#TalkRadio – April 8: Social Justice Uprising: HBCU All Stars Weekend Panels and Hands Off Protests

SPEAKERS:

Professor Mario Marcel Salas: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Professor Salas was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in the 1960s. Professor Salas teaches at the University level, and is the President of San Antonio Community Radio (KROV). Mr. Salas trains public school teachers in ethnic studies curriculum and wrote curriculum for the State of Texas at the State Board of Education. He has International experience which included the development of the economic program for the City of San Antonio establishing the first economic relationship between Mafeking, South Africa and San Antonio, and served as a member of the International Affairs Committee for the City of San Antonio while he was a District City Councilman. He has written historical municipal markers for the City of San Antonio and provides walking tours of historic areas on the city’s Black East Side. He is also a member of the Bexar County Historical Commission. As a professor, he teaches African American Studies, Political Theory, Civil Rights, American Politics, Texas Politics, Global Inequality, and others. He has also taught classes on Native Americans, slavery, international conflicts, the Civil War, and others. He has delivered talks at museums, colleges, and professional organizations at the academic and business level. He has been interviewed by Washington Post on slavery in Texas, the Alamo, and other news outlets.

He served as a City Councilman for the City of San Antonio, and was very active in the Civil Rights Movement for many years. He has authored several books including, The Alamo: A Cradle of Lies Slavery and White Supremacy. He has also authored a chapter in a Texas Southern University (TSU) book titled Socio-Economic Crisis in Black and Brown Communities in the United States.  He championed the establishment of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Texas State Holiday and served as Vice-President for the Judson Independent School Board of Trustees. He serves as a member of the Math Advisory Council for the San Antonio School District. He is also an amateur astronomer, a Peace Laureate, and has written op-ed articles for the San Antonio Express. He is also is a regular writer for the San Antonio Observer Newspaper, the Artist Chateau Magazine, and Black Life Texas- San Antonio and Austin, Texas.  He maintains his historical archives at the University of Texas at San Antonio Special Collections Department, at the University of North Texas (UNT), at the Robert W. Woodruff library located in the Atlanta University Center, at the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM), the Dallas JFK Sixth Floor Museum, the Charles Williams Museum, and at Michigan State University.

Atty. April Albright: 12:00-12:57 PM ET
Legal Director/Chief of Staff, Black Voters Matter Fund; former Supervisory Civil Rights Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education; former Civil Rights Attorney at the Department of Education/Office for Civil Rights; Former Owner of Law Office of April England-Albright, Law Office; and, former Municipal Judge City of Selma

Alex Svehla: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Organizer with Texas 50501

Mawuli Davis, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Co-founder of the Davis Bozeman Law Firm and leads the Firm’s Criminal Defense and Trial Divisions; Co-host of The Black Man Lab: Live Session; United States Naval Academy graduate, where he played varsity basketball and majored in Political Science; Graduate of Georgia State University’s College of Law, where he was recognized in Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities and awarded the Thurgood Marshall Award for his outstanding achievement as a law student; Among less than 3% of the lawyers in Georgia who receive the honor of being selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyer Magazine; Named “Civil Rights Attorney of the Year” by the Gate City Bar Association and Humanitarian of the Year by the Atlanta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, Incorporated; Co-founder of Let Us Make Man

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “Social Justice Uprising: HBCU All Stars Weekend Panels and Hands Off Protests”, with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. will feature special guests Mario Marcel Salas; Atty. Mawuli Davis; Atty. April Albright; and Alex Svehla.

The show will open with the co-hosts and guests giving a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This show will also open with a brief update on the North Carolina Supreme Court election battle. For more information on the latest, see: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/elections/court-directive-to-locate-voters-in-close-north-carolina-election-blocked-for-now/ar-AA1CtoDN ; https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/north-carolina-supreme-court-halts-decision-verify-votes-tight-race-rcna200100 ; and, https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/elections/court-directive-to-locate-voters-in-close-north-carolina-election-blocked-for-now/ar-AA1CtoDN.

A major highlight of the 2025 HBCU All Stars Game Weekend held in San Antonio, Texas was the Social Justice Panel Discussion and Mixer on Friday, April 4th. As this programming was being held on the 57th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it was especially poignant to our political moment.  This program consisted of two panels: one on “A Brave New Day: National Voting Rights Experts Discuss How To Continue Building Power in Today’s Political Climate” and the second one on “More Than A Game: The Importance of the HBCU All-Star Game Experience”. Today’s show will feature a discussion on many of the top messages shared during these panels. Attorney Mawuli Davis and Dr. Jana Davis co-moderated both panels. Mawuli Davis will join us to outline the importance of the social justice discussion being featured during the HBCU All Stars Weekend. Igniting Change hosts Daryl Jones and Barbara Arnwine, along with our guest April Albright, all participated on the first panel. This panel was extremely well-received by a packed house at Tony G.’s Restaurant. The second panel focused more on the history and culture of San Antonio, the HBCU experience, and the criticality of Black athletes in the fight for racial and social justice. Our guest Prof. Mario M. Salas riveted the audience as he shared highlights of the struggle for racial justice in our country’s history. 

The next day, Saturday April 5th, Attorney Mawuli Davis convened The Black Man’s Lab to focus on issues confronting African-American men in San Antonio and the nation. Co-Host Daryl Jones was a participant in this very spirited roundtable discussion by 20 men. All weekend long, as Daryl Jones and Barbara Arnwine participated in events across the city, attendees of the Friday and Saturday programs expressed their appreciation for the knowledge sharing and activism tips. 

Our show will also thank those who joined millions in participating in the 1,200 Hands Off Protests on April 5th and for those participating in the current Target and Wal-Mart Boycotts. Now is the time to amplify your impact.The momentum you have ignited is a force for lasting transformation. Keep using your voice, your influence, and your power. 

Co-hosts Arnwine and Jones participated in the San Antonio, Texas Hands Off Rally. https://x.com/barbs73/status/1908729038098575777 During this very well-organized protest, Co-Hosts Arnwine and Jones were able to meet today’s Igniting Change guest Alex Svehla, an organizer with Texas 50501. The new 50501 Movement are the lead organizers of the Hands Off Protests around the county. Alex works with the Texas chapter who organized the San Antonio Protest. 

“At least 1,000 San Antonians participated Saturday in a peaceful downtown march as part of national day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk. The rally was one of roughly 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations planned nationwide by civil rights groups, LGBTIA+ organizations, labor unions and others angered by the administration’s dismantling of government programs, its aggressive immigration crackdown, its trampling of democratic norms and its chaotic economic policies. People crowded shoulder to shoulder in Main Plaza with San Fernando Cathedral in the background and listened as speakers called out grievances against the Trump White House and its enablers in the Republican Party. Laurel Jordan Swift, a San Antonio native who ran an unsuccessful bid in November to represent District 121 in the Texas House of Representatives, urged the crowd to stick together and win over allies to fight Trump’s policies. ‘We all love this country. We all love this state. We love all the people in this state and all the people in this country. We have to start taking care of each other,” Swift told the crowd. “We’ve got to stop this hate and vitriol against people we think might be different. Because we’re all different — and we’re all the same. We’re all Americans.’ Kristin Hook, a scientist affected by Musk’s deep cuts to government funding, also spoke out against Trump’s agenda. Hook, who ran against Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy last year, shared three steps anyone can take to help reclaim their power:

• “Be an informed voter and make sure you’re registered to vote.

• “Hold elected representatives accountable by using tools such as the 5 Calls app to know who those representatives are and demand they address constituents’ concerns.

• “Get involved with one or two local organizations fighting for causes they care about by donating either time or money.

“‘The most important point to take away today is that you — San Antonio — you have the power,’ Hook said. ‘You have the power to take it back, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do over the next four years. Let’s go, San Antonio!’

“After the last speaker, protesters took to the streets for one final march. Afterward, they positioned themselves round the Main Plaza, showing off signs to motorists with messages including ‘Hands off schools, veterans and our bodies,’ ‘Black lives matter,’ ‘Orange lies matter,’ ‘Protect kids, not guns’ and ‘There is no LGB Without the T — protect trans rights.’ Someone dressed as Uncle Sam held a placard that read “Uncle Sam needs y’all to fight fascism.” (View source and the photo album: https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/hundreds-flood-downtown-san-antonio-for-hands-off-anti-trump-demonstration/Slideshow/37167586 )

QUESTIONS:

April 4th, 2025 was the 57th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Very little notice of this was taken by the mainstream media. As you reflect on this Anniversary, what is it that you want our audience to know?

[Arnwine and Jones will update listeners on the North Carolina Supreme Court race: “The North Carolina Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on Monday, halting a lower court’s decision that would have required verification of over 65,000 ballots in the unresolved state Supreme Court race. This decision pauses the process while the court reviews the appeal filed by Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs. Riggs leads Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin by 734 votes after recounts. The case remains contentious, with Griffin’s challenges drawing criticism for potentially disenfranchising lawful voters.

• It’s a tense situation, with the outcome still hanging in the balance.]
• Mawuli, please tell our audience why you and Dr. Jana Davis conceived of the social justice programming as part of the HBCU All Stars Weekend.
• Mawuli, how would you describe the two panels that were held in San Antonio? How would you distinguish them from past panels?
• April, there was a seriousness in the audience during the social justice panels as people tried to discern what this moment in history means. What were your top messages that you wanted to be sure the audience heard and understood? 
• Dr. Salas, during your panel it was remarked on how “the people perish for lack of knowledge”. Can you describe why Black History is so important in this moment?
• What can we do about the attacks on Black History?
• A major theme of the entire weekend in San Antonio was the need for activism to address the rising threat of racist facism. Alex, what was it like for you to organize such a serious demonstration with the backdrop of the frivolity and frenzy of the Final Four?
• April, Black Voters Matters is kicking off a major “Black Futures Tour”. We also noticed you launched an online campaign combatting disinformation. Tell us about this major Tour that Black Voters Matter is kicking off on April 17th in New York. Tell us more about why Black Voters Matter launched this campaign against disinformation. 
• Alex, how do people get involved in the 50501 Movement? What are your next plans?
• Dr. Salas, you are a student of many of this nation’s Black Resistance Movements, like the Black Panthers. What do you feel about this whole movement for African Americans to “sit out”, “rest”, and not be involved in this moment?
• Mawuli, What do our listeners need to know right now about what they should do? When and where will the next HBCU All Stars Game?
• April, What is your best advice for how people keep their and their followers’ and friends’ spirits uplifted at this time, when there’s so much negativity?
• Alex, What are your final one-minute thoughts?
• Thank you so much for joining us today. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

[Arnwine will remind listeners when you make those daily calls to the Congress at 202-224-3121, be sure to tell your Congressperson to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!]

[TJC will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all Americans and will fight the implementation of Project 2025 and our future shows will continue to cover any hate crimes and how we effectively protect ourselves while advancing our agenda for justice.]

[Daryl, Barbara, and guests may share their favorite books and encourage people to donate towards TJC’s giveaways of banned and affirming books.]