Civil Rights and Wrongs

Civil Rights and Wrongs for November 2, 2021

Our guest this Tuesday is Lise Olsen, Senior Reporter and Editor for the Texas Observer.  She has an article in the current issue titled, “Justice for Some.”  The Texas Rangers are tasked with investigating corruption and crimes by public officials.  Those officials are rarely held accountable.  Her writing summarizes an investigative collaboration between the Texas Observer, KXAN, KTEP, and the Fort Worth Report.  We’re also joined by Michelle Manning-Scott, Associate Producer.

Later we hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, with his perspective about Proposition A.  The outcome of the election should be known Tuesday night soon after the show.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for October 26, 2021

This is a special edition in which we present excerpts from an October 19 panel discussion at the University of Texas, “Prop A in the Context of Race and Policing in Austin, Texas: An Urgent Forum.”  The event was jointly sponsored by the UT Department of Religious Studies and the Institute for Historical Studies in the Department of History.  Moderator Brent Crosson, Associate Professor in the UT Department of Religious Studies, introduces panelists:

• Monica Muñoz Martinez, Associate Professor in the UT Department of History
• Andrew Busch, Assistant Professor at Coastal Carolina University
• Gabriella Torres and Ashleigh Hamilton, Community Organizers with Communities of Color United for Racial Justice
• Jason McDonald, Assistant Professor at Truman State University
• Eliot Tretter, Research Fellow in the UT Department of Geography and Environment

The forum offers a succinct but disturbing portrait of law enforcement in the City of Austin and the State of Texas.  Historical developments illustrate how environmental policy has been realized in tragic and lasting geographical impacts.  During the era of Jim Crow, it is argued that APD actually became the instrument for carrying out racial oppression in Austin.     

In addition, we hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, with news that the Austin EMS Association has joined the Austin Firefighters Association and AFSCME Local 1624 in opposing Proposition A.  He also discusses his article “Despite ‘Positive Strides,’ APD Academy Not Reimagined Yet” which covers the report presented to City Council this past Thursday regarding progress (or lack thereof) in implementing changes to police training.

Civil RIghts and Wrongs for October 19, 2021

Our guest this Tuesday is Dana DeBeauvoir, Clerk of Travis County, Texas. The Travis County Clerk maintains the county's records, administers elections, and oversees legal documentation, such as property deeds and marriage licenses.  With SB1 (the infamous “Election Integrity and Security Law”) recently signed into law, we explore its consequences for Texas voters.  We’re also joined by Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of the show.

We also hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who discusses his recent article, “Hiring More Police Is Not a Great Way to Prevent Murders.”  Proponents of Proposition A would have you believe that the murder rate is alarming, and that hiring additional police officers is the solution.  Austin argues that this is at best a seriously flawed strategy, and at worst a significant waste of resources.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for October 12, 2021

This Tuesday we speak with Carol Johnson, the first-ever Civil Rights Officer for the City of Austin.  The position was created to advance the city’s non-discrimination efforts, and promote outreach, education, and awareness events for both businesses and community stakeholders.  Carol offers an encouraging assessment of the mission and goals of the newly created city office.  We’re also joined by Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of the show.

Later we hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who updates us on Proposition A (especially opposition by AFA, among others), the ongoing strife between APD Chief Joseph Chacon and the Austin Police Association, and the matter of vaccination of public employees – especially APD officers.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for October 5, 2021

Michelle Manning-Scott guest hosts the program again this Tuesday, speaking with Stephanie Lang, Director of Equity and Community Advocacy at the UT Center for Community Engagement, as well as the founder of RECLAIM, an organization that uncovers and reclaims the stories of the Black diaspora.  (RECLAIM is a wholly separate and transparent entity outside of the work she does for UT.)  Ms. Lang speaks to her passion for finding ways to use various art forms to communicate ancestral stories from within her own extensive family history here in Austin, as well as those from the community at large.  They are joined by Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Later in the show Bob gets an update on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) from Christina Puentes, Chair, and Luis Gonzalez, Vice-Chair.  They now have a proposed map for the City Council districts and are on track to complete their task by November 1^st as planned.

And we finish with Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, who reports on the confirmation of APD Chief Joseph Chacon by City Council.  The process lasted several hours (including both closed-door and public sessions) before reaching a 9-2 vote of approval that reflects plenty of reservations, even among the nine in favor.  We also learn about the decision by the Austin Firefighters Association to oppose Proposition A in the November elections – a move in direct opposition to the stance of the Austin Police Association.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for September 28, 2021

Michelle Manning-Scott guest hosts the program on Tuesday and speaks with Anna Harris, founder and executive director of JUST-US Participatory Defense, a non-profit organization that offers criminal defense assistance to indigent defendants in several rural counties in south and central Texas. The participatory defense model stems from a reform minded approach to public defense that is grounded in community participation. The movement has been gaining traction here in the US for more than a decade and aims to revolutionize the judicial system toward a more equitable, efficient and empowered method of representation for marginalized and economically disadvantaged populations.

And Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, discusses the appointment of Joseph Chacon as Chief of Police for APD.  Austin also reports on the September 20^th meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City Council.  Of the hundreds of complaints stemming from the 2020 BLM protests which were filed with the Office of Police Oversight, only a few dozen have been investigated by APD.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for September 21, 2021

Once again, it’s time for the KOOP Fall Membership Drive!  Yours truly will celebrate by going LIVE in the studio for the first time since March 17, 2020.  The station is still only allowing KOOP volunteers in the studio, so we will be doing a “Best Of” episode that includes recorded excerpts from:

• Jeffrey Littlejohn, Professor of History at Sam Houston State.  Jeff heads up the Lynching in Texas project, and was our guest on February 23^rd.  Jeff and his students collaborate with local officials and nationally with the Equal Justice Initiative to ensure that Texas history is not whitewashed.
• Michael Barajas, Staff Writer for the Texas Observer, and Maggie Luna, Policy Fellow at the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.  On June 22^nd we discussed the deplorable conditions inside Texas prisons, and frustrated efforts at the Texas Legislature to effect change.
• Beth Schwartzapfel, Staff Writer at the Marshall Project.  We learned about “qualified immunity,” a legal doctrine that makes it very difficult to sue police officers for misconduct.  Excerpts are from the July 6^th show, which was motivated by an article that Beth co-authored in the Austin American-Statesman.
• Stephen Vladeck, Faculty in the UT Law School.  Steve joined us for our annual Supreme Court wrap-up on July 13^th.  We heard about changes in the make-up of the Court with an eye toward future cases.  

And Austin Sanders, Staff Writer at the Austin Chronicle, provides his perspective on the current state of affairs in the City of Austin.

Civil RIghts and Wrongs for September 14, 2021

This Tuesday we’ll speak with Gus Bova, Staff Writer for the Texas Observer.  In recent weeks Gus has authored two engaging stories.  First, “The Final Frontera” – byline: “Elon Musk wants to go to Mars.  Money, regulations and public beaches are no object.”  It’s SpaceX vs. Boca Chica.   Second, “Life and Death in a Texas Homeless Camp” – byline: “As the unhoused population grows, cities like Austin turn to legalized camps.”  Abbott’s Camp, Camp RATT, the Esperanza Community – no matter what the name, the environment is bleak, but the residents are human.  We’re also joined by Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  And Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer, will be along, too.

Also, Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, reports on widespread and growing opposition to Proposition A, aka Save Austin Now 2.0.  We have already reported on projected costs, but that’s only the beginning of the hardship that this issue will impose on the city.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for September 7, 2021

Our guest this Tuesday is Chris Harris, community activist, law enforcement data analyst, advocate for homeless persons, and longtime volunteer for KOOP Community Radio.  We’ll cover Texas Lege obstruction of bail reform, recent indictments of APD officers, the search for a new police chief, homelessness, ballot initiatives led by Save Austin Now (aka, the Travis County GOP), the APD budget, the Police Academy – and more.  We’re also joined by Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

And Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, provides an update on proceedings of the Austin City Council.  The city will partner with Building Promise to provide services to persons recently released from prison.  Council also approved a $2.25M settlement with the family of yet another victim of an APD shooting while responding to a 911 call.  (Mental health crisis – sound familiar?)  Language for Proposition A, community opposition to a proposal to widen I-35 – Austin has all the details.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for August 31, 2021

The US plans to evacuate at least 50,000 Afghan allies before the August 31^st deadline, many under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program that protects interpreters and translators, along with family members.  Afghans will be sent to US military bases; from there, they will be connected with refugee service organizations.  Our guest this Tuesday is Ashley Faye, Development Director for Refugee Services of Texas, the largest resettlement agency in Texas.  RST welcomes refugees, immigrants and other displaced peoples, and supports them in integrating and thriving in their new communities.  Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer, is with us as well.

We also hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  This past Friday afternoon we learned that an APD officer was indicted for a second time on charges of first-degree murder while on duty and responding to a call.  Relations between the Travis County District Attorney and the Austin Police Association (officers’ union) had already become very contentious even before this latest development.