#TalkRadio – April 15: No Capitulating on U.S. Democracy: The U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Reparations, and Fighting the SAVE Act in the Senate

SPEAKERS:

Adjoa Aiyetoro, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Renowned civil rights attorney and reparations advocate

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “No Capitulating on U.S. Democracy: The U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Reparations, and Fighting the SAVE Act in the Senate”, with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. will feature special guests Adjoa Aiyetoro, Esq. and others.

The fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent is currently taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from April 14 to April 17, 2025. This year’s theme is “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence”. The forum is focusing on reparations for historical injustices, racial inequalities, and the impact of AI on people of African descent. Guest Adjoa Aiyetoro, Esq. and Co-Host Barbara Arnwine are currently attending the Forum and related events.

Key discussions include:

• Reparatory justice for the legacies of colonialism and enslavement.

• Intersectional racial violence affecting women and girls of African descent.

• Human rights-based policymaking to combat systemic racism.

• Artificial Intelligence and racial bias, addressing algorithmic discrimination.

• The bicentennial anniversary of Haiti’s “independence debt”, highlighting the lasting effects of colonization.

The sessions can be viewed live on webtv.un.org. Here is the link to the official schedule and side events: https://ohchrfourthsessionoftheperm.sched.com/list/simple.  

The forum has seen urgent calls for reparations, with leaders emphasizing the need for legal, material, and institutional restitution. Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez has urged former colonial powers to take responsibility for their past actions.

(Sources: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2025, April 14). Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/events/sessions/2025/fourth-session-permanent-forum-people-african-descent .

United Nations News. (2025, April 14). UN forum on People of African Descent examines reparations and AI challenge. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162221 .

United Nations Secretary-General. (2025, April 14). Secretary-General’s remarks to the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-04-14/secretary-generals-remarks-the-fourth-session-of-the-permanent-forum-people-of-african-descent-delivered) 

The SAVE Act
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act passed the House of Representatives on April 10, 2025, with a 220-208 vote. The bill, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.

However, the bill faces significant opposition in the Senate, where it must clear a 60-vote threshold to pass. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stated that the bill is “dead on arrival” in the Senate, calling it a “how-to guide for voter suppression”.

Here are the sources in APA format:

• ABC News. (2025, April 10). House passes bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote, drawing ire of voting rights groups. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-passes-bill-require-proof-citizenship-register-vote/story?id=120691270 

• Politico. (2025, April 14). The House passed the SAVE Act. What comes next?. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-score/2025/04/14/the-house-passed-the-save-act-what-comes-next-00288458. 

• MSN News. (2025, April 13). What is the SAVE Act and why are married women concerned? Here’s what to know. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/what-is-the-save-act-and-why-are-married-women-concerned-heres-what-to-know/ar-AA1CL59z. 

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act requires individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. According to the text of the bill, acceptable documents include:

• A REAL ID-compliant identification card that explicitly states U.S. citizenship.

• A valid U.S. passport.

• A U.S. military identification card, accompanied by a military record of service showing the applicant was born in the U.S.

• A government-issued photo ID from a Federal, State, or Tribal government that includes the applicant’s place of birth.

• A government-issued photo ID that does not indicate citizenship, but is presented alongside one of the following:

  • A certified birth certificate issued by a State, local government, or Tribal government.

  • A naturalization certificate.

These requirements are outlined in Section 2(b) of the bill, which amends Section 3 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20502). 

Sources: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22/text/ih78 ; https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr22/text 

International Student Visas Revoked
According to a Linkedin post by Ashley Mowreader, “A map update as of 5:30 p.m. EDT, over 180 colleges and universities have confirmed at least 1,179 students who have lost their legal standing in the U.S. See the full data set here: https://lnkd.in/eHYBiCAh

I’m starting to pick through data on a student-by-student level (which is just as simple and easy as you think it might be), I’m continually shocked by the lack of disclosure / clarity as to why students have their visas revoked.

A snippet of data, of 200 individual students, 86% have no clear reason or rationale attached to their SEVIS status change, 4% were identified for a legal infraction, 3% for political activism and 6% had “violated the terms of their visas.” Hoping to keep digging into this, stay tuned.” (Source: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ashley-mowreader_a-map-update-as-of-530-pm-edt-over-180-activity-7317662997286461442-fJB9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEgbFgBMHug6LvgdSGRnqEkyenrhaGCxqs )

Law Firms v. Trump
Recently, five major law firms reached agreements with President Trump’s administration to avoid potential executive orders targeting their operations. The agreements also included capitulations such as merit-based hiring practices and disavowing any diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations. In return, the administration withdrew investigations and letters from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These firms—Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP—committed to providing $600 million in pro bono legal services for causes supported by the administration. (sources: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-reaches-deals-with-5-law-firms-allowing-them-to-avoid-prospect-of-punishing-executive-orders/ar-AA1CL0qB ; https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2025-04-11/trump-reaches-deals-with-5-law-firms-allowing-them-to-avoid-prospect-of-punishing-executive-orders ; https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/trump-law-firms-pro-bono-work.html )

Harvard v. Trump
Harvard University has firmly rejected demands from the Trump administration. The administration’s demands included eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, adopting merit-based admissions, and allowing audits of academic programs and governance. The Trump administration initially reviewed $9 billion in federal funding tied to Harvard and its affiliates, including hospitals and research centers. However, the administration later announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts specifically for Harvard University. The discrepancy comes from the broader review versus the specific freeze. Harvard’s President, Alan Garber, stated that these demands exceed the lawful authority of the government and infringe on the university’s independence and constitutional rights. He emphasized that Harvard would not compromise its values or autonomy. (Sources: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/harvard-wont-comply-with-demands-from-trump-administration/ ; https://abcnews.go.com/US/harvard-university-rejects-trump-administrations-demands-risking-billions/story?id=120799115 ; https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/14/harvard-university-rejects-trump-demands/83085007007/ ; https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/harvard-university-rejects-trump-dei-demands-imperiling-9-billion-in-federal-funding/ar-AA1CUcAc ;  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/harvard-wont-comply-with-demands-from-trump-administration/ ; https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/14/harvard-university-rejects-trump-demands/83085007007/ ; https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-administration-freezes-2-2-billion-in-grants-to-harvard-over-campus-activism/ar-AA1CUwiV  )

QUESTIONS:

The show will start off with:

• Arnwine giving a shout out of condolence to Tenisha Evan’s family at the start of the radio show. C-Hosts Arnwine and Jones will announce that there will be a future show about the epidemic of Black maternal mortality in the US. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/queens-mother-death-c-section/  
• Jones giving an update on the Karmelo Anthony case.
• Arnwine giving a shout out to the activists in Louisiana for all their victories
• Arnwine and Jones giving the Cowards of the Week Award to the five law firms that capitulated.

• Adjoa, welcome back to Igniting Change. Tell our audience about the work you’ve been doing recently.
• Adjoa, Tell our audience about the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. 
• Adjoa, why was it important to attend this fourth session at the United Nations this week?
• Adjoa, what are some of the issues that the forum is taking up this session?
• Adjoa, something very special happened to you at the forum. Please share with our audience. 
• Adjoa, we were at Columbia University last night for Connecting Caribbean and African Students of New York Conference and we told the story of what happened to you at the forum. Afterwards, you were surrounded by law and business school students. What did they ask you?
• Adjoa, what do you hope will come out of the forum?
• Adjoa, How can people watch the forum? (the sessions can be viewed live on webtv.un.org)
• Daryl, let’s talk about some of the current misdeeds of this Administration and their revocation of 1,179 SEVIS of over 180 colleges and universities across the U.S. “A snippet of data, of 200 individual students, 86% have no clear reason or rationale attached to their SEVIS status change, 4% were identified for a legal infraction, 3% for political activism and 6% had “violated the terms of their visas.” Why should every American be concerned about this?
• Daryl and Adjoa, as criminal justice lawyers, what do you make out of Trump’s repeated statements that he wants to send American citizens to El Salvador prisons? Why is this unconstitutional?
• Is this the new U.S. Slave Trade? 
• Daryl, let’s talk about what’s going on with the SAVE Act. Is voting a privilege or right? 
• What should people know about the recent Executive Order on the Smithsonian, particularly singling out the National Museum for African-American History and Culture? What does it mean for J.D. Vance to have this role of “overseeing” the NMAAHC?
• The 62nd Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail just passed. Also this month, the weekend of the Hands Off Protests, was the Anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of discussion about either of these two events. Are Black leaders doing everything they should at this moment? What should they do more of?
• What do you feel about this whole movement for African Americans to “sit out”, “rest”, and not be involved in this moment?
• What do our listeners need to know right now about what they should do?
• 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?
• 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 Senator to say NO to the SAVE 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.]