Time for Some Action at the DNC
August 25, 2008 – 1:09 am
My first full day in Denver gives a hint to what might be in store. I started the day at a morning rally at the Denver capitol organized by “Recreate 68”. Turns out that this collection of peace groups could draw speakers like Ron Kovic (Born on the Forth of July), Cindy Sheehan who is challenging house speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco in November, and Cythia McKinney – Green Party Presidential Candidate. But they couldn’t draw out many other peace groups who organized their own marches later that day. There were about 100 people gathered around the steps –
Going to Denver, Here’s the Leadup
August 23, 2008 – 1:30 am
I just had a conversation previewing Pacifica Radio's unconventional DNC coverage on my show on Friday. Check it out: [audio:http://www.aimeeallison.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/preview-of-convention-coverage.mp3] I'll be anchoring coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver for the Pacifica Radio network. I'll be blogging about our unconventional convention coverage. Our coverage gives us an opportunity to elaborate on the issues that we care deeply about - social, racial and economic justice - angles that will likely be missed by other media outlets. Pacifica Radio will be broadcasting from Denver Monday through Thursday of next week, from 5-9pm pst. More details on the website. In the
Finally, a Peep from Congress about Bush’s Crimes
July 22, 2008 – 6:33 pm
Congressman John Conyers, head of the House Judiciary Committee, will finally hold a hearing in response to Congressman Kucinich's article of impeachment resubmitted to Congress. This is the first, tentative step of the Congress towards impeachment or otherwise holding President Bush accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors. KPFA will carry the hearing live - from 6am - 10am pacific time; I will host along with Larry Bensky. I just saw this video from 2006 from Keith Olberman's show - a special message to Bush on the first day that the Military Tribunal Act became law, eliminating habeus corpus. It's fierce
Nice Mention in Sunday’s Washington Post
July 15, 2008 – 8:56 am
When I interviewed V.V. Ganeshananthan, a journalist and novelist, author of "Love Marriage" I was struck by her raw honestly, and commitment to telling the story of the Sri Lankan-American family caught in the struggle of identity and war and love. In Sunday's Washington Post, she told more about how my interview along with others force her to be a bridge between her parents' home country and her own. In Telling One Story, A Novelist Speaks For a Country V.V. Ganeshananthan writes in the Outlook section on the struggle to discuss all of Sri Lanka's complex history while talking about
Chauncey Bailey Deserves Better
July 14, 2008 – 5:28 pm
It's almost a year since Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey was assassinated on his way to work in Oakland. Today I did an hour-long special on the ongoing murder investigation on KPFA. Our discussion focused on the fact that just a few weeks ago, reporters with the Chauncey Bailey Project revealed a police video that seemed to suggest that Yusuf Bey IV had knowledge or involvement in Chauncey's murder. So why isn't the DA expanding the investigation? For one, the head investigator with the Oakland Police Department has a prior friendship with Bey. But that's just the start of it.
ROTC Near Gone in San Francisco’s Schools
June 27, 2008 – 11:32 am
ROTC is an effective military recruitment tool - in large part because it is often institutionalized as a physical education class and students across the country are often assigned to ROTC involuntarily. But ROTC is much more than physical fitness. The uniforms, wooden rifles and study of war are part and parcel of this program that promotes military and war in the curriculum. It's been an issue in the San Francisco public schools, and this story gives the latest. The school board divorced PE credits from the ROTC program, which is fitting. Read on: http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5818#more School Board Removes P.E. Credit
Inspiring the Next Crop of Radio Hosts
June 17, 2008 – 10:27 am
...a wonderful group of 4th and 5th graders from Joaquin Miller Elementary School in Oakland, CA had a field trip to the KPFA studios this week. I stopped my pre-production scurrying to describe to the students all the action behind the scenes during our live morning shows. These kids are radio producers and personalities in their own right already, thanks to an innovative program the school offers. You can hear their work on their website.
Conversation with author William Poy Lee
June 11, 2008 – 5:26 pm
Aimee Allison's revealing conversation with bestselling author William Poy Lee who wrote The Eighth Promise about his family secrets, his run-in with Jimi Hendrix, and teaching China a thing or two. Powered by Podbean.com Download this episode (right click and save)
News in Color - Just Brilliant
June 11, 2008 – 2:07 pm
Some of the best TV isn't even on TV. My good friend, a professor from UC Riverside, just hipped me to the freshest YouTube channel I've seen. It's called News In Color, and the commentary is just brilliant. Here's just one episode in which Contributor Addison Crenshaw gives us his literary take on the significance of Obama's recent rejection of his former pastor.. I recommend subscribing...
Election Night Special Tonight - KPFA FM
June 3, 2008 – 4:06 pm
I'll be co-hosting a four-hour special with election returns and analysis from key bay area local and state races, and the latest about the Democratic Presidential primary. Will Clinton concede? Superdelegates are falling for Obama by the hour here. In Oakland and the Bay Area, there are several races that pit progressive candidates against each other, like in Assembly District 14 and State Senate District 9. Think it might not matter? Well, these folks will be crafting the next budget with the looming deficit. More taxes, more potholes, closed schools? What will it be? We have field reporters throughout the
An activist’s guide to combating military recruitment.