Today on Sojourner Truth:
The ongoing crisis in Haiti deepens as COVID-19 continues its spread there and as government-backed paramilitary thugs are yet again on a rampage in the Lasalin and Cite Soleil sections of Port-au-Prince. The man leading the charge in these massacres is known by international agencies and the U.S.-backed Haitian government for having participated in massacres in 2019. Nevertheless, he remains on the street. The United States is threatening to deport a former Haitian death squad leader, Emmanuel Toto Constant, back to Haiti. He remains a wanted man in Haiti. He fled the country to the U.S. to avoid facing justice. But in the U.S., he was arrested and caught in fraud schemes, being sentenced to prison. But now, the Trump administration wants to return him to Haiti, despite an outcry from Haitians and human rights organizations. The present U.S.-backed Haitian government is said to be friendly toward Constant. Our guest is Maud Jean-Michel, a well-known organizer in the Haitian diaspora community.
We mark the anniversary of the bombing of Earth First environmentalists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. Judi was a forest defender, labor activist, feminist, anarchist and a campaigner against logging in the redwood forests of Northern California. Darryl is an environmentalist and musician. Both Judi and Darryl were injured on May 24, 1990, when a pipe bomb that had been placed in their car exploded. Although both survived the pipe bomb explosion, Judi was left with critical injuries, including a fractured pelvis. Instead of figuring out who was responsible for the explosion, Oakland Police and the FBI immediately accused her and Darryl of allegedly carrying a bomb for use in an act of terrorism. They were treated as suspects, not victims. Today, we highlight Judi's life and legacy. Our guest is Karen Pickett, who has been involved with forest activism and other ecological and social issues with Earth First and other organizations for four decades. She and Judi Bari were close friends and comrades.
For this week's Campaigners for Black Lives segment, yet another Black man, George Floyd, is dead at the hands of police. This time, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also, what is going on in Los Angeles as Black Lives Matter LA press forward on their demands to limit the power of the LAPD? Our guest is Dr. Melina Abdullah is a professor, author and community organizer in Los Angeles. Dr. Abdullah serves on the leadership team for Black Lives Matter and is committed to ending state-sponsored and police violence towards all people, and especially Black people.
Lastly, our weekly Earth Minute presented by Anne Petermann of the Global Justice Ecology Project.
