Ep. 54 - (Re)Birth of an Uprising: Adultism, Cops Out of Schools, & Organizing a New Mass Consciousness ft. Veronica Rodriguez & Asha Edwards

BrownTown reflects on the first half of 2020 with Veronica
Rodriguez and Asha Edwards. The gang shares their experiences
since the global uprising against police brutality and white
supremacy following the police killing of George Floyd. As the
broader movement for Black Lives is re-ignited and police
defunding and abolition moves into the mainstream discourse, this
conversation serves as a referendum on adultism, the push to get
cops out of schools, and how to organize a new mass consciousness
amongst the previously apathetic.


The team begins by diving into how V and Asha began their
movement journey while in high school. V community defines
adultism and its interconnectedness to other system of
oppression. With that, the Black and Brown hosts and
guests lean into the importance of solidarity in the struggle
against anti-Blackness in American and globally. Everyone shares
their experiences in late May, early June from dealing with
police violence firsthand to having uncomfortable conversations
with loved ones. V, Asha, and BrownTown compare and contrast this
moment in activism versus pre-coronavirus presenting multiple
ways to learn, fight and show up for Black lives and life-giving
institutions. They zoom out to discuss the language of the media,
how resistance is nothing new, and what other municipalities are
doing with their police departments (1, 2) before digging into
the national and specifically the Chicago push to get cops out of
schools (1, 2, 3). Originally recorded July 1, 2020.


As we optimistically yet cautiously continue to fight for
liberation, we remember the beautiful words of Assata Shakur, "it
is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We
must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to
lose but our chains."


GUESTS
Veronica Rodriguez (AKA "V" or "Vero") started organizing in high
school at age 16, by founding a club called Student Voice
Committee. In this club, students organized and pressured their
administration, school culture and focused on creating a space
for students to voice their concerns and make calls to action.
Later, these skills and conversations carried over outside of
school for them and they became actively involved in the fight
for #NoCopAcademy, education & racial equity,
anti-militarism, gentrification, abolition, and so much more. Fun
fact: V is now banned from their high school because of the
pressure and organizing that took place when they were a student.


Asha Edwards is an organizer, artist & in-progress
abolitionist with Assata’s Daughters and Dissenters. She was also
involved heavily in the #NoCopAcademy campaign.


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Follow Veronica on Instagram and Twitter; and Asha on Instagram
(personal, art) and Twitter.


BIG shoutout to the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC),
Black Abolitionist Network (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, News),
 Students Strike Back (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter),
Chicago Freedom School, and the #CopsOutCPS campaign!


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CREDITS: Intro/outro song The Revolution Will
Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron. Audio engineering by
Genta Tamashiro. Episode photo by Sarah-Ji.


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