#TalkRadio – September 5: Hate, Racial Violence, Representation, and Reparations

SPEAKERS:

Damario Solomon Simmons: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Lead Counsel, Fletcher v. Board of County Commissioners and Tulsa Metropolitan Planning Commission and #Justice4Greenwood 

The Hon. Angela “Angie” Nixon: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020, reelected subsequently for District 13 

Congresswoman Corrine Brown: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
In 1992, she was the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida in 129 years.  Throughout her political career, she represented North and Central Florida (including Jacksonville Orlando, Eatonville, Sanford, Gainesville, and Palatka).  For 24 years, she served as a Member of Congress.  For 10 years, she served as a Florida State Representative. Now retired, Congresswoman Corrine Brown is still a community advocate

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Hate, Racial Violence, Representation, and Reparations”, 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 Damario Solomon Simmons, The Hon. Angela “Angie” Nixon, and Congresswoman Corrine Brown. This week’s show will look at the connections between the rise in hate crimes, including the Jacksonville shooting, and the ongoing fight for justice for the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. We are honored to have three amazing guests to join us for the complete hour to explore these topics, including the ongoing fight to restore the historic Black voting district in northern Florida. 

On August 15th, in a major development, the Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of the dismissal of a case brought by survivors of the horrific Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. We will be joined by Damario Solomon Simmons, the lead attorney in this case, to hear an update on this fight. Read more in this August 15th article by Fox25 titled “Oklahoma Supreme Court agrees to review 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors’ appeal”.

On August 28th, the article “‘This is ridiculous:’ Hate crimes at all-time high, SPLC says” published by Yahoo! News stated that there has been a significant increase in the number of hate crimes reported, and oddly a significant decrease in the number of law enforcement entities, particularly in Florida, reporting hate crimes. This article resonates especially in Florida after the tragic racist murders in Jacksonville on August 26th. Despite the outcry by the public of this vicious hate crime, neo-Nazi groups seized upon these murders as an opportunity to march in Orlando spewing racist hate. 

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENT ONE

• During today’s show, we’re going to talk about the present and ongoing battles against racist hate. We would like for each of you to state briefly why you feel there is a rise in hate crimes currently in the US. 
• Damario Solomon Simmons, what is the latest on the Tulsa case?

SEGMENT TWO

• Damario, when you heard about the Jacksonville shootings, how did you relate it to your quest for justice in the Tulsa Massacre Case?
• Representative Angie Nixon, how is the community continuing to react to the Jacksonville murders?
• Representative Nixon, at a vigil held on August 27th, the community booed Gov. DeSantis. As a sitting member of the state assembly, what responsibility do you think the Governor and the state legislature share for the massacre and the rise in hate?
• Congresswoman Corrine Brown, you represented this district for 20-plus years. What has it meant for that district to lose the ability to elect a Black representative?

SEGMENT THREE

• Representative Nixon, the state court just ruled this past Friday that the Florida State Legislature violated the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution in denying a majority Black district in Northern Florida. As this Congressional district includes your state district, what does this ruling mean to the people of Duval County?
• Damario, these issues of fair redistricting which are being fought in several states have meaning for all of us. What do you see as the greater meaning of these fights for fair redistricting beyond the state borders?
• Damario, when people hear about Tulsa, they become saddened and angry. What is your recommendation for what people can do to help?
• Rep. Nixon, when people hear about Jacksonville and the murders and the book banning and Nazi’s marching, and so many other injustices in Florida, how can people in Florida and nationwide do to help? The Florida NAACP has already issued a travel advisory which many groups have been complying with and canceling their events. What else can people do to force change in Florida?

SEGMENT FOUR

• [Barbara and Daryl will give a reminder on the Black Farmers’ Discrimination Fund. The Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. You can only apply up to October 31st through the 40 page application which started on July 7th. ]
• 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?