Jada Trainor and her husband, Jonathan, join the show this week to discuss their October 1 trial where they defeated trumped-up felony charges of attempting to disarm a police officer and battery against a cop.
Last week's Naptown Breakdown mentioned how Joe Hogsett's Indiana Economic Development Corporation was serving corporate interests and actively opposing the people's. This week, Co-Hosts Dani Abdullah and Derek Ford discuss a recent audit that found rampant luxury travel expenses, undisclosed conflicts of interest, no-bid contracts worth millions of dollars, a lack of transparency, and more. Next we turn to BlackRock's bid to buy energy monopoly AES through a subsidiary named Global Infrastructure Partners they bought last year for $12.5 billion. Minnesota and other states are also under the gun. Why should the world's largest asset manager with $12.5 trillion in the bank control our energy, instead of the people who actually need and use it? In our last section, we turn to higher education. While Pamela Whitten has rightfully been scrutinized for plagiarizing significant portions of her dissertation, poor academic work characterizes the majority of higher education administrators. We focus on DePauw University's Sarah Steinkamp, who serves as Vice President for Communications and Strategy and Chief of Staff. Her 2017 dissertation from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, argues that improving success rates for pregnant students requires "devoting resources to preventing pregnancy in 18-19 year olds, and students of color in particular."
Next, Derek interviews Jada and Jonathan Trainor just days after Jada and her family won a significant and rare victory against the police and their prosecutors. They unveil what happened that day, why the Jury didn't buy it, how the prosecutor's witnesses contradicted each other, why Prosecutor Mears dragged the trial on for over a year, how Eskenazi lied about having video footage pertinent to the event, and how the most aggressive officer, Anthony Sisco, was later fired from Eskenazi. Unfortunately, he is now an ICE officer and a cop with the Southport Police. While the was acquitted on the most serious felony charges, she was convicted of resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. Her attorney immediately filed a motion to appeal that bogus charge. So the victory is secured but we will remain by the Trainor's side as they squash this final bogus charge.
This week, Dani Abdullah gives the Circle City Shout Out goes to Minister Jamil Campbell. A Haughville native and a Minister at Light of the World Christian Church. Minister Campbell has been a friend of the party and involved with the Indy Liberation Center since August 2023 in which he spoke at our Black August liberation forum. Minister Campbell’s life work centers on liberation not just through the bible but also through his actions. He shows up for the community not just on Sundays but every day of the week through volunteer work in the community and takes special note of working with and for the youth of our community. Most recently he was a participant at our Youth Safety in Indy Town Hall Meeting at the Liberation Center. Minister Campbell is a great example of what it looks like to show up for the community and how liberation looks different for everyone depending on what your calling is.
Show Notes:
"IEDC Audit Details Undisclosed Conflicts, 'Potential for Favoritism,'" Lauren Chapman, Indiana Public Media
"BlackRock Unit Close to $38 Billion Deal for US Energy Firm AES," Martina Markosyan, Renewables Now
"The Effects of Pregnancy on Student Progress," Sarah Steinkamp (Dissertation), Southern University of Illinois - Carbondale
"Jada Trainor Wins Victory against Medical Racism and Police Terror," Dani Abdullah, Indianapolis Liberator
"U.S. Veteran Speaks after Startling Police Attack," Destiny Glover, Indianapolis Liberator
"Attacked by Cops in 2024, Jada Trainor Waits for Day in Court," Derek Ford, Indianapolis Liberator
"Black August and Black Liberation Theology," Jamil Campbell, PSL Indianapolis
"Free Darius (Hakim) Printup from Unjust Solitary Confinement!" Indianapolis Liberator
"October Levitt LIVE Music Series," Arte Mexicano en Indiana, Indianapolis Liberator
"As the Summer Ends, Let's Take the Fight to New Heights!" Indianapolis Liberation Center Volunteers, Indianapolis Liberator
