Making Contact

Some call it a new civil rights movement. Others simply call it “black lives matter”. But its yet to be seen if the momentum for justice will result in systemic change. And to get there, what kind of strategies are needed? On this weeks edition, a conversation about waging non-violence between civil rights movement veteran David Hartsough and Ferguson activist Reverand. Osagyefo Uhuru.Sekou. Featuring: David Hartsough, civil rights activist and author of “Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist,” Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru.Sekou, activist and Pastor For Formation & Justice Church Special thanks to Waging Nonviolence.

Before it was legal in the United States, some doctors would risk arrest to provide women with access to safe abortions. When that wasn’t possible, some sought abortions from unsafe providers, often with deadly consequences. The Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, and the numbers of people dying after having an abortion dropped, but are we now seeing a return to the past? On this edition, what can the time before abortion was legal tell us about the dangers of restricting access to abortion today? We’ll hear a special radio adaption of "Motherhood by Choice not Chance" a documentary produced and narrated by Dorothy Fadiman.

You’ve heard of Hip-Hop, but what about Krip-Hop? That’s the name for the international movement of disabled artists, poets, musicians, and MCs. On this edition of Making Contact, we hear the story of Krip Hop from hate mail to worldwide phenomenon.

The female body as medium, and as message. How can a woman determine how she is perceived by the world, and even by herself? On this edition, we hear stories of women who are using their bodies for political protest, and as tools of self-empowerment…forcing everyone to reevaluate their perspectives on the female form. Featuring: Neda Topaloski & Xenia Chernyshova, Femen members Galia Ackerman, author of the book “Femen” Catherine King, Executive Producer, Global Fund for Women Yolando Y’Netta Harbin-Venson, Big Ol Pretty Girls owner Jenny “Diva” Davis, clothing designer Diva’s Exquisite Designs.

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th 1963, Martin Luther King Jr delivered one of the most famous speeches of all time. But it nearly didn't happen. On this special edition of Making Contact for MLK Day, Gary Younge, author of “The Speech” talks about Martin Luther King Junior's “Dream” and the story behind it. Featuring: Gary Younge, author of “The Speech: Martin Luther King Jr's Dream and the Story Behind It”

What are the roots of the historic mistrust between people of color, especially African Americans, and the police? And how does 911 really work? Is slow response time just perception, or reality? During the 2nd half of our 2-part special—The Race to An Emergency, we follow the path of a 911 call, and along the way, encounter decades of mistrust that fuel a lack of confidence in the system.

When you call 911, who answers the phone? How do they decide who to send to the scene, and how fast will they get there? We bring you a 2-part special—The Race to An Emergency, produced by KALW radio in San Francisco. We follow the path of a 911 call, and along the way, encounter decades of mistrust that fuel a lack of confidence in the system. Special thanks to KALW Radio. Featuring: Lesley Phillips, Sharena Thomas, Peoples Community Medics co-founders Nikki Anjenique, Sharena Thomas daughter Rick Rocha, California Highway Patrol dispatcher Olivia Moy, Wolleen Jones, Oakland police Department dispatchers Terry Woodard, Oakland Fire Department Communications dispatcher Jason Murphy, Paramedics Plus dispatcher Tracy Chin, Rob Thrower, Oakland Fire Fighters Brian Murphy, Oakland Police Officer Regina Harris Gilliard, Johnna Watson Oakland Police Department spokespeople Benjamin Bowser, Cal State East Bay Sociology Professor

In today’s news cycle it’s challenging keeping up with the latest developments around the world. In 2014 we saw pro-democracy protests spanning 75 days in Hong Kong to the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. Often we just get the stories when they first break, then once the height of a conflict diminishes or really when another issue surfaces to the top of the news cycle, that’s it. After that we don’t hear much more about the issue. Even though we know that the issues remain. On today’s show we’re going to bring you an update on some of the stories we’ve covered this year. We’ll go to a protest to talk to advocates calling for an end to using Native American imagery and stereotypes in sports. We’ll talk to the Center for Food Safety about the political outlook for supporters of better regulations of GMOs and pesticides. And we’ll get an update on US immigration policy from the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Featuring Alice Ollstein, radio producer Suzan Shown Harjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee advocate for American Indian rights Morning Star Gali, co-chair of Bay Area Coalition to End Racism in Sports Jacqueline Keeler, founding member of Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry Don Tipping, Seven Seeds Farm owner Chris Hardy, Rogue valley farmer Sylvia Wu, staff attorney at Center for Food Safety Catherine Tactaquin, Executive Director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Fallen Heroes of 2014 Hundreds of social justice advocates and organizers passed away in 2014, leaving their work behind as their legacy, but often also leaving an irreplaceable hole in their movements.On today’s edition of Making Contact we honor and revisit the lives of just a few of those fallen heroes who passed away this year. Featuring Chokwe Lumumba, former mayor of Jackson MS Morgan Powell, Bronx River Sankofa founder Charity Hicks, Detroit People’s Water Board co-founder Darby Tillis, death penalty opponent Yuri Kochiyama, civil rights activist Ted Gullickson, San Francisco Tenants Union director George Carter; Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools participant Leslie Feinberg, author of Stone Butch Blues Eddie Ellis, prison reform advocate Mark Naison, Fordham University African-American history professor Lila Cabbil, Rosa Parks Institute president emeritus Diane Fujino, author of Heartbeat of Struggle, the revolutionary life of Yuri Kochiyama Taiyo Na, author Randy Shaw, Tenderloin Housing Clinic executive director Qasim Davis, Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools project manager Perry Cobb, Darby Tillis’ co-defendant Dr. Divine Pryor, executive Director of the center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions

Fossil fuels are a trillion dollar industry but environmentalists say they have a plan to pull the plug on the industry: divestment. The campaign to get institutions to end their investments in oil, gas, and coal companies has won supporters around the US and abroad. But is the strategy working? We hear from students in Boulder, Colorado who have been campaigning since 2012 and we hear about the close relationship between the oil industry and professional soccer. Featuring Jay Carmona, Community Divestment Campaign Manager for 350.org Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace Arctic Campaign Michael Goodman, sports writer for Grantland Stefan Szymanski, Professor of Sports Management and Business at the University of Michigan PD Gantert, Kelsey Cody, Fossil Free CU campaigners Ken Mcconnellogue, Vice President for Communication at the University of Colorado Steven Schueth, President and Managing Member of First Affirmative David Gross, Senior Instructor of Finance and Faculty Director of the Masters Program in Finance and Real Estate CU Boulder