Policing - 8/29/2020

Voice  of the People: Radio by and for the 99% will continue a theme of crime  and incarceration in light of the Missoula City Council making a  decision on Monday, August 31 on whether or not to “defund” the proposed  increase in the Missoula City Police budget and transfer that money to  mental health and affordable housing services. In the first hour we  discuss items in the news, continuing to cover the pandemic and the  economic catastrophe for the 99% allowed to happen by Congress, while  billionaires grow even richer. And some back story to the police  leadership in Kenosha Wisconsin, scene of the latest police murder. We  then review the writings of Alex Vitale based on his book “The End of  Policing.” And a report from Political Research Associates on the size  and scope of armed paramilitary and far-right groups’ activities since  the Minneapolis Police murder of George Floyd. We read the statement  from the Missoula organization The 1700 for Liberation that demands of  the Missoula City Council adopt their police “defunding” proposal. And  we look at an article in the Great Falls Tribune featuring the activist  work of past show interviewee Laurie Little Dog. The articles goes into  depth about the US Census and its importance to Native Tribes and how  the Montana Department of Corrections had initially erased some  significant information of native inmates. In  the third half hour we interview Clemente Arciga, a Missoula carpenter  on parole, about his story, his experiences in the Montana incarceration  system, and his work with  “Welcome Back” (look at their facebook page)  advocacy and support for released inmates. And his work with #letthemcomehome,  an effort to improve the safety of incarcerated people during the  pandemic. And his work on a September 2nd rally at the Capitol in Helena  to demand criminal justice reform. Then  for the last half hour we have a great conversation with a Friend of  the Show, Sue Harrison and our sound sound guy Jim Gillan. The  conversation goes into Angela Davis’ contrast of “abolition feminism”  vs. “carceral feminism.” Join us in our social distancing by listening from Noon to 2 pm on Saturdays in Missoula, Montana on 105.5 FM or streaming worldwide on 1055kfgm.org. And please join our Facebook Group (Voice of the People: Radio by and for the 99% on 1055KFGM.org Group) to access scripts of this and previous shows and other contact information.