community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Rustbelt Radio for May 9, 2011
by Pittsburgh Indymedia: Rustbelt Radio Collecti
Wednesday, May. 11, 2011 at 3:34 AM
radio@indypgh.org
On today's show, we'll hear ... * several responses to the killing of Osama Bin Laden * coverage of a counter NRA rally in Pittsburgh * reactions to the Justice Department refusing to prosecute the cops in the Jordan Miles' case * excerpts from a talk given by Diana Block on her book "Arm the Spirit" * And more in our local and global headlines
audio link: 
MP3 at 54.9 mebibytes
Rustbelt Radio for May 9, 2011 </h1>
<p>
</p><div class="twikiToc"> <ul>
<li> <a href="#Rustbelt_Radio_for_May_9_2011"> Rustbelt Radio for May 9, 2011 <ul>
<li> <a href="#1_00_Intro"> [1:00] Intro
</li> <li> <a href="#Headlines"> Headlines <ul>
<li> <a href="#Local_News"> Local News <ul>
<li> <a href="#11_52_Gun_Control_March_to_NRA"> [11:52] Gun Control March to NRA
</li> <li> <a href="#4_51_PA_Prison_Report"> [ 4:51] PA Prison Report
</li> <li> <a href="#Local_Story_3"> [ ] Local Story 3
</li> <li> <a href="#Wrapup"> Wrapup
</li></ul>
</li> <li> <a href="#Global_News"> Global News <ul>
<li> <a href="#3_00_Noha_s_Letter"> [ 3:00 ] Noha's Letter
</li> <li> <a href="#2_45_Mumia_on_Bin_Laden"> [2:45] Mumia on Bin Laden
</li> <li> <a href="#3_00_Backlash_against_those_ques"> [ 3:00 ] Backlash against those questioning celebrations of Bin Laden's death
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
</li> <li> <a href="#Features"> Features <ul>
<li> <a href="#Intro"> Intro
</li> <li> <a href="#15_00_Justice_for_Jordan_Miles"> [ 15:00 ] Justice for Jordan Miles
</li> <li> <a href="#12_00_Diana_Block"> [ 12:00 ] Diana Block
</li></ul>
</li> <li> <a href="#Ending"> Ending <ul>
<li> <a href="#Calendar_of_Events"> Calendar of Events
</li> <li> <a href="#1_00_Outro"> [1:00] Outro
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
</div>
<p>
</p><h2><a name="1_00_Intro"><a name="_1_00_Intro"> [1:00] Intro </h2>
<p>
Welcome to this week's edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of the news from the grassroots, news overlooked by the corporate media.
</p><p>
On today's show, we'll hear ...
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> several responses to the killing of Osama Bin Laden
</li> <li> coverage of a counter NRA rally in Pittsburgh
</li> <li> reactions to the Justice Department refusing to prosecute the cops in the Jordan Miles' case
</li> <li> excerpts from a talk given by Diana Block on her book "Arm the Spirit"
</li> <li> And more in our local and global headlines
</li></ul>
<p>
Rustbelt Radio is broadcast live from WRCT studios every other Monday at 6 PM on 88.3 FM in Pittsburgh, and the program airs again on WRCT every Tuesday morning at 9AM.
</p><p>
We can also be heard weekly on the following stations:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> WIUP 90.1 FM in Indiana
</li> <li> WNJR 91.7 FM in Washington
</li> <li> WLRI 93 FM in eastern Pennsylvania
</li> <li> and FRSC 101.1 FM in Santa Cruz, California
</li></ul>
<p>
We're also available on the internet, both on WRCT's live webstream at W-R-C-T dot ORG and for download, stream or podcast from our website at radio dot I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot org.
</p><p>
We turn now to local stories.
</p><p>
</p><h2><a name="Headlines"> Headlines </h2>
<p>
</p><h3><a name="Local_News"> Local News </h3>
<p>
</p><h4><a name="11_52_Gun_Control_March_to_NRA"><a name="_11_52_Gun_Control_March_to_NRA"> [11:52] Gun Control March to NRA </h4>
<p>
* <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/NRA_Demo_Pre-Produced.wav" target="_top">NRA_Demo_Pre-Produced.wav: [11:52]
</p><p>
</p><h4><a name="4_51_PA_Prison_Report"><a name="_4_51_PA_Prison_Report"> [ 4:51] PA Prison Report </h4>
* <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/pa_prison_report_may_ninth_rustbelt.wav" target="_top">pa_prison_report_may_ninth_rustbelt.wav: pa_prison_report_may_ninth_rustbelt.wav
<h4><a name="Local_Story_3"><a name="_Local_Story_3"> [ ] Local Story 3 </h4>
<p>
</p><p>
</p><h4><a name="Wrapup"> Wrapup </h4>
<p>
</p><p>
[ HMB BREAK RUSTBELT - 0:20 (fades down 0:10 in to start global intro) ]
</p><p>
You are listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of news overlooked by the corporate media. We turn now to other independent news from around the world.
</p><p>
</p><h3><a name="Global_News"> Global News </h3>
<p>
</p><h4><a name="3_00_Noha_s_Letter"><a name="_3_00_Noha_s_Letter_"> [ 3:00 ] <strong>Noha's Letter</strong> </h4>
<p>
Rustbelt radio spoke with a young activist, Noha Redwan, in Cairo to hear her response to the news of Bin Laden's death:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/NohasLetter.wav" target="_top">NohasLetter.wav: (2:38)
</li></ul>
<p>
That was Noha Redwan, a Cairo activist on the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
</p><p>
</p><h4><a name="2_45_Mumia_on_Bin_Laden"><a name="_2_45_Mumia_on_Bin_Laden"> [2:45] Mumia on Bin Laden </h4>
<p>
Continuing on the subject of Bin Laden's killing, the following is commentary from Mumia Abu Jamal entitled "Lessons from the Osama Hit." As we mentioned earlier in the PA Prison Report, on April 26, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Court ordered a new sentencing hearing for Abu-Jamal, the former Black Panther and journalist currently serving time in prison on death row.
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/TheLessonFromTheOsamaHit.mp3" target="_top">TheLessonFromTheOsamaHit.mp3: (2:22)
</li></ul>
<p>
That was Mumia Abu-Jamal in a piece from May 8th entitled "Lessons from the Osama Hit."
</p><p>
</p><h4><a name="3_00_Backlash_against_those_ques"><a name="_3_00_Backlash_against_those_que"> [ 3:00 ] Backlash against those questioning celebrations of Bin Laden's death </h4>
<p>
Locally, there has been backlash against Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, who questioned, via Twitter, the celebrations of Bin Laden’s death.
</p><p>
Team president Art Rooney the Second said in a statement that – "it's hard to explain or even comprehend what [Mendenhall] means." Sports apparel maker Champion dropped the 23-year-old player’s endorsement contract, saying his opinions are
"inconsistent with the value of the Champion brand."
</p><p>
In a May 4th blogpost clarifying his statement, Mendenhall said he was trying to generate open and honest discussion.
</p><p>
This was "something I said in response to the amount of joy I saw in the event of a murder. I don’t believe that this is an issue of politics or American pride; but one of religion, morality, and human ethics… I wasn’t questioning Bin Laden’s evil acts. I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil. Earlier this week, parts of the world watched us in horror, celebrating a man’s death."
</p><p>
The Pittsburgh chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War has spoken up in support of Mendenhall’s free speech rights.
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/Iraq_Vets_2.flac" target="_top">Iraq_Vets_2.flac: [01:30]
</li></ul>
<p>
Here is their statement:
</p><p>
We are a group of veterans residing in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania who have served in the military during the Global War on Terror. Many of us deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. We commend Rashard Mendenhall for speaking out against mob mentality and violence.
</p><p>
We do not condone the actions of September 11, and we mourn the loss the victims of those atrocities and the loss their families suffered. As service members, our lives were greatly affected by those events. But as veterans who have served overseas in a time of war, we know first hand that death is nothing to celebrate, no matter whose it may be.
</p><p>
We applaud Rashard Mendenhall for having the strength to make these comments, despite their unpopularity and we respect his ability to think beyond anger. It disturbs us that the Rooneys are more concerned about Mendenhall’s comments, which are legal and within the realm of free speech, than being represented by a quarterback accused of serial sexual assault. We are concerned about what type of message this sends about the values of the Steelers and the culture of this city and nation.
</p><p>
We urge the Steelers not to take recourse against Mendenhall, and we continue to stand behind him in support.
</p><p>
Founded in 2004, Iraq Veterans Against the War has 2,000 members in more than 60 chapters across the United States. To learn more, go to ivaw.org.
</p><p>
</p><h2><a name="Features"> Features </h2>
<p>
</p><h3><a name="Intro"> Intro </h3>
<p>
You're listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of news from the grassroots.
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><h3><a name="15_00_Justice_for_Jordan_Miles"><a name="_15_00_Justice_for_Jordan_Miles"> [ 15:00 ] Justice for Jordan Miles </h3>
<p>
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/JFJM-emergency-protest-MONO.ogg" target="_top">JFJM-emergency-protest-MONO.ogg: Jordan Miles Emergency Protest story
</li></ul>
<p>
</p><p>
</p><h3><a name="12_00_Diana_Block"><a name="_12_00_Diana_Block"> [ 12:00 ] Diana Block </h3>
<p>
This last week, author and activist Diana Block spoke at the University of Pittsburgh and the Union Project to share her book, “Arm the Spirit: A Woman’s Journey Underground and Back,” which details her experience as a political activist who went from being in a group of people who were on the most wanted list and living with another identity in Pittsburgh to a return to public life. Both the Human Rights Coalition Fed Up chapter and the Pittsburgh Organizing Group sponsored the event.
</p><p>
Here is Block on a summary of her life as covered in the book:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/DB_intro.wav" target="_top">DB_intro.wav: (1:09)
</li></ul>
<p>
As Block mentioned, the Puerto Rican movement for freedom from the United States was central to her activism. In fact, it was the purchasing of false explosives for the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional from undercover FBI agents and their transfer across state lines that led to their group's status on the most wanted list. Block explained more about the movement for Puerto Rico’s liberation:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/DB_puerto_rico.wav" target="_top">DB_puerto_rico.wav: (1:32)
</li></ul>
<p>
Block, her partner and four other members of their group all decided to go underground with each other and their children after finding a bug in their car in San Francisco. Most of them moved to Pittsburgh and began their new lives. Here is Block reading from her book on this part of their journey:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/DB_in_pgh.wav" target="_top">DB_in_pgh.wav: (1:53)
</li></ul>
<p>
Shortly after, the show America’s Most Wanted debuted and caused worry that their story would play and they would be discovered. A year after watching the show diligently, it finally did air but with pieces too fragmented and pictures too old to be of much concern to them.
</p><p>
Block emphasized the context of the era when answering a question from the audience on looking back to what happened and what she felt was accomplished by their actions:
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> <a href="https://wiki.indypgh.org/pub/Radio/Shows/2011x05x09/DB_context.wav" target="_top">DB_context.wav: (5:15)
</li></ul>
<p>
In the end, two of the members, including Block’s partner, served time in prison as a part of their deal with the FBI as they were the only ones who had actual charges against them for purchasing explosives. The other four members, and their children, were able to re-enter public life without, as Block said, prison time or compromising their political ideals.
</p><p>
From Block’s experiences with her partner while he was incarcerated, she was inspired to work around prison issues, specifically looking at women and transgendered prisoners. Block now directs her activism towards the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.
</p><p>
You can find Diana Block’s book, “Arm the Spirit: A Woman’s Journey Underground and Back,” at akpress.com.
</p><p>
</p><h2><a name="Ending"> Ending </h2>
<p>
</p><h3><a name="Calendar_of_Events"> Calendar of Events </h3>
<p>
And now we present the Indymedia Calendar of Events. To get your event on this calendar, email info at indypgh.org
</p><p> </p><ul>
<li> Gasland, the award-winning documentary film questioning the safety of natural gas drilling now underway in Pennsylvania, returns to the Pittsburgh area. A free screening of the film – which focuses on the controversial technology known as fracking – airs at 7 pm on Tuesday, May 10th at the Monroeville Public Library, with discussion to follow. For more information, go to monroevillelibrary.org or Gaslandthemovie.com.
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tina Rosenberg will discuss what lessons previous revolutions can offer activists today in Africa and the Middle East. Rosenberg speaks from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, May 12th at the Bricolage theater Downtown. Admission is $20. To learn more, check out worldpittsburgh.org.
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> The Alliance For Police Accountability will protest recent developments in the Jordan Miles case at 1pm on Saturday, May 14th outside police headquarters at 1203 Western Avenue in the North Side. The U-S Justice Department recently found no civil rights violations by three plainclothes Pittsburgh Police officers who beat the high school honor student in January 2010 for – quote – behaving suspiciously. The officers returned to duty earlier this month. To learn more, go to Justiceforjordanmiles.com.
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> Food activist Anna Lappé will discuss how to sustain communities while encouraging innovative and democratic solutions to problems of hunger and environmental degradation. Lappé, author of Diet for a Hot Planet, speaks at 5pm on Saturday, May 14th at the Eddy Theater at Chatham University in Shadyside. For more information, check out Chatham.edu.
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> Silk Screen, the sixth annual Asian American Film Festival, continues through May 15th at Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ theaters Downtown, in Oakland and in Regent Square. The festival includes films from the Far East and Southeast Asia, as well as the United States and Iran, and seeks to foster understanding across racial, ethnic, religious and regional boundaries. Check out SilkScreenFestival.org to learn more.
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> Explore the personal rewards and benefits of tutoring! AmeriCorps and the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council are looking for tutors to help refugees and immigrants learn skills that they need to be in this country, such as English courses, computer courses, General equivalency Degrees, and more. On Friday May 20th at 6pm come to the Ava Lounge in East Liberty or, for more information, visit http://www.gplc.org/AmeriCorps
</li></ul>
<p> </p><ul>
<li> Do all Pittsburgh public school students have equal access to educational opportunities? Is the Pittsburgh Promise reaching the students who need it most? An upcoming cityLIVE Panel discussion explores these issues and more at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 25th at the New Hazlett Theater in the North Side. To learn more go to citylivepgh.org.
</li></ul>
<p>
</p><p>
</p><h3><a name="1_00_Outro"><a name="_1_00_Outro"> [1:00] Outro </h3>
<p>
[ Outro Music ]
</p><p>
Thanks for tuning in to Rustbelt Radio here on WRCT Pittsburgh, WIUP Indiana, WNJR Washington, WLRI LanChester, and FRSC Santa Cruz.
</p><p>
Our hosts this week are Hannah Taleb and Bonnie Pfister with contributions from Mana Aliabadi, Lizzie Anderson, Emily Laychak, and Nigel Parry. This week's show was produced by Shawn Watson. Special thanks to all of our hosts, producers, and contributors.
</p><p>
You can get involved with Rustbelt Radio! To contact us, email <a href="mailto:radio@indypgh.org">radio@indypgh.org. Become our fan on Facebook to receive updates on our latest episode, and follow us on Twitter @pghimc. All of our shows are available on our website at <a href="mailto:radio@indypgh.org">radio@indypgh.org and this show can be heard again Tuesday morning on WRCT at 9 AM after Democracy Now!
</p><p>
Tune in next week at this time for another edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of news from the grassroots.
</p>
Rustbelt Radio for May 9, 2011
by Pittsburgh Indymedia: Rustbelt Radio Collecti
Wednesday, May. 11, 2011 at 3:34 AM
radio@indypgh.org
audio: ogg vorbis at 29.6 mebibytesaudio: ogg vorbis at 29.6 mebibytes
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