Civil Rights and Wrongs

Civil Rights and Wrongs for March 22, 2022

This Tuesday we’ll have an encore presentation that first aired on July 6, 2021.  We talked with Beth Schwartzapfel, award-winning Staff Writer for The Marshall Project, which seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency regarding the US criminal justice system.  Their goal is to render that system more fair, effective, transparent and humane.  Last May, Beth co-authored an article in the Austin American-Statesman that covered a particularly egregious case of police misconduct.  We focus on the matter of qualified immunity for law enforcement personnel.  The show also featured Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who spoke from his own experience in dealing with police misconduct.

And in a new segment, Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, discusses his frustration in trying to find out what sort of sanctions APD has administered to officers as a result of complaints/incidents stemming from the racial justice protests in May, 2020.  We begin with a review of accountability, starting from within the ranks of APD but extending to the broader city government (Office of Police Oversight), and even to the judiciary, both criminal and civil courts.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for March 15, 2022

This week we’re speaking with Brandon Rottinghaus, Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston.  Two weeks ago, he and colleague Jeronimo Cortina co-authored an article in the Washington Post titled, “With the 2022 midterms ahead, expect another Latino misinformation crisis.”  Brandon discusses their research, conducted in 2020 during the lead-up to the November elections.  Some of their results may surprise you.  We are also joined by Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

And Austin Sanders is with us again this week.  Austin is a Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle.  We’ll hear about City Council’s plan to make Sixth Street safer.  We also learn about a lawsuit by former county judge Bill Aleshire, who is challenging the system of staggered terms for City Council Members, claiming that some voters become disenfranchised in the process.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for March 8, 2022

This Tuesday Amanda Woog returns to update us on the work of the Texas Fair Defense Project, where she is the Executive Director.  Their mission is to fight to end the criminalization of poverty in Texas. TFDP envisions a system of justice that upholds the dignity and civil rights of all people, regardless of income, race, or gender.  We also have Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  And Michelle Manning-Scott, Associate Producer of the show, joins us as well.

Later we speak with Brant Bingamon from the Austin Chronicle.  (Austin Sanders is out this week.)  Brant discusses the four settlements to date in civil lawsuits that charge excessive use of force by APD officers during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Austin.  The most recent settlement was approved by City Council on Thursday, awarding $2.95 million to Brad Levi Ayala, who suffered serious brain injuries from a “less lethal” bean-bag round fired at his head.

Cvil Rights and Wrongs for March 1, 2022

This Tuesday we’ll have a special edition of Civil Rights & Wrongs.  It’s the KOOP Spring Membership Drive, so we’re sharing some of the best of recent shows.  We will hear excerpts that include:

• Advocates for the rights of adoptees: Shawna Hodgson, an activist in the adoption, foster care and assisted reproduction communities in Texas; Gregory Luce, an adoptee rights attorney based in Minnesota; and Gabrielle Glaser, a journalist who examines issues surrounding mental health, medicine, and culture.  (First aired January 4.)
• Leaders in the Austin Justice Coalition: Chas Moore, Founder and Executive Director; and Chris Harris, Director of Policy.  Since it was founded in 2015, AJC has been at the forefront of racial justice in Austin.  You may also recognize Chris as a veteran programmer and volunteer here at KOOP.  (First aired February 8.)
• Tenant advocates Shoshana Krieger and Mincho Jacob from BASTA, and Joao Paulo Connolly from the Austin Justice Coalition, discuss the plight of renters and the looming eviction crisis.  (First aired January 18.)
• Historians Benjamin Johnson from Loyola University of Chicago and John Moran Gonzales from UT Austin.  They are co-founders of an organization called Refusing to Forget, an award-winning educational nonprofit that works to increase public awareness of an often-forgotten period in the history of the United States about 100 years ago.  (First aired December 14.)

As usual, we will close with observations from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  Austin discusses the recent indictment of 19 APD officers, charged with use of excessive force during the 2020 racial justice protests.  He recently co-authored an article in the current issue that analyzes those events, not only through the APD chain of command, but also from the managerial perspective in the City of Austin.

Civil RIghts and Wrongs for February 22, 2022

This week Michelle Manning-Scott hosts three guests who discuss the importance of teaching accurate accounts of history if there is any hope for humanity to become a truly equitable society.  Jesse Hagopian is a history teacher in Seattle who is currently on leave from the classroom to work as a lead organizer with the Zinn Education Project, a non-profit organization created to introduce students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula.  Signe Fourmy is Director of Research and Analysis for Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery at Villanova University, and is an Instructor of History in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin.  Kerry Green teaches U.S. History and is Social Studies Department Chair at a Dallas area high school; she is also an Adjunct Instructor of US History at Dallas College.  Regular host, Bob Dailey, joins the discussion as well.

Later we hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  Austin reports that City Council approved settlements totaling $10 million for two people seriously injured by Austin police officers during protests in 2020.  We also hear about the visit from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Central Texas a week ago as she campaigned for Greg Casar for US Congress.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for February 15, 2022

Our guest this Tuesday is no stranger: Charlotte Moore joins us once again.  Charlotte is a storyteller with over 20 years of experience as a print and television news journalist, multimedia producer, filmmaker, and writer. Her film, “Black Bodies,” is a documentary in which 16 Black Austin-area residents talk candidly and vulnerably about what it means to exist in the world today in a black body.  Charlotte’s most recent film, “The Spirit of Sparta,” tells the story of Sparta, Georgia.  Once deemed the “Hidden Jewel of Georgia,” Sparta today faces daunting challenges.  Michelle Manning-Scott, Associate Producer, is also with us.

We then hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  Austin reports on the aftermath of the third boil-water incident in four years.  A special meeting of City Council has been called for Tuesday morning, February 15^th to discuss the matter, with an independent audit likely to result.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for February 8, 2022

Our guests this week are both from the Austin Justice Coalition: Chas Moore is Executive Director and Founder; Chris Harris is Director of Policy.  AJC serves people who are historically and systematically impacted by gentrification, segregation, over policing, a lack of educational and employment opportunities, and other institutional forms of racism in Austin.  Chas recently returned from a sabbatical and shares insights from that experience.  Given the current climate of white backlash, we hear about what AJC has planned.   We also have Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of the show, also joins us.

Later, we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  In the current issue, Austin has written about the Democratic primary race in Texas US Congressional District 35.  He highlights the two contenders from Austin: Greg Casar and Eddie Rodriguez.  Given that the district is heavily Democratic, the winner of the primary stands a good chance of winning in November.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for February 1, 2022

This week Michelle Manning-Scott, Associate Producer of the show, hosts Alicia Roth Weigel, an activist and change agent who disclosed her intersex identity publicly for the first time while providing testimony against the infamous 'Bathroom Bill' during the 2017 Texas legislative session. Alicia works to improve the political and social landscape for marginalized populations in the South and worldwide through her roles as a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Austin, a member of the advisory boards for both Texas Health Action and Central Health, and founder of her own consulting firm, Intrepida Strategy.  Additionally, her writing on intersex issues has been featured in the New York Times and Forbes. Regular host, Bob Dailey, joins the discussion as well.

Next, we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who reports on the outcome of the District 4 special election last Tuesday, with Chito Vela winning almost 60% of the vote.  We also learn about the resolution of a lawsuit against the City of Austin and APD dating back to 2018, brought by sexual assault victims. 

Civil RIghts and Wrongs for January 25, 2022

Our guests this Tuesday include Grace Chimene, President of the League of Women Voters of Texas.  LWV is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  We also have Charlie Bonner, Communications Director for MOVE Texas.  MOVE is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that builds power in underrepresented youth communities through civic education, leadership development, and issue advocacy.  We will hear about the effects of SB1 on the Texas voting experience going forward.  We’re joined by Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, as well as Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of the show.  Michelle has been a volunteer for LWV. 

Later we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who reports on a recent study that indicates the need for 108 more officers in the Austin Police Department, in order to maintain the current average response time of 6½ minutes.  Austin also discusses the critical staffing shortage at Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, and updates us on the search for a new leader for that agency.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for January 18, 2022

This Tuesday we’ll speak with Shoshana Krieger and Mincho Jacob from Building and Strengthening Tenant Action.  BASTA consists of organizers, researchers, community educators, paralegals and lawyers who work collectively with tenants to break down the barriers to healthy living and safe housing.  We also have Joao Paulo Connolly, Director of Community Housing and Development at the Austin Justice Coalition.  AJC serves people who are historically and systematically impacted by gentrification, segregation, over policing, a lack of educational and employment opportunities, and other institutional forms of racism in Austin.  With assistance funds drying up and protections against eviction expiring, what is the fate of low-income Austin tenants?  In addition, we have Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, as well as Michelle Manning-Scott, Associate Producer of the show.

Then we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who provides a first look at the Austin mayoral contest that will take place in November.  And we also learn about the role of PACs in the District 4 special election that is currently underway.