Over the weekend, #BlackLivesMatter protesters disrupted a political forum featuring Democratic Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley at the progressive Netroots Nation conference in Phoenix, AZ.
The leader of that lively and lengthy (and, apparently, controversial) protest, Tia Oso, National Coordinator of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) joins us on today’s BradCast to explain why she did it and to discuss the reactions from O’Malley, Sanders and the progressives who support them.
“We talk a lot. There are a lot of town halls. We have NAACP and Urban League at the national level having these conversations all the time. Reports are issued. And the fact that it takes almost a spectacle of black suffering for people to even have their hearts moved is heartbreaking to me,” Oso tells me.
Also on today’s program: Hate crimes charges filed against the Charleston AME Church shooter (though not terrorism charges); Hillary Clinton may be in trouble against Republicans in three key swing states; the Pope’s popularity is faltering in the U.S. (largely among Rightwingers, for some reason); and why it’s a problem when candidates, like Hillary, get so much of their campaign money from the wealthy donor class…
What occurred during your interview of Tia Oso is precisely what I had in mind by productive democratic discourse. Amazing how much more effective that type of discourse is when presented in the setting of your polite interaction with her.
I’d love to see that discussion furthered by having Bernie Sanders and/or Martin O’Malley interviewed on a future BradCast in which Tia Oso would be given an opportunity to question them.
Yes, I am not a fan of shouting down speakers, especially when said speaker has been working on civil rights issues since before the March on Washington. Rude, disrespectful, pretentious at the kindest words that come to mine. Any efforts to channel shout-down into discussion — by all parties — are appreciated.
To paraphrase Dustin Hoffman, “Hey, I’m talkin’ here!” 🙂
I’m so happy with the caliber and diversity of the guests on the podcast. I just sent another $20.00 bucks Brad!
Thanks!
Robert Reich has authored a thoughtful article on this topic, noting:
He goes on to explain how this would play into right wing divide and conquer strategies.
Larry Bergan @ 4:
Thank you so much for that, Larry! It means a great deal! The donation, of course, but, in particular, your comments about the show and appreciation for what we’re trying to do with it!
Ernie quoted Robert Reich @5, saying:
But it would be a terrible mistake for the progressive movement to split into a “Black lives matter” movement and an “economic justice” movement.
Agreed! Why do you guys keep trying to do that?
I come home late from the tavern and look at you guys….Mr. Sunshine here says that everyone! is right, so who’s up for hugs?….
Your suggestion, Brad, that either ChicagoMel or I are trying split the progressive movement into a “Black lives matter” and an “economic justice” movement is not even close to being accurate.
As I noted previously, I am 100% in agreement with the substance of the Black Lives Matter message. My problem is that the method of delivering that message at Netroots opened up an opportunity for the MSM to spin a faux divide when, in reality, progressives and Black Lives Matter are on the same page.
This morning, on Meet the Press Sanders made short work of Chuck Todd’s effort to erect that faux divide.
Ernest A. Canning:
I saw that this morning. I haven’t watched the Sunday shows for years, but I turned it on and was surprised to see Sanders invited on. The theme Todd wanted to push was that Bernie and Trump were somehow connected because of their populist appeal, and that was what the panel who spoke after his appearance were primed to focus on.
As Todd admitted: Bernie wasn’t going there. 🙂
Of course Chuck was going to bring up the BLM incident. In my opinion, their aim is going to be making Sanders loose his temper so they can have a “Dean Scream” or some such nonsense. Dean now calls his famous pep talk the, “I Have a Scream Speech”. I love it!
Sanders/Dean 2016!
It even rhymes.
And let’s never forget that the media was playing “the Dean scream” ENDLESSLY and saying he was a loose cannon about a week after Chris Matthews asked him if he was intent on breaking up the big media corporations. Dean said yes, and the rest is made-for-media history.
It might be more accurate, Larry, to describe what occurred after “the scream” as media-made-history.
I love Howard Dean. Just like Sanders, he’s as honest as they come.