Our show this Tuesday, April 4th, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT, will commemorate the 49th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King by focusing on two major fights for his Dream happening this week, the national protest for the Fight for $15 and the Gorsuch confirmation battle for the Supreme Court. With 64 million American workers making less than $15 million dollars an hour, and millions of workers of color making poverty wages, the Fight for $15 has been sweeping the nation. On April 4th the Movement for Black Lives will join with the Fight for $15 to hold demonstrations nationwide. We must never forget that Dr. King was slain in Memphis as he sought fair wages and working conditions for Black sanitation workers in that city. Also, no institution has been as critical to the fight for civil rights than the Supreme Court of the United States which interprets the Constitution and our nation’s civil rights laws.
Our guests include Brandon Johnson, prominent Chicago Labor Movement Leader and WVON Radio Host; and Nicole Austin Hillery, Director and Counsel, Washington, D.C. Office of the Brennan Center for Justice.
In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had redirected his organizing to fight economic inequality. To that end, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference had announced on December 4, 1967, a Poor People’s Campaign to fight unemployment, housing shortages for the poor, and poverty. A nationwide march was to be held on April 22, 1968 with the construction of “Resurrection City” to demand that the White House and Congress respond with legislation to redress these inequities. Tragically, Dr. King was killed weeks before the march was to start.
Embracing the King Legacy, the Fight for $15 in conjunction with the Movement for Black Lives will hold a national protest on April 4th. In today’s America, 9.5 million people constitute the “working poor” whose wages are insufficient to keep them above the poverty line. Poverty is higher in the state where wages are the lowest. Of the working poor, 11.7% are Black and 11.7% are Latino with 5.5 % being white. In response to the Fight for $15 Campaign, 9 cities, two states and the District of Columbia have adopted a minimum wage of $15 an hour. The American people favor a higher minimum wage by over 60% margin. Our guest, Brandon Johnson, as a leader of the Fight for $15 Movement, will give us an overview of the demonstrations planned for the 4th and upcoming plans to win more victories to increase the minimum wage to $15.
A major showdown is expected on April 3rd as the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on whether to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court of the United States. Senate Democrats are threatening to filibuster the nomination and Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has threatened to exercise the “Nuclear Option” and change the Senate Rules to allow for confirmation. Our guest Nicole Hillery-Austin will provide insights and updates regarding the status of the Senate showdown during our show.
You don’t want to miss this show!
Be sure to listen live on Tuesday, 12:00-1:00 PM in the DC Metro Area at WOL 1450 AM and on the internet worldwide at www.BarbaraArnwine.com.
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Nicole Austin-Hillery
Nicole Austin-Hillery is the first Director and Counsel of The Brennan Center’s Washington, D.C. office which she opened in March 2008. In her role, Ms. […]
Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson began his career in teaching as a middle school Social Studies and Reading teacher at Jenner Academy in Cabrini-Green. He has also taught […]
Justin Arnwine
Justin Arnwine is an independent scholar, artist, and entrepreneur. A blue belt in Tang Soo Do his personal training style focuses on dietary nutrition above […]
