This week on Capitalism, Race, & Democracy:
On Sept 12, the 79th birthday of imprisoned American Indian Movement leader Leonard Peltier, his advocates and supporters rallied in front of the White House, calling on President Biden to release him. Thirty-five supporters were arrested. The rally was led by the NDN Collective and Amnesty International USA.
In 1975, Peltier was convicted of murdering two FBI agents during a shootout on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. His supporters have evidence that his trial was rife with due process violations. Holly Cook Macarro of the NDN Collective read a statement from Leonard Peltier. Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians, also spoke at the rally.
We thank independent journalist and Between the Lines host Melinda Tuhus and KPFT’s Jacquelyn Battise for this segment.
Music: “Sacrifice,” “From The Underworld of Redboy” by Robbie Robertson, featuring the voice of Leonard Peltier. Robertson walked on on August 9, 2023. He had just finished scoring Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film “Flower Moon”.
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Taxi and delivery drivers are fighting the introduction of robo taxis, robo trucks, and artificial intelligence. The Teamsters Union, with other labor movement support, has won the passage of California Assembly Bill 316 to require drivers for trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds.
Teamsters, along with striking SAG-AFTRA members and firefighters, spoke at a rally in Sacramento on September 19, urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the bill. We share voices from the rally, recorded by Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer.
On Friday September 22, Governor Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 316. Supporters say they have secured the votes to override the veto.
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Australian Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum are calling on the US government to drop the charges against Julian Assange and stop trying to extradite him to the US. Pacifica’s Thomas O’Rourke has more from Washington DC.
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This month Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi passed away in South Africa. He was given a state funeral by the African National Congress government. Former South African longshore workers union organizer David Hemson spoke to Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer about Chief Buthelezi’s anti-worker legacy and a million dollar payment he received from the CIA.
We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates who contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by the Capitalism, Race, & Democracy Collective with contributions from Jacquelyn Battise, Ann Garrison, Akua Holt, Thomas O’Rourke, Polina Vasiliev, and Steve Zeltzer. Host: Akua Holt.
Thanks for listening!
Music
“Sacrifice,” “From The Underworld of Redboy” by Robbie Robertson
Sipho Mabuse, “Jive Soweto”
Paul Ndlovu, “Tsakane!”
