Listen to Black Agenda Radio on the Progressive Radio Network, with Glen Ford and Nellie Bailey – Week of 3/19/14

U.S. Guilty in Haiti Cholera Epidemic

The United States “is as responsible, if not more,” than the United Nations for the cholera outbreak in Haiti, since “it’s because of the military occupation that we have cholera,” said Dr. Jemima Pierre, professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville. The U.S. backed a coup against the democratically elected government of Haiti, in 2004, and then invaded the country. “ Later, the U.S. brought in the UN “to cover this dirty work and make it legitimate,” said Dr. Pierre. UN “peacekeepers” were the vectors of the disease.

Crimea Deserves Self-Determination

Dr. John Quigley, professor of international law at Ohio State University with decades of experience in Russia and its neighbors, said Crimean “sentiment for separation” from Ukraine ”has been very strong for a very long time” and the referendum on secession was not taken “under the gun” of Russia. The U.S. and its allies claim all of Ukraine should have been allowed to vote. But, “the essence of self-determination is that a particular people” – such as the Crimeans – “has that right.”

U.S. Billions for Ukrainian Fascists, Cuts for Hungry American Children

Washington is offering $10 billion in loan guarantees to the partly-fascist government of Ukraine, while cutting $8 billion in food stamp benefits to Americans, said Sara Flounders, of the United National Anti-War Coalition (UNAC). “That is literally stealing food from the mouths of children,” she said. UNAC held demonstrations in 18 cities last week, to protest U.S. support for the coup in Ukraine. “The encirclement of Russia – and China – is what it’s all about,” said Flounders.

Mumia: Police Still Spreading Anti-MOVE Propaganda

The Fraternal Order of Police has orchestrated a renewed campaign of hatred and disinformation against the MOVE organization in order to prevent imprisoned members from winning parole, said Mumia Abu Jamal, the nation’s best-known political prisoner. MOVE members convicted in the death of a policeman during a 1978 raid have served their minimum sentences and are up for parole, and many Black Philadelphians have never gotten over the 1985 police bombing of a MOVE house that killed 11 people, including five children. A recent Philadelphia Magazine article was “full of innuendo and suggestion that MOVE folks beat and attacked their children,” said Abu Jamal – a ploy designed to focus public anger on MOVE rather than the police who actually killed so many children.

Monteiro Supporters Blast Temple University and Molefi Asante

Hundreds of community, student and labor activists demanded reinstatement with tenure for Dr. Anthony Monteiro, an associate professor in the African American Studies Department. “I’m troubled by the fact that all of the people who understand what justice looks like are out here,” instead of in Sullivan Hall, where the university’s board of trustees was meeting, said Henry Nicholas, president of Local 1199C of the Hospital and Health Care Employees Union. Anti-hunger activist Sacaree Rhodes led a few dozen demonstrations into the building, where Temple’s president confirmed that Dr. Molefi Asante, chairman of African American Studies, had collaborated in terminating Monteiro’s contract. Dr. Monteiro told the crowd: “If you are telling me that you can have a department of African American studies without teaching the radical tradition, and the traditions of socialism,” then “you are telling me that you want a department built on a lie.”

Black Agenda Radio on the Progressive Radio Network is hosted by Glen Ford and Nellie Bailey. A new edition of the program airs every Monday at 11:00am ET on PRN. Length: One hour.

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