Civil Rights and Wrongs for February 9, 2021

We continue our observance of Black History Month with two leaders who are already making history in Austin’s minority communities: Jereka Thomas-Hockaday, Co-Founder of the Central Texas Allied Health Institute, and Paul Saldaña, Coordinator of the Austin Latino Coalition. We explore the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 for people of color: testing, hospitalization, deaths – and now, access to vaccines.  Dr. Hockaday has been instrumental in establishing and advocating for services in minority neighborhoods.  Paul Saldaña has drawn national and international attention to the circumstances faced by essential workers and multi-generational families in the Austin area.  Our regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, is with us once again, along with Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of the show.  Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, provides an update on the city’s purchase of a motel in District 6 (far northwest Austin) and continued deliberations regarding homeless issues as City Council revisits camping regulations.