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.
