Ep. 38: Kzoo Events Center, KPS Equity, Gun Control and the Holocaust, and More

On today's show we start by looking at the newest development in the long and storied history of a potential Kalamazoo Events Center downtown. SouthWest Michigan First is looking at moving forward with the long-discussed event center with private funds. We talk about the public response to previous attempts to fund an events center, the issues that occur when big projects like this are built in communities, and look at broader questions about control over land use and public space is in the hands of the few and not the many.

 

We read from an article that takes a critical look at the lack of equity in Kalamazoo Public Schools, and how the schools are falling short for students along class and racial lines.

 

The Michigan GOP has recently made a comparison between the legislature's recent gun control measures and the holocaust. We give you some important historical context to not only illustrate the grossness of such a comparison but how it also relies on ignorance and hypocrisy.

 

We close out with an article from LeftVoice about the mass protests in France.

 

2:20- 20:40 The Ongoing Saga of the Kalamazoo Events Center

21:00- 27:30 Racial Equity in Kalamazoo Public Schools

28:40- 42:45 Michigan GOP Compares Gun Control to Holocaust 

43:00- 53:00 TikTok and the New Red Scare

53:00- The Working Class Rising Up in France

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Task force identifies inequitable practices in Kalamazoo Public Schools

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2023/03/task-force-identifies-inequitable-practices-in-kalamazoo-public-schools.html

 

Michigan GOP chair refuses to apologize for comparing gun control to Holocaust

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/23/michigan-republican-party-holocaust-gun-control-tweet

 

Hands off My TikTok. Banning It Would Hurt the Most Marginalized

https://www.newsweek.com/hands-off-my-tiktok-banning-it-would-hurt-most-marginalized-opinion-1789597

 

US Congress holds anti-China witch-hunt at TikTok hearing

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/03/25/tikt-m25.html

 

“French March”: The Right to Revolutionary Optimism

https://www.leftvoice.org/french-march-the-right-to-revolutionary-optimism/