#TalkRadio – February 13: Selma Jubilee: The Power of Youth Activism Then and Now

SPEAKERS:

Cameron Barnes: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
National Young Adult Policy Advocate; National Youth Director of Rainbow PUSH; TJC Fellow and Freedom Rider; Director of Youth & Young Adult Engagement, New Faith MB Church Chicago;
Instagram: @CamB.8;
TikTok: @CamB.403;
Twitter: @ISayWatUThinkin

Drake Smith: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate, Class of September 2022; Student Body President, Lincoln University

Edward Ward: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
TJC Fellow; Restorative Justice Policy Advocate; and, a Youth Crisis Interventionist

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Selma: The Power of Youth Activism Then and Now”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and feature special guests Cameron Barnes, Drake Smith, and Edward Ward. Our show will focus on Gen Z Voter Power 2024 and the upcoming Selma Jubilee commemorating the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

This year will mark the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday where 600 voting rights marchers were viciously beaten at the Edmund-Pettus Bridge during an attempted march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Our national consciousness has been rooted in the bravery of the then 25-year old John Lewis; the amazing Amelia Boynton; and, so many others who were senselessly beaten that day. Their bravery led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

For the third time in a row, TJC will sponsor a day-long voting rights series the Saturday prior to the reenactment of the March across the Edmund-Pettus Bridge. A prime feature of the Voting Rights Series is the Gen Z Luncheon which will feature a panel composed of TJC Alumni discussing current issues of voting rights for Gen Zers and the lessons of Selma. 

The TJC Voting Rights Panel Series is entitled “The Voting Rights Battle Continues” and its central themes are to encourage the passage of the Freedom To Vote Act & the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. All the events will take place on at the George Wallace Community College (3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy, Selma, Alabama) on Saturday, March 2nd , 2024 and all workshops are free and open to the public, including the free lunch at the Gen Z Luncheon from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Central. Workshop # 1 “We Got Now! Ain’t Goin’ let Nobody Turn Me`Round: Protecting the GenZ & College Student Votel” will take place during the Gen Z Luncheon. Workshop # 2 “Cruel & Unusual Punishment: Voter Restoration Correction Nowl” will be from 1:50 PM to 3:00 PM Central Time. Workshop # 3 “We Will Fight Back as We Move Forward to An Inclusive & Just Multiracial Democracy: Organizing for Organizers” will be from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Central

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENTS ONE AND TWO

• Cameron, How many times have you attended the Selma Jubilee? As you have often accompanied Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., what has meant to you to see Selma through his eyes?
• Drake, how many times have you been to Selma?
• Edward, have you ever been to Selma?
• Drake and Edward, what made you want to come to Selma this year?
• Cameron, you wrote an article that is being published in the Selma Jubilee Commemorative newspaper. Tell us some of the highlights of that article.
• The Transformative Justice Coalition will be sponsoring a Voting Rights Series on Saturday, March 2nd from 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM Central Time. We will kick this off with the Gen Z Luncheon. Last year, we did our first Gen Z Luncheon. Drake, you were on that panel last year. What were some of the highlights from last year and what do you hope will be some of the themes for this year?
• Cameron, What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• Cameron, 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 2024?
• Cameron, What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Cameron, Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENTS THREE AND FOUR

• Edward, it’s been exciting to see that a number of our Alumni are going to be in Selma during this Jubilee. What does it mean to you that so many of our Alumni are going to be there this year?
• I was watching Bishop Barber and the Poor Peoples’ Campaign’s launching of the March 2nd 40+ Week Mobilization of Poor and Low Wage Voters. At the end of this livestream, Rev. Bishop Barber paid tribute to the Lincoln University students who marched from Lincoln University to Harrisburg demanding equitable school funding by the state legislature. Drake, you were one of the leaders of this Lincoln March. Tell our audience how Selma influenced your decision to organize the March?
• Let’s discuss the other two workshops. We’re very happy that one of the Gen Z’ers who will be joining us is Quincy Robbinson, who will be discussing his work on the new campaign in Kentucky to restore voting rights to those formerly incarcerated. Why is this issue and this panel so important?
• The final panel is going to concentrate on organizing for 2024 and we will be talking about the horrific 8th Circuit decision which threatens to undo the important original provision of the Voting Rights Act which John Lewis and everyone marched for in Selma. Why is this battle one that Gen Z’s should be engaged in?
• All of us are going to be attending the Freedom Flame Gala on that Saturday night. Last year, Drake, you met and interacted with some really important historical figures. Tell us about that.
• We will be literally walking in the footsteps of John Lewis and the other Foot Soldiers. What will that mean to you to cross the bridge?
• 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 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?