On World Press Freedom Day, the National Writers Union and International Federation of Journalists participated in an international meeting on the freedom of journalists at the United Nations. US political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal had a message for his fellow journalists.
Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer spoke to Larry Goldbetter, president of the National Writers Union and Edward Hasbrouck, a delegate at the UN conference representing the National Writers Union and the International Federation of Journalists.
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Thousands of workers and trade unionists rallied in Los Angeles to support the striking Writers Guild of America West, who have been on strike for nearly a month. Other workers in the industry, including the Screen Actors Guild and Director’s Guild, are voting on whether or not to strike. At the rally, the SEIU announced that Los Angeles city workers had taken a strike vote and may be joining the strike. One of the critical issues beside residuals for the writers is the role of artificial intelligence. Speakers at the rally included the president of the Writers Guild of America West Meredith Stiehm. KPFK’s Working Voices correspondent Peter Racioppo also interviewed writers on the line about the attack on their conditions by the billionaire tech companies on May 26, 2023.
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Alycee Lane and Matthew Kearney, co-producers and co-hosts of Extinction Rebellion Radio reflect on Atlanta’s Cop City and the death of an activist there and discuss police militarization nationally.
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On May 25th, Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day), an annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), formed on 25 May 1963 in Ethiopia, was celebrated worldwide; The OAU became the African Union on July 9, 2002 in Durban, South Africa. Additionally May, 19th marked the 98th birthday of El Haj Malik El Shabazz – Malcolm X. Mwiza Munthali of WPFW’s AfricaNow! produced a panel discussion featuring a number of scholars including, co-host Dr. James Pope and others to examine the legacy of Malcolm X, the Black radical tradition and Africana Human Rights Movements.
You can listen to the entire program on AfricaNow! (May 17, 2023) in the WPFW Archives.
Music:
Robert Glasper Experiment, Gonna be Alright
Sweet Honey in the Rock, “Emergency”
Archie Shepp + Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual trio – Brother Malcolm
