Today on Sojourner Truth:
As fires continue to ravage Western U.S. states (in particular California, Oregon and Washington), smoke from the fires have traveled across the country, including to New York City. Also, as far North as Canada and as far East as Europe. The pollutants and fine particles in the air are hazardous to those exposed to it. In particular, those with underlying conditions, children and the elderly. Western states now have the worst air quality in the world. Meanwhile, Donald Trump visited California where he yet again denied global warming, including its relationship to the fires. Our guest is Dr. Robert M. Gould, a medical doctor with Physicians for Social Responsibility.
As polls in swing states tighten, including in Florida, Biden and Trump are now neck-to-neck in Florida. The right of prisoners and former felons to vote has taken on new focus. In Florida, voters had approved the right of former felons to vote, but the voters' decision has been undermined again in a series of court rulings that have the impact of blocking people who have already served their time from voting. The Democratic Governor of Kentucky announced that former felons will be allowed to vote in that state, but in California, that right is still being fought for. There is a proposition on the ballot in California that would afford the right of those on parole to vote. Our guest is Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. Dorsey has over twenty-five years experience working on prison related issues.
For our ongoing Campaigners for Black Lives series, we discuss gangs in the Los Angeles Sheriffs units. A federal investigation may be underway, but Black and Brown communities have known for quite some time that violent gangs exist in Sheriff's units in Black and Latinx communities. The LA Sheriff's Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country. We speak with Mark Anthony, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles.
Also, our weekly Earth Minute and a brand new series, Sojourner's Ballot Box Quiz, with S. Pearl Sharp.
