Ep. 25: Sacrifice Zones and Police Brutality in Kzoo, and Other Stories

We talk about the ongoing struggle against Graphic Packaging Inc. and their pollution on the Northside neighborhood. Area residents recently demonstrated at Kalamazoo City Hall to call attention to the Northside being an environmental "sacrifice zone." We give you some historical context about this ongoing issue and talk about how national decisions from the Supreme Court weakening the EPA play into this local injustice.

 

Last week Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers accosted some local residents in a stairwell at an apartment complex- after surrendering a legally owned firearm the residents were beaten bloody by the officers and dragged down concrete steps. We reflect on this brutal incident and the trajectory of overt brutality seen from Kalamazoo police in recent years.

 

Good news everyone! Abortion and voting rights WILL be on the ballot, and the Big River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians have won a lawsuit against Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline.

We spend the rest of the hour reflecting on a big international story- the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. We look at the colonial history of the British Empire under the monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II, discuss a big generation gap on how people are approaching the Queen's death, and the response from the mainstream media that omits much of the darker histories we discuss.

We close out the show with some reflections on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

3:15- 22:15 Northside Residents Protest Pollution at City Hall

22:15- 46:50 Local Residents Beaten Bloody By Kzoo Police

46:50- 1:02:50 Good News on Abortion, Voting Rights, and Line 5 in Michigan

1:02:50- 1:06:00 Steve Bannon Arrested For Fleecing His Own Supporters

1:07:00- 1:32:40 God Save (Us From) The Queen: Colonizer Legacies and Media Mourning

1:32:40- 1:44:50 Reflections on the 9/11 Anniversary

 

SOURCES

Citizens protest over toxins found in the air near their homes in Kalamazoo

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/09/citizens-protest-over-toxins-found-in-the-air-near-their-homes-in-kalamazoo.html?fbclid=IwAR2agPmHVuvMzbw6PRVVocJt11w92ZkqzdptXL74qGqd655r7WnMteCnRc0

 

Black Lives Matter Kzoo/ Battle Creek Statement on Recent Police Brutality

https://www.facebook.com/BLMKZOOBC/posts/pfbid02xqy4fT9nsKEKmvqKWxV8xcyQBsX2d8ULC8pnvASuG15h4vtx32xgsYEkkHnScYeMl

 

Video Footage of Incident (WARNING: Explicit Footage of Police Violence)

https://www.facebook.com/jaquena.nelson/posts/pfbid0ksB4AY4srQ28L5fyMQRKCVRG9ceNFteVXu4TGuTv7yWpfG9sw1Y4aveVeNwoFLBel

 

Judge rules for tribe in Line 5 suit, says Enbridge is trespassing and must pay damages

https://www.metrotimes.com/news/judge-rules-for-tribe-in-line-5-suit-says-enbridge-is-trespassing-and-must-pay-damages-31039887