#TalkRadio – August 15 – Democracy in Crisis

SPEAKERS:

Gerald Griggs, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:13 PM ET
Civil Rights Attorney, President, Georgia State NAACP,  Georgia Based Activists

Rodreshia Russaw: 12:00 PM – 12:43 PM ET
Feminist activist; Human rights defender; Executive Director of The Ordinary People Society (TOPS)

Joshua Raby: 12:15 PM – 12:57 PM ET
TJC Fellow; Motivational Speaker/Life Coach; one of The founding members of The Blue Institute which was started by leader Stacy Abrams of Atlanta, Georgia where he now is currently part of the alumni Association

Neena R. Speer, Esq.: 12:15 PM – 12:57 PM ET
TJC Fellow; Award-Winning Trademark Lawyer and Financial Literacy Consultant, Creator of Trademark That Thursdays®️ ; Attorney; Speaker; Two-Time Amazon Bestseller Author

Cliff Albright: 12:30 PM – 12:43 PM ET
Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter Fund

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Democracy in Crisis: Georgia Indictments; Alabama and Florida Racial Gerrymandering cases; Montgomery Rumble; and, Gen Z/Millennial Leadership”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and guests Gerald Griggs, Esq.; Rodreshia Russaw; Cliff Albright; Joshua Raby; and, Neena R. Speer, Esq. Today’s show will focus on recent developments of political conflicts resulting from the 2020 Presidential election; the ongoing fight against racial gerrymandering and redistricting; the racial tension of what is known as the “Montgomery Rumble”; and, the hope of Gen Z and Millennial leadership for a just multiracial democracy. We have assembled some amazing guests to help bring insight regarding all of these matters. 

In Segment One, Igniting Change will be joined by Georgia’s prominent civil rights and criminal justice attorney, Gerald Griggs, who will help analyze the Georgia indictments against former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants. Notably, in last night’s late-issued indictment, District Attorney Fani Willis, of Fulton County, Georgia, summarized that 19 people were charged with 41 criminal counts and with Count 1 RICO in Georgia and elsewhere. “Overt and predicate acts or acts of racketeering act” and “Illegal efforts to stop counting of electoral votes” were among the charges in the 97-page indictments. District Attorney Willis invited all indicted persons to voluntarily surrender by Friday in this still developing story.

The Second Segment of the show will focus on the recent groundbreaking news out of Alabama regarding Monday’s hearing in the Alabama Congressional racial gerrymandering case and the continuing ramifications of the Montgomery Rumble. Our guests for this segment,who all live in Alabama, include Rodreshia Russaw, Joshua Raby; and, Neena R. Speer, Esq. will provide insights and perspectives on these developments.

At 12:30 PM Eastern, Igniting Change will be joined by Cliff Albright, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter Fund and major Alabama activist, who will discuss the recent legal agreement reached by Black Voters Matter and the attorneys representing the state of Florida in the Florida redistricting case. Although this agreement does not settle the case, it represents a great step forward in the fight to restore a second majority African-American Congressional district. Learn more here: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/14/desantis-redistricting-under-double-dose-of-legal-fire-in-florida/70570681007/

In the last segment, TJC Fellows Joshua Raby and  Neena R. Speer, Esq., who will discuss the upcoming September 20th – 24th, Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training. TJC is very happy to prepare for their next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership event to be held September 20th – 24th in Washington, D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference for those 18-35 years old. The application deadline is fast approaching on August 24th. Apply at https://bit.ly/TJCSEPT2023. This is a paid training opportunity with a $500 stipend and round-trip all expenses paid to Washington, D.C. for the entire event. The stipend is for your attendance and completion of a work plan. There will also be assigned homework prior to the event. To receive the stipend, you must attend every day, uphold a code of conduct, and complete all assignments. The deadline to apply is August 24th, 2023, and proof of full vaccination or exemption is required. 

The nonpartisan “Igniting Change Radio Show with Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq.” program will be aired from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Radio One’s WOL 1450 AM in the Washington, DC metropolitan area as well as nationwide on WOLDCNEWS.COM and Barbaraarnwine.com. The questions included below the description are designed to provide a guide but are not the only possible questions, nor may they be asked in the exact same order.  

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENT ONE

• [Barbara and Daryl will give the brief weekly update on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund]
• Gerald, When you read this indictment, what were your initial thoughts?
• Were you surprised by the breadth and scope of these indictments?
• Do you know District Attorney Fani Willis? Is there anything our audience should know about her?
• What are next steps in this case?
• Gerald, What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENT TWO

• Rodreshia, yesterday, there was a major hearing in the Milligan case, Alabama’s racial gerrymandering case, before the Federal Bench. Besides being Executive Director of The Ordinary People Society (TOPS) fighting for voter restoration for those formerly incarcerated, you also are involved with Alabama Forward, headed by Evan Milligan. What does our audience need to know about yesterday’s developments in court?
• Joshua and Neena, what did you think about yesterday’s hearing?
• How did you respond to the Court’s question as to whether or not the State was defying the United States’ Supreme Court’s Order?
• Interestingly, despite the neo-confederacy defiance of the State, the nation has been rallying around the African American unity shown in the “Alabama Rumble”. Your thoughts?

SEGMENT THREE

• Cliff, welcome back to Igniting Change. We have all been pleasantly surprised with the developments in your case, Black Voters Matter Capacity Institute vs. Byrd, the Florida racial gerrymandering case. Tell people why this case was filed.
• This past weekend, there was an announcement of a major development in the case regarding a legal agreement of the parties. Tell us more.
• What are the next steps in this case? 
• Cliff, what other major work is Black Voters Matter pursuing right now?
• Cliff, What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• Cliff, What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work, Cliff. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENT FOUR

• The next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership event to be held September 20th – 24th in Washington, D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The application deadline is fast approaching on August 24th. This is a paid training opportunity with a $500 stipend and round-trip all expenses paid to Washington, D.C. for the entire event. The stipend is for your attendance and completion of a work plan. There will also be assigned homework prior to the event. You must be 18-35 years old in order to attend. To receive the stipend, you must attend every day, uphold a code of conduct, and complete all assignments. The deadline to apply is August 24th, 2023, and proof of full vaccination or exemption is required. Why do you recommend that people apply?
• What has been the impact of the Training on your life?
• What have you found the most beneficial from the Training?
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• [Questions for USDA about the Black Farmers’ Fund]
• On Friday, July 7th, the USDA announced this $2.2 billion fund for Black Farmers. What is this fund?
• Let’s talk about some specifics of this fund. Who is eligible? 
• Let’s discuss who can apply and how can they apply to this new fund?
• How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly Black farmers, who are eligible?

Final Questions to guests:

• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?