits that the nb A C P 410 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: file UM and uh A C l U and fair 411 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: Fight I think will UM yield good results in court. 412 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: I love that there's so many levels to it, and 413 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: ei there always are. It's like being in the streets 414 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 1: in the courtroom, being on the ballot, like and we gotta, 415 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: we gotta do use the multiplicity of tactics in order 416 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: to win a FLA. There is no one tactic forwards 417 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: liberation for our people. There's no tactic, one tactic for justice. 418 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: There's a multitude of tactics and the multitude of pathways 419 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: that we have to pay. And some of them include 420 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: a lot of them run through the political system and 421 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: also a lot of them involved dreaming up and building 422 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: our own systems as well. Absolutely absolutely one tactic that 423 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: I've been seeing a lot, particularly from folks out of state, 424 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: is hashtag boycott Georgia. And I wanted to ask your 425 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: opinion on calls, particularly among folks in Hollywood, to boycott 426 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: our state as a response to UM the legislation that 427 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: was just passed before our weigh in with how I 428 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: feel about it. I don't want to color the conversation 429 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: without how I feel. I would love to hear your 430 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: thoughts on this big of hashtag and called action. Yeah, 431 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: I feel like you should be taking direction from on 432 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 1: the ground organizers. You should not be taking direction from 433 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: people in Hollywood because I know, um, everyday working black 434 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: people who work for Delta and who work for some 435 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: of these other corporations that we are disappointed with, and 436 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: we have to be nuanced with how we approach these things. UM. 437 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: And I think whatever boycott strategy that we cook up 438 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: has to be cooked up with workers. It needs to 439 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: be a boycott strategy that doesn't just attack uh, you know, 440 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: voting rights issues, but it's an opportunity to expand issues 441 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 1: around labor rights and worker rights. UM. And so we 442 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: gotta be smart about how we move things, you know, 443 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 1: as a community organized. I believe in strategy. I don't 444 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 1: believe in, you know, just pop up activism. What's the 445 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 1: strategy behind it, what's the end goal? You know, what's 446 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: the long what's the long game, what's the short game? 447 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: And so I went supposed to say that I have 448 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 1: the strategy for what a boycott strategy could look like. UM. 449 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 1: Folks have to remember that when you know, people were 450 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: doing boycotts, UM, particularly in the sixties. Yeah, it had 451 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: a different economic impact because most of the black people 452 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: were locked out of those economies in the first place, 453 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 1: we have to right, Yeah, we're at a different time. 454 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: We're you know, for better or for worse, we are 455 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: tied up in this economy to some extent, and so 456 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: to boycott and not you know, take into account the 457 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: impact that would have Black businesses that are serving as 458 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 1: contractors too larger companies. Right. Um. I don't feel like 459 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: they should have to suffer because you know, Coca Cola 460 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 1: didn't do what they were supposed to do, which was 461 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: to turn the FOCEL off and stop giving money to 462 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: these reckless Republicans. Right. Um. But with that being said, 463 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: I do think that there are some taxes that we 464 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: can use, um that are direct action tactics. Um. And 465 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: I do think that boycott strategies are things that can work. 466 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: But it has to be a strategy and just be 467 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: something nature. And we have to figure out how will 468 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: keep black people who are tied up in these economies 469 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: for absolutely, I mean I can't agree more to try 470 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: to encourage people, you know, listen to people who are 471 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: doing the work. You'll want to stay in, stay save 472 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 1: rooms all day, great, listen to what you have to say. Actually, 473 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: don't be following like Mark Hamill or whatever like producer 474 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: or whatever Marvel thing you like on Twitter because because 475 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: they said it, but like, who is out here going 476 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: to be impacted first and foremost? Because I'm sus that 477 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: you brought up like the labor struggle, like you know, 478 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: the folks that keep this economy running. It's it's not 479 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: the CEO of Coca Cola. It's right, the gig work, 480 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: the gig workers, the people who are doing do you 481 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: know how many like that's like, that is such a 482 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: reckless statement, you know what I mean? Black people provide 483 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 1: adrian services to these film crews that come to Georgia, 484 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: that provide transportation service to these film crews that come 485 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: to Georgia. Like all of these things are important aspects 486 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: of the local economy, not just for you know, the community, 487 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: but particularly black people, right, And we have to recognize 488 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: how we use, how we wield and use our economic power. 489 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: And it's got to be done in a way that 490 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: can't just be done in a way that is emotional. Yeah, 491 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 1: and it has to be done with people who are 492 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: impacted and who are doing the work upon them. I 493 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 1: want to hear boycott strategies from working class people. I 494 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: want to hear boycott strategies from what what the opinions 495 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: are of poor black people on boycott strategies, because you know, 496 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,719 Speaker 1: how are they going to be impacted? And that doesn't 497 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: mean that we you know, don't use it as attacked it. 498 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: But it doesn't. What it means is that we don't 499 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: cook it up in the vacuum by ourselves. And it's 500 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,479 Speaker 1: not just you know, people with privilege and access who 501 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: are dictating for the rest of us how we are 502 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: supposed to respond. I feel that, I feel that for sure. 503 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: Um to pivot back to public safety and closing. There's 504 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,719 Speaker 1: another bill that's been going through the state legislature this session, 505 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: HB two eighty six, and it's I believe, not alone 506 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: among the anti it's not. There's House Skill to eighty 507 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: nine as well. But I know to eighty six is 508 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,719 Speaker 1: is is your neck of the woods. That's Houston Games, right. 509 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: I don't blame him. I don't know. I think I 510 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: think you live out there by you you know not 511 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: he does not for long. So we're gonna right, okay, exactly, 512 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: let it okay, let it be down right. We will 513 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: send we will send you home, m Houston Games. So, um, 514 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: so what do these bills do. And I know you 515 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: you testified in front of the Senate House set, a 516 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 1: Senate House committee, a Senate committee in one of their 517 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: hearings on some of these bills recently to give voice 518 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: to some of what makes some problematic. So if you 519 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 1: can explain to the listeners what's going on at the 520 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: state legislature level as well stripping the local control UM 521 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: in the realm of public safety in addition to our 522 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: elections decrity. Yeah, so let me give you I think 523 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: history lessons are important. Right last year, this is recent history. 524 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 1: Last year, uh, George Floyd, Brianna Taylor from od Oarbor, 525 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 1: he was killed by a former police officer. UM. All 526 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: of those things culminate into the uprisings over the summer. 527 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: And the uprisings over the summer are not just uprisings. 528 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: There are uprisings that are anchored with a policy demand. 529 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: Policy demand that was formulated by years of abolitionist work, 530 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: years of reimagining public safety led by the Movement for 531 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 1: Black Lives and for b l UM and other like 532 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: minded organizations and institutions that are coming very clearly with 533 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: this demand that we must remove funding UM. The ways 534 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: in which that we fund at the levels in which 535 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 1: that we fund um to police in the criminal legal 536 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: system because it's not working. Black people aren't safe, and 537 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: the broader community keeps saying that they don't feel safe. 538 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: And so there was a very clear demand, particularly in 539 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 1: the City of Atlanta and in Athens Park County, around 540 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: repurposing and reallocating resources in the police department budget. In 541 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 1: the City of Atlanta, our budget is two hundred and 542 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 1: fifteen million dollars a year. Two hundred and fifteen million 543 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: dollars a year. The police department is one of the highest, 544 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: if not the highest, outside of the Aviation Division UM 545 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: as far as our costs for our city budget, and 546 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: it is insane because what we haven't seen is as 547 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 1: that budget continues to fluctuate, people in my community continue 548 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: to say we don't feel safe. We don't feel safe, 549 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: not just from people who could do us harm in 550 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: the community, we don't feel safe from the people who 551 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: are supposed to make us feel safe, for which of 552 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 1: the police. But we have to recognize that that's a 553 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: false dichotomy because policing in this country was grounded out 554 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: of slave control, and so it has never been about 555 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: public safety, not particularly the the safety of all citizens. 556 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: It's been about oftentimes protecting white property, protecting white people, 557 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:11,239 Speaker 1: and anything that has an extension or tentacles from that 558 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 1: um and it's never been about protecting black and brown people. 559 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: And so because of that um, we in Atlanta, via 560 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 1: council Member Antonio Brown, introduced the Rayciard Brooksville which seeks 561 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: to lock box a portion of APGS budget to serve 562 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: as a negotiation and bargaining chip to make sure that 563 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:39,839 Speaker 1: we're actually going into negotiations with the police department about 564 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:42,760 Speaker 1: how we're going to reimagine public safety with an actual 565 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: bargaining chip, which is your budget, a portion of your budget. 566 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 1: There were so many lives that were shared about that 567 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 1: that bill, that it was gonna fire police officers. There 568 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: was that was not what's what's gonna happen. That we 569 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 1: were going to cut sixty sixty seven million dollars from 570 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: the police department budget. That was not what the final 571 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 1: number was. That was what was going to be with 572 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: hell until the police Department in the City of Atlanta 573 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 1: went through a reimagining public safety period for approximately six months, 574 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: and then the rest of the money would be relinquished 575 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 1: to support whatever recommendations and legislation moving forward on how 576 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: the police department would be reorganized under this new structure. 577 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: So I think it's important that people understand what the 578 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: Ray Show Brooks Bielle was supposed to do and what 579 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: it wasn't supposed to. Because of that, that bill almost passed. 580 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: It only lost by one vote. One of those votes 581 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:42,800 Speaker 1: against the Ray Show Brooks Bielle was Dustin hillis the 582 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: council member that I am challenging in council. Just not 583 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: hallelujah to see it. We love to see it. Um. 584 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: And so because of that, Houston gains besides representative for 585 00:35:56,360 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 1: the listeners. You know, um, if you could hold two 586 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:04,919 Speaker 1: political officers, girl, why that's what we need to change. 587 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 1: And you can be the commissioner and the state rep. 588 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: I know you could do both. I can well, I 589 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: can put on like a mustache and some glasses like 590 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,760 Speaker 1: I'm feared of, like runners, like I don't know richmth 591 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: white guy, and it's like, oh, I'm here down, yeah, yeah, right. 592 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:22,839 Speaker 1: We could do the opposite of what Rachel Bills are doing. 593 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:27,959 Speaker 1: It's okay, that would be funny, wouldn't it be funny? 594 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:29,879 Speaker 1: A bunch of black people going around and saying I'm 595 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:35,320 Speaker 1: going I'm just I'm trying to UM. I guess we 596 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,240 Speaker 1: do have those people. They're called campus owns. But anyway, 597 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:44,840 Speaker 1: so you know that bill UM, you know, prompt Houston 598 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,879 Speaker 1: Games to introduce his bill at the State House UM, 599 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 1: which is preemptively uh, deciding that counties and cities cannot 600 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:57,280 Speaker 1: cut any funding from their police to propping budget. Which 601 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: let's let's us get into the particulars about that one. 602 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:09,319 Speaker 1: All of the counties, the county's lobbying agency, the organization, 603 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:15,439 Speaker 1: the Georgia Municipal Association, is adamantly opposed against because guess 604 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: what happened as your budgets. If you decide not to 605 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 1: cut anything as your budgets go up, if there's a recession, 606 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: if anything happens, you can never under that legislation, you 607 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:28,320 Speaker 1: can never cut your budget. No one wants to be 608 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,640 Speaker 1: handcuffed like that. But from a movement perspective, we don't 609 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 1: want to be handcuffed to broken public safety policies. The 610 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 1: definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and 611 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,560 Speaker 1: over and over, and what we have been doing as 612 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: far as public safety in Atlanta and across the state 613 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 1: of Georgia is insanity because people are saying they don't 614 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: feel safe. And so if Georgia spends eight point three 615 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:54,280 Speaker 1: billion dollars collectively between its local governments and state government 616 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 1: on police, prisons and jails and people aren't feeling safe, 617 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: then that means we're doing something fundamentally wrong. And so 618 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 1: Houston gains to introduce this legislation is handcuffing the rest 619 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:10,120 Speaker 1: of the state to a broken public safety policies because 620 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 1: there is no correlation between an increase and police funding 621 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: and an increase in public safety or a decrease in 622 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: crime in our community. And so we just have to 623 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: be honest about that. The data doesn't shake it out. 624 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: It's just none of nothing supports that, and so we 625 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:30,640 Speaker 1: gotta be real about it. And so I expect for uh, 626 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:36,080 Speaker 1: the Georgia Municipal Association or some county or some entity 627 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: to suit because it's also a question around constitutionality because 628 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 1: the state, and it's interesting we and so is the 629 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: state gonna start mandating and saying that counties have to 630 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 1: spend this much on education? Are they gonna start mandating 631 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: and saying absolutely not on parks and rex and environmental justice? 632 00:38:56,440 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 1: You know, Republicans out there, I would be really wise 633 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 1: about what you all support right now, because this is 634 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 1: under the assumption that you all are always going to 635 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:09,799 Speaker 1: be the decision makers. And as a progressive, I love 636 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:13,880 Speaker 1: that when the numbers finally shake out in our favor, 637 00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: I would love the opportunity to dictate to all counties 638 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 1: across the state that they fund fully fund public education. 639 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:26,719 Speaker 1: You all are setting the president. So because for appreciate 640 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:30,320 Speaker 1: y'all be careful what you support, because they are progressives 641 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:33,480 Speaker 1: like myself and Maria and others who are in office 642 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:36,080 Speaker 1: who are going to be in office that are waiting 643 00:39:36,120 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: in the wings to take your seats. And we will 644 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:43,279 Speaker 1: take what you built for us to build our communities 645 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:47,320 Speaker 1: in the ways that are equitable and liberation and freedom 646 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:49,800 Speaker 1: and scene within our lifetime, and we stop the oppression 647 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: in the disenfranchisement um. And so that is where that 648 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,640 Speaker 1: bill is right now. It did get passed by both 649 00:39:57,680 --> 00:39:59,759 Speaker 1: the House and the Senate. It will be interesting to 650 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:02,200 Speaker 1: see if Bryan Kemp signs it. I think he will 651 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: because he's trying to double down to a Trumpian basis 652 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 1: not going to support him. Um. And then there's also 653 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:10,840 Speaker 1: House bill to eighty nine, which is a really scary 654 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 1: piece of legislation because it would then increase some of 655 00:40:14,239 --> 00:40:18,680 Speaker 1: the penalties for protesting, the felony charges. And so we 656 00:40:18,760 --> 00:40:23,400 Speaker 1: already see the ramifications that Representative Cannon was charged to 657 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:29,120 Speaker 1: felony stating legislator. And so what chance does the average 658 00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:32,120 Speaker 1: citizen have as far as what they could potentially be 659 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 1: charged with when often times we see that many of 660 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 1: the times when these protests are escalated, it happens on 661 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,120 Speaker 1: the side of the police um with equipment that they've 662 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:47,080 Speaker 1: gotten from the U. S. Military decommissioned tanks and riot 663 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 1: gear um and machines of war that shouldn't be used 664 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 1: to police a citizen trick um. And so we've got 665 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:57,480 Speaker 1: real challenges that we have to address here in Georgia. 666 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:02,440 Speaker 1: But again, um, I think people, you know, Charles Blows 667 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:06,600 Speaker 1: book The Devil, you know, Black Power political manifesto is 668 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:11,360 Speaker 1: such a powerful uh narrative. And what is potentially possible 669 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 1: because more and more people, even with all these bad bills, 670 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,239 Speaker 1: continue to move down to Georgia, More and more people 671 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,239 Speaker 1: continue to make Georgia home and there's a homecoming and 672 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:23,480 Speaker 1: there's a recognition that these bills will only have a 673 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:29,200 Speaker 1: very short term impact, UM, and and that UM, the 674 00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:33,080 Speaker 1: momentum and victory is really on our side. So it's 675 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,720 Speaker 1: all right, this is white supremacy in the death spiral. 676 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:39,120 Speaker 1: It's okay, and it doesn't take it else lightly, but 677 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 1: it's gonna take its final l any day now. Oh yeah, 678 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:48,480 Speaker 1: oh yeah, Because you know, when I saw white supremacist 679 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:51,560 Speaker 1: storm in the US capital, I, oh my gosh, y'all, really, 680 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 1: you're really are concerned about losing power because normally you're 681 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:58,320 Speaker 1: just sitting in an office and make decisions that impact 682 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 1: black people horribly. Normally you just run for office and 683 00:42:02,719 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 1: be a Republican and do horrible and introduce horrible public 684 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:09,600 Speaker 1: policy on behalf of your constituency, or you in some 685 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,319 Speaker 1: places are a Democrat and do those things. And I said, 686 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,440 Speaker 1: at the point where you know, people are storming the capital, 687 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:19,800 Speaker 1: Marsha in the streets saying you won't replace us, this 688 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:23,719 Speaker 1: must be white supremacy is really last date. And so 689 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 1: it's it's a it's a beautiful thing to see, UM, 690 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:29,560 Speaker 1: but because the way that they're acting out, because it 691 00:42:29,719 --> 00:42:33,279 Speaker 1: means that um, the ways in which they used to 692 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 1: and that white supremacy power isn't working it UM and 693 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:43,120 Speaker 1: and recognition that the powers that the scales are really 694 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,040 Speaker 1: tipping towards the people who have been impressed for so 695 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:52,120 Speaker 1: long by your BS. Well, Devin, thank you so much 696 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 1: for your time. Where can people follow you, donate your campaign, 697 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 1: find out more about what you work? Yes, so please 698 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:02,759 Speaker 1: visit devon for Atlanta dot com. My website will be 699 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,279 Speaker 1: up at the end of this week beginning of next 700 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:08,680 Speaker 1: week UM, and you can also find me on at 701 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 1: blue Devin Barrington Ward devon for Atlanta UM. If you 702 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:14,920 Speaker 1: want to connect with the Black Futurist group, it's Black 703 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:18,640 Speaker 1: Futurist Group dot com. UM. And then you can always 704 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:22,200 Speaker 1: find me on Instagram and Facebook just typing Devin Barrington 705 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:25,239 Speaker 1: Ward or depping for Atlanta and I will pop up 706 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:28,360 Speaker 1: same thing on Twitter. UM. And I hide in public, 707 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:32,520 Speaker 1: oh um. You know, come out to any of the rallies, 708 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:37,720 Speaker 1: UM protests, advocacy days. You know, I don't have a clone. 709 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:42,640 Speaker 1: It is actually me every picture of every protest going 710 00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 1: on in Atlanta. And it don't be on purpose. I'll 711 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:48,480 Speaker 1: just be out there doing my thing. I don't even 712 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:50,400 Speaker 1: be knowing that the campers be out there. I'll just 713 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:54,640 Speaker 1: be like, but um, you know, I thank God that 714 00:43:54,840 --> 00:44:00,560 Speaker 1: I got my grandmother's photo jetness, thank God for granted, 715 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:02,400 Speaker 1: thank God for grad. One thing I will end with 716 00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:07,880 Speaker 1: is what UM, my lived experiences is what informs my advocacy. 717 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:11,040 Speaker 1: But it's also something that's in my DNA. My great grandmother, 718 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:15,879 Speaker 1: Aga Cassandra Bogel is a descendant of Paul Bogel. Paul 719 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 1: Bogel is one of Jamaica's national heroes. He led a 720 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:22,520 Speaker 1: rebellion in eighteen sixty five against the British government. UM. 721 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:24,800 Speaker 1: Even though he was a freeman who owned land and 722 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:28,200 Speaker 1: could vote, he led that rebellion because his neighbors could not. 723 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:32,360 Speaker 1: His labors weren't entitled. His neighbors weren't entitled to do process. 724 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:36,280 Speaker 1: His parishioners weren't entitled to the same safety and freedom 725 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:38,800 Speaker 1: he was able to experience just because he had wealth. 726 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:42,919 Speaker 1: Um and Uh it cost him him in his brother's life, 727 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:45,880 Speaker 1: but it also changed the course of Jamaican led to 728 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:50,279 Speaker 1: greater self determination. And so UM, you know, my advocacy 729 00:44:50,440 --> 00:44:55,320 Speaker 1: and my activism is a extension of that UM inheritance 730 00:44:55,719 --> 00:45:00,239 Speaker 1: of fighting for freedom and and and justice UM for 731 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 1: black people. On liberation in our lifetime. Um, and I 732 00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:05,800 Speaker 1: fully believe that I will see it in my lifetime. 733 00:45:05,920 --> 00:45:08,160 Speaker 1: You will too. I believe we will want. Yes, I 734 00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:10,200 Speaker 1: believe we will win. Thank you so much again, Devon, 735 00:45:10,719 --> 00:45:15,880 Speaker 1: Thank you there. This one goes out to Delta, the 736 00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:19,840 Speaker 1: Coca Cola always other corporations, the bank or Republicans election 737 00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:22,880 Speaker 1: cycle after election cycle. Who didn't say ship And this 738 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:26,440 Speaker 1: is mother Fucus rushing votus depression laws to our state 739 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:31,920 Speaker 1: legislation for fuck you hey, here we go, here we 740 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:34,800 Speaker 1: go now that like the corporations want to come and 741 00:45:34,840 --> 00:45:36,840 Speaker 1: say they just to prove sp twenty two when the 742 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:38,960 Speaker 1: Republicans and some episodes of the sound just feel like 743 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,880 Speaker 1: I'm spelling some funnel take especially considered friend, the thousands 744 00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:44,319 Speaker 1: of the stuck is fake every time Republicans and nothing 745 00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:46,400 Speaker 1: mon complains and nothing things us in the power. And 746 00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:49,160 Speaker 1: suddenly a mistake jump up the schools and office, making 747 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:51,360 Speaker 1: him and any harm and they intected a lot of 748 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:53,879 Speaker 1: make a democracy hart, Oh my god, where were y'all 749 00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:56,160 Speaker 1: there in the legislative session, And what y'all gonna be 750 00:45:56,239 --> 00:45:59,640 Speaker 1: nowt like votus depression cold look if the voters wanted 751 00:45:59,680 --> 00:46:01,799 Speaker 1: next elections. The rest of us don't have to get 752 00:46:01,880 --> 00:46:04,000 Speaker 1: arrested without the sub right and checks to ben all 753 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:05,919 Speaker 1: all all of these justice and start cutting some checks, 754 00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:08,759 Speaker 1: but to lay it went for depressions by also make 755 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:11,239 Speaker 1: conclusion of this these corporations, ain't you say, it's a 756 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,880 Speaker 1: matter of fact, corporations they ship the power. Would that 757 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:16,000 Speaker 1: we need to be the power with people to get 758 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:17,600 Speaker 1: your feet in the street the rest of the braces 759 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:24,000 Speaker 1: to win. Um, that's it. Have a good week. Hey, 760 00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:29,000 Speaker 1: im lingua franca, dope knife. If we are waiting on reparations, 761 00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:35,200 Speaker 1: dope waiting on reparations as a production of iHeart Radio, 762 00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:38,440 Speaker 1: Listen to Waiting on Reparations on the I Heart Radio app, 763 00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:41,120 Speaker 1: Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.