#TalkRadio – June 4: Making Good Trouble Freedom Summer 2024: Join the July 17th John Lewis Day of Action and Candlelight Vigils and Alito’s Supreme Folly

SPEAKERS:

Christine Wood: 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM ET
Co-Director for the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD Coalition). Former Field Director for the DFAD Coalition where she spearheaded grassroots organizing work

Atty. Allison Neswood
Allison Neswood is an experienced advocate for social justice and equitable policy. At NARF, her focus is on the enforcement of Native voters’ language access under section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. Allison believes that we as a nation have made policy choices that continue to negatively impact the health and well-being of Native communities for generations. Her work is dedicated to changing that reality.

Atty. Terry O’Neill: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Current Board Secretary of the Transformative Justice Coalition; former President of the National Organization for Women (NOW); Former Host of the podcast What Equality Looks Like; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-o-neill-3076303/

Lynn Whitfield, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 
Transformative Justice Coalition Director of Election Protection and Good Trouble Voting Rights Institute

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Making Good Trouble Freedom Summer 2024: Join the July 17th John Lewis Day of Action and Candlelight Vigils and Alito’s Supreme Folly”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and will feature special guests Christine Wood, Atty. Terry O’Neill, and Lynn Whitfield, Esq. 

As the epidemic of voter suppression continues to expand in our nation, the urgency of passage of curative and proactive federal legislation has become more evident. On July 17th, TJC, Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD Coalition), Black Voters Matter, Public Citizen, The Leadership Conference, and the League of Women Voters are inviting individuals, activists, advocates, clergy, union members, teachers, students, community organizations, religious institutions, associations, fraternities, sororities- EVERYONE- to host local activities marking the fourth anniversary of the passing of our Voting Rights Champion, the late Congressman John Lewis. As the late Congressman John Lewis wrote the first 300 pages of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is named in his honor, it is most fitting that we commemorate his legacy by reaffirming our commitment to passing these most important bills. It is anticipated that there will be hundreds of events held throughout the nation in cities, townships, and parishes, including marches, votercades, celebration villages, teach-ins, and much more culminating that evening in candlelight vigils. 

This show will discuss how people throughout the nation can become part of this critical day of action and vigils, which can be done through this web address: https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/c/john-lewis-/event/create/ 

Following up on our previous show, our radio show hosts and guests will examine the latest developments in the controversy regarding Justice Alito. On May 17th, 2024, the New York Times published an article revealing that Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito had flown for 6 days an upside down American flag associated with the “#StopTheSteal” Movement at his home in January 2021, one week after the January 6th Insurrection and 3 days prior to President Joe Biden’s Inauguration. This has led to a major firestorm of criticism of the Justice for this controversial and partisan action, as Supreme Court Justices are ethically bound to be non-partisan and to do everything in their power to be unbiased. At the time of this flag being displayed symbolically at his home, the Supreme Court was undertaking reviews involving the January 6th Insurrection. This matter is appearing before the Court. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/17/us/justice-alito-flag-reactions.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 

Since our show on May 21st on this topic, Justice Alito has continued to blame his wife and has announced he will not recuse himself from cases involving either President Trump or the January 6th Insurrections. In addition, Chief Justice Roberts has openly rejected calls by the Senate for a meeting to discuss the continuing controversy, misdeeds, and misconduct of the Court. These Supreme Court follies have expanded the call for Supreme Court Reform. In addition, this show will also cover some of the case developments post-Alexander and the continuing undermining of civil rights law by MAGA Neo-Confederate White Supremacist State Attorney Generals; and, the 11th Circuit’s Decision in the Fearless Fund Case.

QUESTIONS:

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM Eastern Time

• Happy PRIDE Month!
• Hello Christine. Welcome to Igniting Change. Please tell our audience about the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD Coalition) and its important work.
• Christine, In 2021, as we were struggling to pass powerful federal voting rights legislation, you suggested that we hold a day of commemoration and candlelight vigils for John Lewis. What inspired you to come up with that concept?
• Christine, This year, we are renewing that call. In these four years, post-the passing of John Lewis, our democracy has become more endangered, with not only many more voter suppression legislation being passed in the states but outright attacks on the teachings of African-American history; book bannings; attacks on the First Amendment; anti-LGBTQIA legislation; and, anti-reproductive rights legislation. Why should people throughout this country participate in hosting events?
• Christine, Tell people how they can visit the DFAD Coalition website to see the many graphics and informational pamphlets that you have produced on the Freedom to Vote Act?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

12:15 PM Eastern Time

• Lynn, How do people become a host for a John Lewis Day of Action event? (Short link: tinyurl.com/2024JohnLewis) 
• Lynn, tell us about some of the events that are already registered?
• Terry, you were with us with the activation that we did in November of 2023 in Kentucky and Ohio. You can remember the enthusiasm of young people and people of all ages. We had our 16 Freedom Riders but also met a 100+ year old Black veteran who was celebrating his decades of voting. Terry, from your vantage point, why is it so important for people to engage in these John Lewis commemorative events?
• Lynn, on June 13th, there is going to be a meeting for everyone interested in being part of this July 17th Movement. Please tell people how to register.
• Terry, The threat to our democracy is not just limited to just the electoral process and all of these evil voter restriction laws, but it’s also happening with the Court becoming more openly partisan. Terry, when you heard of Alito’s upside down flag, what were your first thoughts?
• It’s fascinating that Rep. Jared Huffman on his site makes a valid point that people are missing the connection between Alito and Christian Nationalism. Why is this connection dangerous to our Constitutional principles? (Jared Huffman’s statement: https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/rep-jared-huffman-i-want-to-thank-samuel-alito-for-flying-his-flags)
• How urgent is this need for Court reform?
• What are some of the proposals that present the best options for ensuring a truly independent judiciary? 
• We want everyone to know the court on Monday, June 3rd, issued a short order in the case of Simpson vs. Thurston which vacated the judgment below and remanded the case to the U.S. District Court for further consideration in light of the disastrous decision Alexander vs South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. They also denied a motion for a stay again in the Alexander case. Let’s talk about this.
• These very conservative courts continue to attack affirmative action and DEI, most recently in the Fearless Fund case, in which the 11th Circuit temporarily blocked them from awarding grants to Black women as the case is being litigated. This is a preliminary injunction and not a permanent ruling as the case is still being litigated. “This is the first court decision in the 150+ year history of the post-Civil War civil rights law that has halted private charitable support for any racial or ethnic group,” Jason Schwartz, a lawyer with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which is representing Fearless Fund, said in a statement emailed to The Washington Post. (Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/06/03/fearless-fund-grants-blocked/). Let’s discuss this ruling. What did hold? Why is this bad law? This is more fruit of the poisonous tree of courts misapplying the disastrous decision of Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard (2023). 
• How can our listeners get involved with the John Lewis Day of Action? (https://tinyurl.com/2024JohnLewis)
• What work is being done to build knowledge and support for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act?
• What are your one-minute final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?