Black Agenda Radio for Week of September 14, 2015 | Black Agenda Report

Black Agenda Radio for Week of September 14, 2015

15 Sep 2015

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Justice Department Blowing Smoke on Prosecuting Corporate Execs

“There’s nothing new” in a U.S. Justice Department memo that claims it will bring more criminal prosecutions against corporate executives, rather than merely fining their companies, said Russell Mohkiber, editor of the Corporate Crime Reporter. “The Department was under so much heat for not criminally prosecuting even one major financial institution or one executive from those financial institutions that led to the 2008 financial collapse, that it decide it had to ‘do something,’” said Mohkiber. “What it did was release a memo basically codifying” previous policy, while changing nothing. “Don’t believe the hype!”

Baltimore Mayor is “Rattled,” Won’t Run for Re-Election

Jill Carter, the most radical member of the Maryland House of Delegates, believes Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake decided not run for re-election, last week, “due to the stress of the last months and the lack of confidence that has been expressed across the board in the mayor.” Rawlings-Blake’s announcement came on the heels of the city’s $6.4 million settlement with the family of Freddie Gray, and a judge’s refusal to change the venue of the trial of the six police officers charged in Gray’s death. The mayor “appeared to be very rattled and off balance,” said Delegate Carter, a lawyer from a family steeped in the Black rights movement, who has herself run for mayor – and may run again. Carter said a “shadow government” of rich donors actually runs the city.

Movement in Need of an “Ideological Lens”

“What has been missing” from the current U.S. Black political awakening “is an ideological lens and guide that movements require to expose the contradictions of the system,” said Danny Haiphong, a contributing writer for Black Agenda Report and activist with FIST – Fight Imperialism, Stand Together, in Boston. Haiphong is author of an article in the current issue of BAR, titled “Why George Jackson Matters,” which explores the legacy of the former Black Panther leader who was killed by guards in San Quentin Prison, in 1971. In today’s activist circles, said Haiphong, “I think there is a fear and a relative hostility to the idea of socialism, to the ideas of the Black Liberation Movement, and I also think there’s an aversion to history.”

Uhuru Movement Gets Low-Power FM Radio Station

The African People’s Socialist Party, commonly known as the Uhuru Movement, won permission to operate a low-power FM radio station in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Party is headquartered. “It’s going to be the only Black-owned station in the city” and will provide “a sharply defined format that deals with Black issues, and every aspect of Black culture,” said chairman Omali Yeshitela. “We’re talking about even teaching people how to do gardening.” Fundraising for the station’s broadcasting equipment begins on Sunday, September 20, at Uhuru House, with the goal of raising $50,000 so that the station can begin operations early next year.

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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