ABC Café

Apartheid Free Burlington with Paul Fleckenstein, Wafic Faour, and Alyssa BredaBurlington City Council is once again faced with a crucial question: stand with democracy and freedom or ally itself with anti-democratic forces?https://www.vermontcpl.org/https://www.rakevt.org/2024/12/14/place-the-apartheid-free-pledge-on-town-meeting-ballot/Recorded on December 15, 2024Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders

Ashley Smith and Wafic Faour on Burlington City Council's Anti-Democratic Votehttps://vtdigger.org/2024/01/23/after-hours-of-testimony-burlington-council-scraps-ballot-measure-supporting-palestinians-opposing-israel/https://www.apartheidfreeburlington.org/https://www.rakevt.org/2024/01/23/in-rare-move-burlington-city-council-blocks-voter-initiated-israeli-apartheid-ballot-question/Recorded on January 26, 2024Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders 

Ze'eva L. Chasan on the Jewish Action Press Statementhttps://antiquefaith.wordpress.com/2023/12/03/an-open-letter-to-burlington-vermonts-jewish-community/https://www.apartheidfreeburlington.org/posts/local_politics_and_the_apartheid_free_campaignhttps://cufi.org/press-releases/cufi-reaches-10-million-members/https://sites.google.com/view/israel-elephant-in-the-room/aug-23-elephant-in-the-room-petitionJewish Action press releaseRecorded on January 22, 2024Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders 

Joe Kane on Running for Burlington City CouncilRecorded on December 22, 2023Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders 

Debra Stoleroff on Palestine and IsraelEmail list for Vermont Coalition for Palestinian LiberationCampaign for Apartheid Free BurlingtonJewish Voice for Peace Vermont/New HampshireSeven Days write-up on Burlington City Council meetingRecorded on December 22, 2023Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders 

Wafic Faour and Ashley Smith on Burlington's Ceasefire ResolutionEmail list for Vermont Coalition for Palestinian LiberationCampaign for Apartheid Free BurlingtonJewish Voice for Peace Vermont/New HampshireSeven Days write-up on Burlington City Council meeting

Interview with Zoe Jannuzi from the American Friends Service Committee. We talk about their latest campaign asking Bernie to visit Palestine.Will Miller Social Justice Lecture SeriesBe Bold BernieApartheid Free BurlingtonRecorded on October 3, 2023Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders 

Robert Nowak on Being Christian in Palestine. We talk about what he saw and heard on his recent trip to occupied Palestine.Vermonters for Justice in PalestineAmnesty International: Israel's Apartheid Against PalestiniansB'Tselem: This is ApartheidHuman Rights Watch: A Threshold CrossedForeign Affairs: Israel's One-State RealityRecorded on April 6, 2023Hosted by Anthony Apodaca

Paul Fleckenstein on climate change and local organizing. We talk about the current state of the climate movement and the importance of local organizing as a strategy to build a movement. We also talk about Burlington's push for airport expansion and how you can get involved to fight back.Petition to stop the airport expansion: https://tinyurl.com/2p8kdwazAnother silent spring: https://www.tempestmag.org/2022/03/another-silent-spring/Recorded on March 26, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca

Ashley Smith on the Tempest Collective, Socialism, and Democracy. We talk about the politics of the Tempest Collective, the rot of state capitalism, working-class organizing, and building a new party to address our interrelated local and global crises.Recorded on February 3, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca

John Heermans on the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont's recent resolution "Recognition of Apartheid in Israel/Palestine". Discussed on the show:Apartheid in Israel/Palestinehttps://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Recognition-of-Apartheid-in-IsraelPalestine.pdfLeahy Lawshttps://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Application-of-the-Leahy-Laws-to-Israel.pdfFreedom of Speechhttps://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Supporting-Freedom-of-Speech-and-the-Right-to-Boycott.pdf

Liz Blum and Kathy Shapiro join us to discuss Palestine, Israel, and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS). We discuss how BDS is modeled on the fight against South African Apartheid, antisemitism, Jewish Voice for Peace, and why this issue should matter to all Vermonters. Links for further reading:Ten Myths about IsraelThe Politics of Defining AntisemitismJewish Voice for PeaceOn AntisemitismA Land with a PeopleA Northern Ireland Solution for Palestine?BDS MovementA Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and PersecutionRecorded on December 10, 2021Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders

Rabbi Jan and Rabbi David join us to discuss Burlington's recent resolution "Calling for Justice and a Peaceful End to the Palestine and Israel Conflict." The resolution calls for the city to "express its solidarity with the Palestinian people" and endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS).Four rabbis: A joint letter to Burlington City Council about BDS voteMarc Estrin: The rabbis have it wrong about BDS movementBDS MovementA Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and PersecutionRecorded on October 7, 2021Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders

The People of Winooski share their pain and suffering under F-35 operations. In this episode, we cover the Winooski City Council meeting that took place on Sept 7, attended by the Vermont Air National Guard.Full meeting: https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/winooski-city-council-424Recorded on September 7, 2021Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Dr. Divorce

Yasamin Gordon on Building Equity in the City of Winooski. We talk about her new role as Equity Director, engaging with and listening to members of the community, voting rights, the police, and much more.Recorded on August 20, 2021Hosted by Anthony ApodacaMusic by Zebulon 5

Jess Laporte on People for Police Accountability. We talk about the movement and struggle for police accountability in Burlington, the proposed charter change to help make that happen, and how you can get involved.Discussed on show:People for Police Accountabilityhttps://peopleforpoliceaccountability.com/Women's Justice and Freedom Initiativehttps://www.wjfi.org/The Battery Park Movementhttps://www.facebook.com/The-Battery-Park-Movement-101456988442763Vermont ACLUhttps://www.acluvt.org/Peace and Justice Centerhttps://www.pjcvt.org/Migrant Justicehttps://migrantjustice.net/Vermont Racial Justice Alliancehttps://www.vtracialjusticealliance.org/Recorded on July 23, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel TriggMusic by David Ratsauce 

The Guard Responds with Marguerite Adelman and James Marc Leas. In our second episode about the F-35 in Burlington, we talk about the Guard's response to the recent Winooski ballot measure, the lack of response from our elected officials, and whose door we need to bang on to get these damn planes out of our cities.https://jetlinefilm.com/https://cancelf35.substack.com/https://www.defendtheguard.us/Submit your F-35 comment: https://tinyurl.com/4zjjn39xResults: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tmEqEFUYQv7mxR5PnSn49mARczYZfNLObabuY1cvp6A/viewanalyticsRecorded on June 11, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg

Wafic Faour on the Palestinian struggle in Vermont. We talk about his journey to Vermont as a Palestinian refugee, Israeli occupation and apartheid, and how your actions can make a difference. Discussed on the show:Vermonters for Justice in PalestineA Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and PersecutionB'Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories)Jewish Voice for PeaceDaniel Larison on Israel's De Facto Annexation of Palestine (the Scott Horton show)Max Blumenthal on the Real History of Israel-Palestine (the Scott Horton show)Recorded on June 3, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg

Cancel the F-35 with James Marc Leas and Ze'eva Chasan. We discuss the decision to bring the F-35 to Vermont, the major players involved in that decision, the devastating consequences for people living in the flight path, and what can be done to push back. Discussed on the show:https://jetlinefilm.com/https://cancelf35.substack.com/https://vtdigger.org/2018/03/05/leahy-staff-central-role-f-35-basing-decision/Submit your F-35 comment: https://tinyurl.com/4zjjn39xResults: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tmEqEFUYQv7mxR5PnSn49mARczYZfNLObabuY1cvp6A/viewanalyticsRecording on May 5, 2021Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg

Interview with Elizabeth Parker, Director of Public Engagement for Sustainable Montpelier Coalition. We talk about the recent launch of MyRide by GMT, restoring city landscapes, sustainable (and affordable!) transportation, and the bygone age of the train.

Interview with Burlington City Councilperson Zoraya Hightower. We talk about her work on the Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee as well as the historic passage of the city resolution on "Racial Justice through Economic and Criminal Justice." We also dive into some discussion on the Burlington Police Department, the interplay of race and class, and what it takes to build a movement.

Interview with Taylor Small, Director of the Health & Wellness program at Pride Center of Vermont and current candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives. We talk about healthcare and housing as a human right, minimum wage, education, and defunding the Vermont State Police as a practical means to provide better services for our community.

Interview with Vermont State Representatives Selene Colburn, Diana González, and Brian Cina on their recent open letter to legislative colleagues calling to defund the Vermont State Police. They make the case to reduce the police budget by 20% and use those funds for strategic re-investments in Vermont's underrepresented, marginalized, and disenfranchised communities.

Interview with Helen Scott on fighting UVM's budget cuts, which hurt the lowest paid faculty and staff, even as a bloated administration sacrifices very little. Further, the cuts threaten the sustainability of the university by eroding its infrastructure. She proposes an alternative approach that is democratic, transparent, and progressive. Helen Scott is Professor of English at UVM. She is a member of United Academics AFT/AAUP and is District Vice President for Chittenden County with the Vermont AFL-CIO.

Interview with Dayna Stimson on the pros and cons of Vermont's response to Covid-19. Dayna, of Burlington, is a family nurse practitioner and a member of the Champlain Valley Democratic Socialists of America and Community Voices for Immigrant Rights.

Interview with Linda Olson, President of the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation, AFT Vermont. We talk about the recent proposal to close three campuses of the Vermont State Colleges System, the road that led us here, and what can be done in response.

Interview with Kris Nelson, co-founder of Rescue Club (Zero Gravity's new non-alcoholic beer) and co-founder of Citizen Cider. We talk about his new project at Zero Gravity, the difficulties faced by bars and restaurants during lockdown, life after Covid-19, and the beauty of fall.

Interview with Keegan Albaugh, founder and board member of the Dad Guild in Burlington, Vermont. We talk about the purpose of the Dad Guild, educating fathers, and the effects of Covid-19 on parenting.

Interview with Burlington Tenants Union representative Charles Winkleman. We talk about the effects of Covid-19 for renters in Burlington, the power dynamics of renters and owners, and how you can get involved.

Interview with Jenna Emerson, a health and sexuality teacher at University of Vermont, comedian, and singer.