Civil Rights and Wrongs

Civil Rights and Wrongs for August 24, 2021

In the face of the most contagious phase of the COVID-19 pandemic so far, not a few people have chosen to forgo vaccination.  And government officials in Texas (and elsewhere) even oppose mask mandates which could reduce contagion.  This week we consider the ethics of vaccination and mandates.  Our guest is James Marroquin, M.D., board-certified in internal medicine and palliative medicine, and faculty member at the Dell Medical School.  He is also certified in medical ethics and has served as co-chair of the task force designing medical ethics and humanities themes in the Dell Medical School curriculum.  We are also joined by regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of this program, is with us as well.

In the second half of the show, we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  Austin tells us about the three finalists for the position of Chief of the Austin Police Department, as well as the state of curriculum revision at the Police Training Academy.  In addition, he provides updates on the Save Austin Now ballot initiative, the approval of the 2021-22 city budget, and the state of homeless encampments and arrests.    

Civil Rights and Wrongs for August 17, 2021

The term Critical Race Theory (CRT) is often heard in the news these days, especially in right wing media, even though few really understand its meaning.  This Tuesday we’ll discuss CRT and historical revisionism with David DeMatthews, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin.  Last month he wrote an opinion piece for the Austin American-Statesman titled, “SB3 Seeks to Rewrite History. That Should Concern All Texans.”  We’ll hear about efforts of the Texas Legislature to regulate the teaching of Social Studies in Texas schools through HB3979 (now law) and SB3 (proposed).  We also have regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  And Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of this program, joins us as well.

Later in the program we speak with leaders of the Austin Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC).  The commission is tasked with updating the maps that define district representation for the Austin City Council.   We’ll hear from Christina Puentes, Chair, and Luis Gonzalez, Vice-Chair, about this essential work which enables participatory democracy.  [Note: this segment was originally supposed to air on August 10, but encountered technical difficulties.]

Civil Rights and Wrongs for August 10, 2021

The 2021-22 Budget for the City of Austin is about to be approved.  On the face of it we see a lot of numbers that would normally interest few beyond accountants and managers.  However, between the previous and current budget cycles, a battle over public safety is playing out through resource allocation.  Players include community groups, the Texas Legislature, Austin City Council, and the Austin Police Association, among others.  To help us sort it out, this Tuesday our guests are from the Austin Chronicle:  Mike Clark-Madison, News Editor and Columnist, and Austin Sanders, Staff Writer.  Mike has occasionally joined us to discuss state and local legislative issues, and Austin has been a regular contributor to the show for more than a year now.

Later in the program we speak with leaders from the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC).  The commission is tasked with updating the maps that define district representation in the Austin City Council.   We’ll hear from Christina Puentes, Chair, and Luis Gonzalez, Vice-Chair, about this essential work which enables local democracy.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for August 3, 2021

This Tuesday on Civil Rights and Wrongs Michelle Manning-Scott welcomes Pamela Owens, CEO and Bridge Builder of Six Square, Austin’s Black cultural district -- the only Black cultural district in the state of Texas and the only cultural arts district in the City of Austin.  Six Square is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and celebrate the cultural legacy of the Black community that once thrived in Central East Austin through cultural arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation. The ongoing gentrification of the neighborhood, the historic nature of many of its landmarks, the contributions of its residents and the organization's efforts to advocate for and educate the public about this foundational community within Austin are among the topics of their discussion.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for July 27, 2021

This week marks the 31^st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  On Tuesday we’ll speak with Brian East, Senior Attorney for Disability Rights Texas, whose mission is to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law, ensuring their full and equal participation in society.  Brian has handled a number of disability-discrimination and disability-rights cases in state and federal court, and has written and lectured extensively on these issues. We’re also joined by regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who speaks from his own experience with ADA lawsuits.

Later in the show we’ll hear from Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle.  Austin discusses his recently published article, the subject of which is Save Austin Now's latest petition initiative seeking a potential budget busting increase in police numbers by mandating a minimum of 2 sworn officers for every 1,000 city residents, which runs counter to recommendations made by the RPS Task Force last spring.  

 

Civil Rights and Wrongs for July 20, 2021

This Tuesday we’re splitting the show into halves.  Our first guest is Farah Muscadin, Director of the Office of Police Oversight for the City of Austin.  OPO was formally established in 2018 but just issued its first annual report, covering 2019 and 2020.  We’ll hear about the process for filing complaints (and compliments), and discuss the disposition and resolution of those by the Austin Police Department.  We’re also joined by regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who speaks from his own experience in handling lawsuits involving police wrongdoing.

For the second half of the show Austin Sanders, Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle, reviews an article that he wrote earlier this year: “Yet Another Reason to Oppose Police Violence: It's Costing Us Millions of Dollars.”  Despite sanctions for police misconduct, which include reprimands, demotions and suspensions, civil lawsuits are not unheard of.  We’ll learn about the magnitude of the settlements, as well as potential alternatives that could be considered.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for July 13, 2021

Our guest this Tuesday is Stephen Vladeck, the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law.  He is a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law, and military justice.  Steve has argued cases before the US Supreme Court, and is CNN’s lead Supreme Court analyst. This is our annual wrap-up of the court’s recently concluded session.  If you’ve ever pondered the intersection between politics and jurisprudence, be sure not to miss this episode.  We’re also joined by regular guest Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who offers wisdom from his own experience with the courts.

Later in the second half, Austin Sanders talks about the proposed budget for the City of Austin which was unveiled on Friday.  Austin also tells us about his cover story on homelessness for the current issue of The Austin Chronicle – solid reporting on this complex if not vexing issue.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for July 6, 2021

Our guest this Tuesday is 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.  In May, Beth co-authored an article in the Austin American-Statesman that covers a particularly egregious case of police misconduct.  We focus on the matter of qualified immunity for law enforcement personnel.  Jim Harrington, retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, speaks from his own experience in dealing with police misconduct.  And we also have Michelle Manning-Scott, the associate producer of this program. 

Later in the second half, Austin Sanders discusses his recent article for the Austin Chronicle, the subject of which is Ground Game Texas, a new left-leaning political mobilization organization, founded by Julie Oliver and Mike Siegel.  In addition, we talk about the indictment of Daniel Perry, recently charged with the murder of Garrett Foster during one of the Black Lives Matter marches a year ago.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for June 29, 2021

This Tuesday our guests are from Equality Texas, which works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.  We’ll speak with Ricardo Martinez, CEO, and Angela Hale, Senior Advisor, and will hear about the fight for LGBTQ rights during the recently concluded 87^th session of the Texas Legislature.  Jim Harrington is with us again, too.  He is the retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  And we also have Michelle Manning-Scott, the associate producer of this program. 

Later in the second half, Austin Sanders will join us.  He is a Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle where he covers City Council, APD, homelessness and other issues.  Austin discusses his current article about the Office of Police Oversight.  In addition, Austin and Bob share their perspectives on the occasion of the 52^nd anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Civil Rights and Wrongs for June 22, 2021

This Tuesday our guests include Michael Barajas, Staff Writer for the Texas Observer, and no stranger to Civil Rights and Wrongs.  During the past year he has written articles dealing with police misconduct, voter intimidation, and the rights of protesters, among other issues.  Last month he wrote a piece titled, “Yet Again, Texas Lawmakers Face Crisis Conditions in Texas Prisons,” which will be the focus for Tuesday’s show.  We also have Maggie Luna, Mental Health Peer Policy Fellow for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, where she is focused on creating advocacy opportunities for system-impacted Texans.  Jim Harrington will be with us, too.  Jim is the retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project.  And from KOOP, Michelle Manning-Scott, associate producer of this program. 

Later in the second half, Austin Sanders will join us.  He is a Staff Writer for the Austin Chronicle where he covers City Council, APD, homelessness and other issues.  Austin describes two very different scenarios which resulted in homeless persons being removed from campsites recently: one forcibly and chaotically, the other humanely.