The growing purges and witch hunts of faculty and students at the University of California now includes the firing of University of California San Francisco professor Dr. Rupa Marya. Dr. Marya is an international expert on the effect of colonialism on health care. She is also an outspoken advocate for the Palestinian people and against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Dr. Marya has challenged the UC management and regents over investments in military companies profiting from war and genocide while health care workers are killed and hospitals are destroyed in Gaza. Her lawyers have filed two lawsuits against the university on her behalf. They charge that the university violated her free speech rights and retaliated against her for speaking out against the genocide. Dr. Rupa Marya spoke at a press conference in San Francisco.
At the press conference, Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer interviewed Professor Sang Hea Kil who has been suspended from San Jose State University, and Professor Rochelle McLaughlin who resigned from the university.
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On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Trump’s ICE launched coordinated raids in Los Angeles and other cities—sparking mass protests across the country. Among those arrested and injured was David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents over 700,000 workers.
Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer spoke with Cliff Smith, Business Manager of Los Angeles Roofers Local 36, who has been actively defending immigrants and other workers.
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On June 6 thousands of veterans and Veterans Administration workers rallied in Washington DC against massive cutbacks and privatization. Eighty-three thousand VA workers, many of them veterans, are soon to be terminated due to Trump and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts. Everett Kelley, president of AFGE and Irma Westmoreland who is with the National Nurses Union Veterans unit, spoke out.
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On 21 May of 2025, the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations was held with Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican from Wisconsin, chairing. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat from Connecticut, is the committee’s ranking member. The hearing’s title was “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies — How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with COVID Vaccines.” We share highlights of the hearing including descriptions of tragic deaths and severe injuries in young men following vaccination. With doctors, scientists, and grieving families present, the hearing challenged the narrative on vaccine safety, demanding transparency and accountability from public health officials.
And that concludes today’s edition of Capitalism, Race & Democracy. 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 Steve Zeltzer, Thomas O’Rourke, and the host, Polina Vasiliev.
You can find this and all previous episodes at our website “capitalism race and democracy dot ORG”. Make sure you click the subscribe button. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @PacificaCRD.
Thanks for listening!
Music:
SHADIA MANSOUR Ft M1 (DEAD PREZ)-AL KUFIYYEH 3ARABEYYEH (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
I’m Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys
Los Tigres del Norte, “Somos Más Americanos”
