The Mainline Podcast

In this episode, Jess and Aja discuss Cop City and the #StopCopCity campaign in Atlanta through the lens of rape culture, expanding into other areas of local and state politics and their connection to the foundations of white supremacy, capitalism, and colonization. The two pull on personal experiences, their own healing journeys through abolition and political education, and feminist theory to consider how these dynamics play out—both in our external world and our internal world.This episode originally aired on WRFG Atlanta 89.3 FM on Fri., Feb. 25, 2022.Jess & Aja refer to a letter that Aja wrote to a former Atlanta city councilmember leading up to the council's vote to authorize the ground lease for Cop City, following another tragic event that took place in Aug. 2021—the abduction and murder of 27-year-old Mariam Abdulrab, a bartender in Atlanta.Access the letter, which is only referenced and not read verbatim, here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G94IMkVLm7UU4AP4YtTRQxfpEEdzg6zEFyCeVDmX0y8/edit?usp=sharingRead Aja's curtain-raiser piece about Cop City (a good intro piece for those unfamiliar with this important issue in Atlanta) published in the Intercept in Aug. 2021 here: https://theintercept.com/2021/08/11/atlanta-police-training-center/Read Aja's piece featured in The Appeal, "Why Atlantans are pushing to stop Cop City" here: https://theappeal.org/atlanta-cop-city-police-training-facility/Read "Cop City & the prison industrial complex in Atlanta" by Micah Herskind here: https://www.mainlinezine.com/cop-city-and-the-prison-industrial-complex-in-atlanta/For the extended version of this episode & access other extended pieces & bonus content (and to help pay for labor costs for this work), become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr to just give us money with nothing in return (thanks!), go to https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week we're interrupting our standard schedule for a special episode as this story develops. In 2011, 178 Atlanta Public School teachers were investigated for purportedly changing student test scores. Twelve were brought to trial, all Black. Ten were found guilty. Seven are still in limbo as they hope for appeals, and fear the very real and imminent threat of imprisonment. Of them is Dana Evans, who will come to trial on Mon., Feb. 14, where Judge Jerry Baxter could singlehandedly decide to send her to prison.On today's episode of The Mainline Podcast, we speak with Sarah Abdelaziz of the Abolitionist Teaching Network and Shani Robinson, one of the accused educators who was indicted under RICO charges and is also awaiting trial. Shani is also the co-author with Anna Simonton of 'None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators.'Following Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN) on Twitter @ATN_1863Donate through ATN to the APS campaign and other resources - https://linktr.ee/atn1863To support our work and unlock bonus content and receive early releases, go to https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

This week, Aja catches up with Athens City Council Commissioner Mariah Parker / rapper Linqua Franqa to discuss their new single "Wurk," off their upcoming 'Bellringer' LP (via Ernest Jenning Record Co. in April). The two discuss the single, labor organizing in Georgia, what it means to empower ourselves/fellow workers, and the ongoing battle to Stop Cop City in Atlanta.This episode features new segments including local music. Today's set list:"By Summer" by Often"Dispossession" by Algiers"Wurk" by Linqua FranqaTo watch the "Wurk" music video and/or the pre-order 'Bellringer' LP, visit https://orcd.co/qvyaloeaTo support our work and access early releases + bonus materials, become a Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr if you just want to give us money (thanks!) - https://mainlinezine.com/donate

On this week's edition of the Mainline News Hour, tune in to hear our conversation with the Southern Poverty Law Center's unionizers. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a non-profit explicitly dedicated to protecting the civil rights of the vulnerable and combatting forces of white supremacy, both in the South and beyond, and yet when their employees approached them in November of 2019 asking that management voluntarily recognize their union, their request was denied. So, by December, a vote determined the union's fate instead: with a resounding 142-45 voting in support of unionizing. So what has happened since that fateful day in December 2019? Why did SPLC's employees feel they needed a union in the first place? What has the journey been like - what's been accomplished and what challenges still lie ahead? Join us in our conversation with Katie and Lisa, both members of the bargaining committee (Lisa has the added responsibility of union steward) as we discuss where they've come from and where they're going.Listeners can learn more about the SPLC union on Instagram or Twitter @splcunion, or visit their website splcunion.org. To support our work and ensure the quality of our future coverage, visit https://patreon.com/mainlinezine———————————INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis episode was created on the ancestral lands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation now known as "Atlanta, Ga."

This week, Mainline reporter and editor Aja Arnold returns behind the back to present a special conversation with organizer Sunny of mutual aid effort Sol Underground, the self-described "Black-led autonomous anti-fascist anti-capitalist eco-system fighting for Black and Indigenous liberation" based in Atlanta. In this special discussion, recorded on Nov. 11, 2021, in a hotel in downtown Atlanta during a temporary shelter stay organized by Sol for local houseless citizens. The episode airs as temperatures continue to drop as our communities go through another winter, and community resources are strapped in the nonprofit industrial complex, public-private partnerships, and red tape—leaving numerous gaps for mutual aid efforts to fill to provide resources to people when they need them.Aja also provides a brief recap and update of the ongoing resistance to #StopCopCity. To learn more from our backlog of coverage concerning the city's plans to build a massive police training facility in the South River Forest, visit our website: https://mainlinezine.comTo learn more about Sol Underground, visit their Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/solunderground/To become a sustaining member of our work to ensure the future of our coverage, free of corporate and outside influence, go to our Patreon: https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

On today's special episode of the Mainline News Hour with our Senior Music Editor Autumn James and Music Contributor Keron Robinson roll out our annual list of Mainline's favorite Atlanta music tracks. Listen along as Keron and Autumn share about the value of local music criticism, heart-warming live performances of 2021, and what to expect from the Atlanta music scene in 2022.Including music by @canopyjoc @klark_sound @slopingband @buckheadshaman @allenl0ve @stemlines Antbrain, and our very own Keron RobinsonFridays at noon on WRFG Atlanta 89.3 FM or stream it early on our Patreon at patreon.com/mainlinezine.To listen to all the music featured in the show and our complete end of year list, follow our Spotify playlist.https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vjx35MvFPDkxkHipCdhmO?si=CWG-iTDzSEyG9pxwtCDbxw

What is voting without organizing? If you vote without demanding action from your elected officials - regardless of who wins - then what is the point of being a citizen of a democratic society?Movements like Stop Cop City have taught us the importance of using our voices, our feet, our bodies, even when - no, especially when - our elected officials ignore us. That doesn't always inspire a desire to anticipate upcoming elections and cast our ballots. But that's why it's January 5th and we're already talking about the congressional midterms. Our votes are one more tool in our arsenal, and this year we're building on the momentum of years past.The triumph of our voices - one way or another - is inevitable. Here to discuss the how we're joined by Fenika Miller of Black Voters Matter with host Sylvia Johnson.To learn more about Black Voters Matter visit https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/To support our work, get early releases, and extended cuts of our podcast and more, become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

2021 has been like no other. And yet it still seemed oddly familiar, almost like a strange case of deja vu. The pandemic, racism, and capitalism are all still wreaking havoc along with a few big name politicians. It's all giving a hint of rinse and repeat. Sylvia is joined by Jess and Chelsea to talk about all things 2021. To support our work, become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This special episode of the Mainline News Hour features our Senior Music Editor Autumn James and Music Contributor Keron Robinson. We'll recap what Atlanta's music scene brought us during a year that often made it difficult to squeeze into a tight space with 60 of our closest friends & enjoy tunes from our favorite local artists. What's changed? What are we grateful for? What are we looking forward to?Including music by @mj.cabra @klark_sound @doudmusic @strandedmusic @twelve.25 @downgradeband @buckheadshaman @slimer_ing @dinnertime.usa @wieucallcTo listen to all the music featured in the show and more, follow our spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UDZX1oJa5l2LP5kINDJsg?si=QBWkpeioTquyW3AqxiE02ATo watch the new Wieuca documentary “Hurricane Laura: One Year Later,” visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaGh3qVcRtU&t=608sTo watch the video for klark sound's “Two of Wands”, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psH7s8go51ETo support our work, sustain future episodes, and access a back catalogue of bonus content, consider becoming a recurring donor on our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr consider making a one-time or recurring donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

On this week's episode of the Mainline News Hour on 89.3FM S.M. Johnson jumps behind the mic with Britney Whaley, Senior Political Strategist with the Working Families Party. They discuss Atlanta's municipal election results which ranged from the status quo to some historic firsts.For the extended release, sign up for our Patreon at http://patreon.com/mainlinezine to hear more insights on the roles of Atlanta's HBCU students, statewide redistricting, and Stacey Abrams' gubernatorial run. To make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week, Aja is joined by Mekko (chief) Chebon Kernell of the Muscogee (Creek) Tribe and Dr. Craig Womack, Creek author and former professor of literature at Emory University. This interview was recorded on Nov. 15 and airs just ahead of Muscogee (Creek) Tribe members' historic migration to their sacred homelands in so-called Atlanta for the first time in 200 years since forced removal of the tribe began in 1821. The stomp dance ceremony will take place on Nov. 27 at the South River Forest and is open to the public.Rev. Kernell, of the Native American Comprehensive Plan and Helvpe Ceremonial Grounds, shares the intention of the migration and connection with community leaders in the metro Atlanta area. Dr. Womack joins to share his experience as a Creek person living in the Southeast, teaching at Emory University, and some of the history of the treaties formed in 1821. Especially at a time of year white-washed by colonial trappings, we're grateful for the time Rev. Kernell and Dr. Womack granted us to share their voices and stories.To support Muscogee (Creek) tribal members' return to sacred lands in so-called Atlanta, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-muscogee-stomp-dance-in-atlantaTo support our work, become a patron at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a regular donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

Where do police foundations get so much money from? According to Color of Change's groundbreaking report released last month, 55 Fortune 500 companies donate to police foundations, a backdoor through which corporate interests can protect power, property and privilege at the expense of democracy and Black lives. This week, Aja sits down with Scott Roberts, (Senior Director of Criminal Justice and Democracy Campaigns of national advocacy organization Color of Change) to discuss their groundbreaking report exposing the ties between police foundations and corporations. The two also discuss what's next for #StopCopCity in Atlanta.To hear the extended version of this episode and access our full backlog of coverage, visit https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo read Color of Change's full report, 'Police Foundations: A Corporate-Sponsored Threat to Black Lives and Democracy", visit https://policefoundations.org/To support our work with a one-time or recurring donation, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week, Aja returns behind the mic with Jess Izard—contributor and now-business manager at the Mainline—to air an important episode in the practice of media reparations, as envisioned and outlined by Media 2070. In this episode, Aja and Jess turn their critical media lenses to a previous broadcast of the Mainline Podcast and Mainline News Hour episode on WRFG.On Sept. 10, the Mainline aired an episode of its news hour on WRFG (labeled Episode 48 on the Mainline Podcast) following Atlanta City Council's vote to authorize a ground lease of 381 acres of green space to the Atlanta Police Foundation for $10 a year. In this episode, guest Ryan Gravel spoke of another case and legal strategy which leaned on a "logic" that protesters of the city-state are potentially harmful to constituents. This narrative is false, has no bearing, and should not have been legitimized on our broadcast, in any context.Aja atones for her role as an editor and journalist in that moment, as well as further explains the harm of the narrative. Jess and Aja read a critical feedback letter sent to the editor following the broadcast beautifully explaining the danger of the neoliberal fascism as it's being displayed in both Atlanta city government and mainstream media. All these elements combine bring us to the movement of media reparations and why it's so important to continue this practice. Listen in for more.For the extended version of this episode and a full back catalogue of coverage, join us on our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo become a sustaining donor to ensure future episodes, visit https://mainlinzine.com/donateTo learn more about Media 2070 and their 100-page essay on media reparations, visit https://mediareparations.orgThank you to our listeners, subscribers, and donors for ensuring the quality and future of our coverage. Our podcasts, radio shows, and all other digital content depend on your support.— The Mainline Team

In this report, Sylvia and Aja unpack the results and events leading up to Election Day, what it means for abolitionist movement building in the city, and what's ahead for community building in Atlanta. Plus, Aja shares data from New Georgia Project findings in recent focus groups and Sylvia guides us through the meaning in the school board races.To support our work, sustain future episodes, and access a back catalogue of bonus content, consider becoming a recurring donor on our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr consider making a one-time or recurring donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week's episode of Mainline News Hour aired on WRFG features our host Sylvia Johnson in an interview with Organizing and Elections Director Fallon McClure of the Georgia Working Families Party. Just a few days out from the elections, Sylvia and Fallon sit down to talk about Atlanta's municipal election cycle, potential outcomes, and what the future may hold for constituents and organizers.To support our work, sustain future episodes, and access a back catalogue of bonus content, consider becoming a recurring donor on our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr consider making a one-time or recurring donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week, founding editor Aja Arnold returns with an audio version of a previously published feature "How the Atlanta Police Department spends its money," written by Christopher Luke and published in The Mainline in July 2020. While noise around the municipal elections continues to rise, Aja prefaces the reading with her thoughts regarding the races and the importance of focusing on research and data that dispels the myths of policing. Aja also shares where she's headed in her future coverage for The Mainline, pivoting from local politics to deeper issues such as abolition, incarceration systems, and land back.The original written report, "How the Atlanta Police Department spends its money": https://www.mainlinezine.com/feature-how-the-atlanta-police-department-spends-its-money/To support our work, become a sustaining donor via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mainlinezineOr donate at https://www.mainlinezine.com/donate

This week we're back with a rebroadcast of an audio report by Mainline contributor Nolan Huber-Rhodes about the Atlanta police murder of Sam Parker. Sylvia and Nolan catch up at the end of the episode to discuss the case with updated context.On Sun., July 25, at 1:01 a.m. EST, an officer from the Atlanta police department shot and killed 38-year-old Gabriel Sam Parker, who is referred to by his family as “Sam.” Mainline reporter Nolan Huber-Rhoades brings us an official audio report detailing and chronicling the events after attending a vigil hosted by Parker's family.Multiple eyewitnesses reported to The Mainline that on that night, they saw an Atlanta police officer exit his vehicle, “took a knee with a rifle and shot Sam in the back as he was trying to de-escalate the situation.” Parker was attending a neighborhood reunion party and was helping to de-escalate a fight. A representative of Parker's family have chosen to speak with Mainline to report this story while combating local mainstream news narratives.This report contains audio from Atlanta police scanners which have been included here to enhance Mainline's reporting and ability to tell this story. Nolan reports the incident through the lens of abolition, examining the systemic conditions that create the violent realities between Black communities and police.

As Atlanta nears its municipal elections, Aja takes us back to an important story that has remained a source of much confusion among constituents and journalists alike: what happened to the Rayshard Brooks Bill.While national outlets have cited this bill with the claim that Atlanta was actually near defunding the police, that was not the case with this legislation. This story, along with many others, was one that got lost in the shuffle during the uprisings, the pandemic, and the general election news cycle of 2020. The Rayshard Brooks Bill was a key vote for the current city council that should go down in council members' voting history for the rest of their political career, Aja argues. The bill—for which Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wrote council members to vote against just moments before they were scheduled to vote—went through many iterations and eventually became the compromise of all compromise. And city government in Atlanta wouldn't even show up for that.Tune in for a present-day explainer followed by a spoken version of the original article that was published in July 2020.To support our work, please become a sustaining member of our coverage at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineThe original report, "What happened to the Rayshard Brooks Bill?": https://www.mainlinezine.com/op-ed-what-exactly-happened-to-the-rayshard-brooks-bill/"The Collapse Of Criminal Legal Reform In The Black Mecca" by Tiffany Roberts: https://www.essence.com/news/atlanta-cop-city/

We're back this week with part two of our in-depth discussion of critical race theory featuring Sylvia, Aja, Nolan, and King. The original broadcast is available along with other lines of coverage via our Patreon, which is linked in our bio.In this segment, guest contributor Nolan Huber-Rhoades discusses his personal experience with white evangelicalism, the internal conflict around critical race theory, and the Christian Right's role in cultivating widespread opposition to CRT. At the end, Sylvia and Nolan will reconnect to discuss local news, ongoing court cases, and what, if any, progress has been made surrounding the CRT debate. Tune in on WRFG 89.3 Atlanta every Friday at 12pm EST for the Mainline News Hour.

Today on Mainline News Hour on WRFG Atlanta, we are featuring a rebroadcast of our special bonus episode covering Critical Race Theory that was originally published in our Patreon in June. We are joined by Sylvia who gives us a recap centering us in the present day in a conversation that is extremely relevant today & has largely gone uncovered in many important ways. Join us next week for a continued conversation between Sylvia and Mainline contributor Nolan Huber-Rhodes to dive deeper into the missing pieces.As Sylvia explains today, “In early June, the Georgia State Board of Education passed a 13-point resolution regarding the teaching—or should I say not teaching—of CRT in Georgia's public schools. This is a solution to a problem that didn't exist.”“As we all know by now,” she continues, “CRT wasn't being taught to K-12 students in the first place; that didn't stop a wave of outrage around this wedge issue. It led to showdowns in many school board meetings throughout the state & country. Some parents have since moved past their CRT outrage to protesting mask & vaccine mandates in schools. Part one of this conversation touches on the definition, examples, & possible outcomes of the absence or injection of CRT in schools. We mainly touch on education & policy, but didn't go into great detail on other systems affected like healthcare. I wish we had.”In this special rebroadcast, Sylvia shares a recent personal experience in the medical and health care system regarding her personal care, linking the importance of critical analysis of race in our systems beyond public education.“Data & well documented history of the American medical system have made it very clear to me that as a Black woman, if I am not careful when choosing healthcare providers, more harm than healing will be done. Maybe if doctors were exposed to CRT, biased thoughts like the pain tolerances of Black women during childbirth, the thickness of black skin, or perceived drug-seeking during emergencies wouldn't be some of the horror stories many of us have heard or experienced.”We'll return with new stories on Oct. 22 as we embrace much-needed structural and formatting changes to ensure sustainability in our coverage and newsroom. Catch us on the airwaves on WRFG every Friday at 12pm EST & look for our backlog of podcast episodes of The Mainline Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Support our work directly at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine to access bonus pieces, interviews, & conversations provided by Aja

We're back on the airwaves on WRFG Atlanta 89.3 with a rebroadcast of a previous episode, “Georgia's police brutality problem,” featuring Sylvia, Aja, and Jess. While we continue to roll up our sleeves to work on new stories and some important (and exciting!) structural changes behind the scenes, we are airing a few episodes we feel deserve more airtime, recognition, and consideration.For each rebroadcast, we are joined by Mainline reporter and researcher Sylvia Johnson with a new introduction reformatted for present day. You can find the original episodes on The Mainline Podcast, streaming wherever you get your podcasts.Today's episode originally aired in March 2021—and things have really changed since then. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is no longer running for re-election, and Felicia Moore is no longer the only contender for the mayor's office. Georgia's voter suppression bill SB 202, originally introduced as HB 531, had not yet passed, and Rep. Park Cannon hadn't been violently arrested for attempting to view Gov. Brian Kemp's signing of the bill. The COVID vaccine was just becoming widely available and many of us were waiting for more arrests of the J6 insurrectionists.As Sylvia says in today's introduction, “It all seems so long ago, but much of the conversation you're about to hear is still relevant today.” This episode touches on the importance of direct action and mutual aid, plus the media and objectivity, focusing on an article & database Sylvia created documenting police shootings and grand juries in Georgia.We will return with new episodes on Oct. 22—and some other updates from our newsroom in the meantime. Stay tuned, get free.

This week, Aja and Sylvia get in the weeds about local media coverage's role in how the general public views policing, specifically considering coverage from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution—the city's largest local news source owned by Cox Enterprises, whose CEO & President Alex Taylor is serving as chairman of the new police training facility known as "Cop City".In this episode, Aja delivers a rundown and explainer of status quo journalism, the construct of objectivity, and other industry norms that are harmful to Black and brown communities. Sylvia adds her extensive knowledge of research and data specifically pertaining to the Atlanta police department and police violence in the city. Together, this helps us better grapple with understanding why vast swaths of Atlantans are still unaware of the city's plans to develop the facility, why public perception of police is skewed away from reality, and how media systems are built to uphold our nation's existing power structures rather than challenge and dismantle them.INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis episode was recorded on both the unceded ancestral lands of the Muscogee Creek Tribe on so-called Atlanta, Ga., and those of the Duwamish Tribe on so-called Seattle, Wash.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:"Atlanta police shootings, 2018-present: a database" (last updated on Aug. 11, 2021) by Sylvia Johnson: https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-police-shootings-2018-present-a-database/"Atlanta City Council passes ground lease for training facility, public dissent continues" by Aja Arnold: https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-city-council-passes-police-training-facility-legislation/"Atlanta protesters arrested while City Council passes lease agreement with police foundation" by Aja Arnold: https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-protesters-arrested-council-passes-lease-police-foundation/"The Atlanta police murder of Sam Parker" by Nolan Huber-Rhoades: https://www.mainlinezine.com/ep-44-the-atlanta-police-murder-of-sam-parker/"The Cop Who Quit Instead of Helping to Gentrify Atlanta," Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2020/09/the-cop-who-quit-instead-of-helping-to-gentrify-atlanta/The View from Somewhere podcast created by Lewis Raven Wallace: https://www.lewispants.com/To support our work, become a sustaining member at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr consider making a one-time donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week, Aja and Sylvia catch up with city designer and urban thinker Ryan Gravel following Atlanta City Council's vote to pass a proposal by the Atlanta Police Foundation to build an 85-acre police training facility on the 381-acre forested land in DeKalb County known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm. In this episode, we discuss the events leading up to the vote, the vote itself, and what could happen next.Prior to council's vote, council members sat through 17 hours of public comment in which nearly 70% of voters adamantly opposed the facility. Council deliberated hte proposal for about an hour before passing the legislation, denying any additional amendments, in a 10-4 vote.The proposal originally sought to build a 150-acre training facility before adjusting following intense public outcry and dissent. Local organizers in Community Movement Builders, Sunrise Atlanta, Atlanta DSA, DARC, and others have been galvanizing in the #StopCopCity movement since the ordinance was introduced in June. Other organizations like the South River Forest Coalition have also been advocating and organizing for preservation of the forest.This episode plays exactly as it was aired during the Mainline News Hour on WRFG radio in Atlanta on Fri., Sept. 10.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:To learn more about the land, which was originally inhabited by the Muscogee Creek Nation before they were forcibly removed. After the Civil War, the land was sold in a land lottery to a plantation owner tho used the land for chattel slavery and forced labor of Black people criminalized by the state: https://itsgoingdown.org/slave-labor-overcrowding-and-unmarked-graves-the-buried-history-of-atlanta-city-prison-farm/Our full breakdown of the council's vote and an overview of public opposition among Atlantans: https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-city-council-passes-police-training-facility-legislation/Our report detailing the arrests made during council's deliberations: https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-protesters-arrested-council-passes-lease-police-foundation/To support our work, consider becoming a sustaining contributor at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine or making a one-time donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

Last week, research organization Social Insights Research—a woman of color-led firm working to decolonize research & evaluation to produce data that amplifies marginalized perspectives—released its findings from research conducted to learn how Atlantans feel about Cop City, the newly proposed $90 million police training facility developed between the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Foundation in unincorporated DeKalb County.Atlanta City Council was expected to vote on the legislation that would authorize the ground lease of city-owned land known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm to APF on Sept. 7. After receiving nearly 17 hours of public comment line calls, the council delayed deliberation until the evening of Sept. 8.Founding editor Aja Arnold was able to connect with Social Insights Research founder Zuri Tau, who spearheaded the research which shows that 98% of Atlantans surveyed do not want the police training facility in South Atlanta and that 90% of Atlantans surveyed do not want a new police training facility in Atlanta in general. The two anxiously await for deliberation on the legislation to begin in council as they discuss Tau's methodology, the story the data tells us, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's letter sent to city council members just a couple hours ahead of their vote.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Social Insights Research's Community Survey on Development of Police/Fire Training Facility in Atlanta: https://site-2670551-5163-2537.mystrikingly.com/Social Insights Research official website: https://www.socinsights.com/Social Insights Research on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SocialInsights8Aja on Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundslikeasiaMainline's latest report, "Official documents show no community members present on training facility advisory council": https://www.mainlinezine.com/police-training-facility-advisory-council/Our info starter kit for Cop City: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53201136To support our work, consider becoming a sustaining donor at https://www.patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a one-time donation, go to https://www.mainlinezine.com/donate

This episode is a double feature: the debut of The Mainline News Hour on WRFG 89.3 in Atlanta as well as the People's story about the growing #StopCopCity movement in the city. In this special report, founding editor Aja Arnold delivers a brief explainer of Cop City — the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Police Foundation's newly-proposed massive $90 million police training facility — and the land the city wishes to place it on, the Old Atlanta Prison Farm.The report features recorded audio from last month's People's Town Hall, an event organized by local groups DARC, Atlanta DSA, Community Movement Builders, and Sunrise ATL. The People's Town Hall is the only true public forum event regarding Cop City to date, with no collaboration with any elected officials in city council or City Hall. Of the 13 council members, only two were in attendance.Over 100 Atlantans gathered to speak their opposition, concerns, and sentiments towards the proposal and the city's governance at-large. Tune in to hear the people's story of #StopCopCity. This episode plays exactly as it aired on WRFG on Fri., Sept. 3.INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [also discussed in the report]The City of Atlanta and Atlanta Police Foundation are attempting to build a 150-acre police training facility on 381 acres of forested land that is historically known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm. The prison farm land is city-owned, but resides in unincorporated DeKalb County. This land was once home to the Muscogee (Creek) indigenous peoples before the land was awarded in a land lottery to a plantation owner who practiced the chattel enslavement of African people.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESAja's recent report about the training facility published in The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2021/08/11/atlanta-police-training-center/An info starter kit to #StopCopCity via The Mainline: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53201136A local researcher's metal analysis testing of Intrenchment Creek, the water source in the South River Forest/Old Atlanta Prison Farm: https://twitter.com/lilponitz/status/1425103516390014991To learn more how you can help in the movement: https://stopcopcity.orgTo support our work, become a sustaining member at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine or consider making a one-time donation at https://mainlinezine.com/donate

This week, King, Sylvia, and Aja are back to break down the recent news in Atlanta regarding #StopCopCity, the mayoral race — particularly aspiring candidate Brittney Geter, other candidate updates from Sylvia, a pretty deep F-word section, a new segment called "Explain It To Me Like I'm 5", and more.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Our podcast episode featuring Sylvia, Jess, and Aja entitled "2020, a postmortem," to center the reflections of how vital centering Black, trans, Indigenous voices are while working in transformative justice ... because failing to do so runs the risk of it all falling apart. Bumping this up because of apparent amnesia: https://www.mainlinezine.com/to-the-left-2020-a-postmortem/To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

This week, Aja talks with Kamau Franklin of Community Movement Builders in Atlanta about the recent city council vote in which council members voted to table Cop City legislation that would have authorized a ground lease of 381 acres of green space to Atlanta Police Foundation for $10 a year. This means that Cop City was in fact stopped — at least until the vote that is scheduled to take place on Sept. 7. The unexpected turn raises a lot of questions for Atlantans, journalists, and organizers. In this episode, we discuss the vote, how we got here as a city, and what could happen next.In the intro, Aja takes a much-needed moment of reflection of Mariam Abdulrab. The restaurant community in Atlanta mourns as another tragedy ripples through the city, and we stand in solidarity with those communities as well as survivors of violence.To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezine.Or, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow Aja on Twitter at @soundslikeasia& Community Movement Builders at @CommunityMvtADDITIONAL RESOURCES:"How we got here" highlight reel via Mainline's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mainlinezine/Aja's article featured in The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2021/08/11/atlanta-police-training-center/The People's Town Hall recording: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=414307796658247&ref=watch_permalinkIt's Going Down feature detailing the history of the Old Atlanta Prison Farm by Atlanta Community Press Collective: https://itsgoingdown.org/slave-labor-overcrowding-and-unmarked-graves-the-buried-history-of-atlanta-city-prison-farm/

This week, King and Sylvia take on census data, face-to-face education, Trae Young, McDonald's ice cream machines, and a last call for candidates in two uncontested city council races in Sylvia's new candidate alert. In addition, they invite everyone to check out Aja's #StopCopCity article for The Intercept, create a new segment called Bottom of the Ballot, and of course, drop a few F-bombs outside of the F-words section. King also invited Patreon members to have coffee! To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezine.Or, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateAja's article for The Intercept https://theintercept.com/2021/08/11/atlanta-police-training-center/Follow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.com.Follow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter.

IT'S A NEW MONTH and we are back with King, Sylvia, and Aja to discuss Aja's new recovery/music/art podcast "Bad Vacation" coming out in a couple weeks, a recap on last night's People's Town Hall to #StopCopCity hosted by Atlanta DSA & DARC, the F-word section, and Sylvia's new candidate alert. Plus, King takes a few minutes to discuss franchise players and sports along with the latest updates in big media.To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

Last week, the Fulton County Marshal put out a warning to tenants with final eviction notices to get their stuff together before the moratorium expired over the weekend. There are reportedly more than 500 eviction orders to be carried out. Founding editor Aja Arnold meets with Josue, Quinn, and Sanae of the Housing Justice League and Beltline for All to discuss the HJL policy packet addressing houselessness and housing issues in Atlanta, the eviction defense campaign, and more.

After a long week on the Atlanta news beat, King, Sylvia, and Aja are back for our weekly briefing. Updates on #StopCopCity, the matter of mask mandates, Sylvia's new candidate alert, and a much needed status update on the mental health of our staff is what we bring in this episode.For more context on Aja's #StopCopCity update:Mainline's Twitter thread explaining the "public input sessions" by Atlanta Police Foundation: https://twitter.com/mainlinezine/status/1420883863023230976Mainline's Twitter thread containing important screenshots of APF slide show, with context: https://twitter.com/mainlinezine/status/1420891205223604229A thread explaining APF's disinformation regarding native species in the forest: https://twitter.com/strixus/status/1416555505569382405A straight recording of the Q&A session of APF's session on July 29: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyqpk3jifj1o5xs/07-29%20APF%20Q%26A_DeKalb%20session.mp3?dl=0To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

On Sun., July 25, at 1:01 a.m. EST, an officer from the Atlanta police department shot and killed 38-year-old Gabriel Sam Parker, who is referred to by his family as "Sam." Mainline reporter Nolan Huber-Rhoades brings us an official audio report detailing and chronicling the events after attending a vigil hosted by Parker's family.Multiple eyewitnesses reported to The Mainline that on that night, they saw an Atlanta police officer exit his vehicle, "took a knee with a rifle and shot Sam in the back as he was trying to de-escalate the situation." Parker was attending a neighborhood reunion party and was helping to de-escalate a fight. A representative of Parker's family have chosen to speak with Mainline to report this story while combating local mainstream news narratives.This report contains audio from Atlanta police scanners which have been included here to enhance Mainline's reporting and ability to tell this story. Nolan reports the incident through the lens of abolition, examining the systemic conditions that create the violent realities between Black communities and police.To support our work and future reports like this, join our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a donation without subscribing to the Patreon for expanded coverage, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow Nolan Huber-Rhoades on Instagram at @nolanhuberrhoades and Twitter at @nhuberrhoades—————————————————————Additional resources:CBS46 original report: https://www.cbs46.com/news/update-man-killed-in-block-party-shootout-in-northwest-atlanta-identified/article_8b4ce348-ed3f-11eb-97fb-4746118d94d3.htmlAPEX Team Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) https://www.atlantapd.org/home/showdocument?id=3395Mariame Kaba's essay about why she dreads summer because, as she explains, Black people being outside means more interactions with police and more deaths at the hands of police: https://thenewinquiry.com/summer-heat/Video on the ground after the shooting:https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRvXCuTAl8C/?utm_medium=copy_link

King, Sylvia, & Aja return for this week's politics briefing with a special feature of our poet laureate T-Pain. Important dates regarding #StopCopCity, local candidates' safety plans, Sylvia's new candidate alert, details on Atlanta's surveillance program Operation Shield, FOG, football, and Kanye are all on the menu.Atlanta residents: Enter an address to learn more about the area, including Districts & Representatives, city life information, and more at https://egis.atlantaga.gov/app/home/index.htmlTo read Sylvia's latest article detailing Operation Shield, making Atlanta the most surveilled city in the U.S., visit https://mainlinezine.comTo support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back to help ring in Mainline's 2nd anniversary — this week we hit the ground running with updates on ATL Homeless Union, the "we-don't-really-want-your-input" public input session for Atlanta residents about Cop City, voting rights & mass arrests of Black women in D.C. protecting the right to vote, and a hefty new candidates alert from Sylvia with notes on campaign financing.To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $3 or $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

In lieu of our regular weekly politics briefing, Aja invites King to discuss his latest feature entitled "Atlanta is losing the narrative," an in-depth look into the local media ecosystem in Atlanta. In his piece, available on The Mainline and King's official newsletter, King specifically examines the role of social media malinformation/anti-BLM accounts like ATLScoop. Aja brings her analysis based on special research and critique of more traditional news sources like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.We'll be back with our weekly podcast briefing next week, plus a special feature episode about the connection between gentrification and policing soon.To support our work and unlock all our bonus coverage, visit https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a one-time donation, with nothing aside from our already amazing coverage in return, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donateTo subscribe to King's newsletter, visit https://iamkingwilliams.substack.com

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back after a break this week with updates on #StopCopCity, new candidate alerts in the city council races, King's recent experience at Six Flags, a history lesson from King on carnival games in the South, racism in the olympics, and observations of climate change.

Late Sunday night, as the city was celebrating "Independence" Day, The Mainline received a press release from the newly-formed ATL Homeless Union that they would be hosting demonstrations at an encampment outside of City Hall every day this week. Their release included a short list of demands for elected officials: homes, healthcare, water, and a seat at the table. By Monday afternoon, Atlanta police swept the encampment, violently arresting a total of nine non-violent protesters. We are still unclear where the police received the order to perform mass arrests in response to the houseless communities peaceful protest. This special audio report contains our editor-in-chief Aja Arnold's retelling of the story in her role as publisher and beat reporter, featuring on the ground reports from organizers on the scene.Credit to ATL Homeless Union leader Diesel, attorney Gerald Griggs, Alfred Shivy Brooks, and Devin Barrington-Ward for their special audio appearances in this report. Audio credit to Griggs and Brooks, whose live Instagram reports helped us develop this story to properly present it to listeners.To read our original breaking story report on the ATL Homeless Union and their full demands, visit https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-houseless-community-forms-union/To support our work and unlock an entirely new backlog of coverage, join our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/mainlinezineTo support our work and give a donation with nothing in return, go to https://www.mainlinezine.com/donate

In our latest bonus episode of The Mainline Podcast, founding editor Aja Arnold, researcher Sylvia Johnson, urbanist and historian King Williams, and former pastor-turned-abolitionist Nolan Huber-Rhoades discuss the roots of critical race theory and how the current opposition against CRT impacts us all today.To unlock this full episode and more coverage, join us for as little as $3/month at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back. Stop Cop City, a federal lawsuit against Georgia voter suppression, and debunking false narratives are what's on the menu.For the extended version of this podcast and to unlock access to an entirely new catalogue of coverage, join our Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo make a one-time or recurring donation without anything in return, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow & subscribe to King Williams at https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back for a (shorter) Atlanta news and politics briefing with notes and reflections on Juneteenth, the latest news in city council & its decision to Joyce Sheperd's latest ordinance, local activism efforts to defend the forests and resist the land deal with Atlanta Police Foundation, and our regular Kasim watch and new candidate alert. The three also reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers and how free press and whistleblowers are still in danger. We wonder, how great are performative politics, really?To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

Today, Aja is joined by Attorney Gerald Griggs of NAACP Atlanta to discuss Georgia's House Bill 286 — a Georgia Republican bill that seeks to suppress and outlaw defund the police movements in local communities. The bill is expected to be enacted on July 1. Griggs, who represents the family of Vincent Truitt & is an activist supporting Rayshard Brooks' family, offers his legal interpretation, speaking to the unconstitutionality of the bill and potential litigation to challenge it in higher courts. The two also speak of Atlanta's local elections and the relationship between politicians, police, and local media outlets.To support our work and unlock our extended coverage, join us on our newly launched Patreon at https://patreon.com/mainlinezineTo give a one-time or recurring donation without access to our backlog of extended coverage, visit https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow Attorney Gerald Griggs on Instagram at @attorneygriggs to keep up with his movements on the frontlines against police brutality, voter suppression, and other forms of racial injustice.

King, Sylvia, & Aja are back for another round-up of the latest week in Atlanta politics and elections. Kasim Reed has officially announced his candidacy for mayor, Atlanta City Council voted unanimously in support of an increased police budget, we offer an important clarification on District 4 candidate Jason Dozier's campaign financing, Sylvia brings us a new candidate alert with eight new candidates in the running for local office. Other notes on HB 286, Kamala Harris, Sen. Joe Manchin/H.R. 1/Koch-backed advocacy groups, Dems playing nice with the GOP, New York Times is busting unions, wedge issues, Toobin is back like he never left, and Aja said the F-word 11 times.To support our work, consider becoming a patron on our newly launched Patreon for as little as $5/month to unlock an entirely new catalog of news coverage with other cool stuff. https://patreon.com/mainlinezineOr, consider making a one-time or recurring donation, with nothing in return at https://mainlinezine.com/donateFollow King Williams via his stacked newsletter via https://iamkingwilliams.substack.comFollow Sylvia Johnson online at @slyarounddaworld on Instagram and @slyarounddworld on Twitter

Subscribe to The Mainline on Patreon to unlock this interview along with all other premium & in-depth coverage: https://patreon.com/mainlinezineLast week, Aja and Chelsea discuss white supremacy culture as it's embedded in American journalism, sharing their lived experiences while grappling with extensive research outlined by the Minnesota Historical Society. Perfectionism, objectivity, quantity over quality, sense of urgency, worship of the written word ... all principles of white supremacy culture, and as you may have guessed it, journalism.Today, we unlock an interview with Aja and Cherri Murphy, a labor organizer with Gig Workers Rising and social justice minister based in Oakland, Calif. Cherri stepped into her labor organizing after spending years fighting for racial justice and focusing on police killings. She talks with Aja about the interconnectedness of racial justice issues and labor issues; and how economic justice is racial justice, and racial justice is economic justice.

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back this week to discuss what's happening in Atlanta politics. On the docket this week are the recent Georgia Board of Education resolution & the Heritage Foundation, Sylvia's report on District 4 campaign finances, concerns of Atlanta Police Foundation and media-related donors in candidate Jason Dozier's finance report, Joe "Ain't Cuttin Checks to the Right People" Biden, the debt collective, a rundown on new candidates, and more.To support our work and unlock our bonus coverage, visit our new Patreon page at https://patreon.com/mainlinezine. Join for as little as $5 a month to receive access to all in-depth and bonus coverage.To learn more about the debt collective, visit https://debtcollective.orgINDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTIt is with deep, sincere respect we acknowledge that this podcast was recorded and produced on both the unceded and ancestral native lands of the Muscogee Creek Nation (currently known as Atlanta, Ga.) and the unceded, ancestral lands of the Duwamish Tribe (currently known as Seattle, Wash.). We honor the lands and the people of both the Muscogee Tribe, which was forced from its land under the Indian Removal Act of 1830, and the Duwamish Tribe, who became signatories of the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855 and lost one of its largest villages to a fire set by colonial settlers in 1895.To learn more, visit links below:https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/muscogee-creek/https://www.duwamishtribe.org/history

In this special episode, Sylvia interviews Aja to learn more about what's next for The Mainline and various projects the publication is getting into this summer, including its brand new Patreon which is live as of today, June 1.Aja talks about life on the road since leaving Atlanta to work on her new book projects, including 'The Land of the Let Go: A documentation of the working class in post-Trump & COVID America.' The Patreon will host stories from the book as well as community discussions in antiracist and antifascist work, which includes the inner revolution of dismantling our internalized capitalism and white supremacy. This type of documentation and reporting, Aja argues, is New Wave Journalism. (Note: This isn't a thing commonly referred to yet, but can be thought of as a modern-day extension of New Journalism. Join us on Patreon, you'll see.)To subscribe to our Patreon and be part of this process, go to https://patreon.com/mainlinezine. You can join for as little as $5 a month and receive all bonus content. All subscription proceeds go to benefit The Mainline and directly fund local independent journalism in Atlanta. #solidaritynotcharity

King, Sylvia, and Aja are back to talk about what's on the radar for them this week in Atlanta politics. This week's discussion features thoughts on campaign financing in the District 5 city council race and updates on the city jail following city council's (surprise) special work session with the Fulton County Sheriff Department and Fulton County Board of Commissioners yesterday. Featuring new segments including Kasim watch, the F-word count, new candidate alert, the one story no one is talking about, and of course, Aliens.Our work depends on donations from listeners like you. To support our work and ensure the future of independent local journalism in ATL, go to www.mainlinezine.com/donatePlus, be on alert for our Patreon page launching on June 1, which will host new projects and interactive community discussions

Sylvia, King, and Aja are back this week to touch base on everything Atlanta politics. Today: who's new in the city council and mayoral races, public transit, campaign finance report updates from Sylvia, candidates that are flying under the radar in mainstream news, and how Aja still hasn't watched the Wire.To support our work, visit www.mainlinezine.com/donate

Sylvia, King, and Aja return to discuss the past week's developments in Atlanta's local elections since Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her decision to not seek re-election. Since last week, the race has become populated with council members Andre Dickens and Antonio Brown announcing their candidacy. Council president Felicia Moore makes waves claiming to be the frontrunner and former mayor Kasim Reed continues to tease out the idea of another potential run. Meanwhile, city council district seats continue to fill up.We will return every week on Fridays to report on updates in Atlanta's municipal elections. To support our work, become a monthly sustainer at www.mainlinezine.com/donate.

On Thursday night, local news sources reported that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced she would not be seeking re-election for a second term as Atlanta's 60th mayor. Those reports were confirmed with Bottoms' letter to the city and her press conference on Fri., May 7. Since the news broke, local pundits, politicos, and organizers have been spinning their wheels projecting what the future might hold in Atlanta's municipal races.One thing we know for sure: we're going to have an insanely busy summer as things begin to take form, twist, turn, and then form again between now and November 2. There's a lot on the line — including the fate of the city jail and the future of Atlanta policing — and there's going to be a lot of players. Buckle up, Atlanta. Here's our first rundown with Aja Arnold, Mainline contributor and researcher Sylvia Johnson, and fellow independent ATL journalist King Williams.

Mainline contributor and researcher Sylvia Johnson speaks with fellow Mainline contributor and organizer AJ and community organizer Miriam Barcenas to begin to address the necessity for solidarity within communities, across racial and class intersections. The three discuss the fall-out from the March 16 Atlanta spa shootings, the insidiousness of white supremacist culture, what policing means to each of them, and community trauma. In Sylvia's words, "I want to talk with people about this work; to hear how our diverse backgrounds still lead to common lived experiences in America."To support our work, please visit www.mainlinezine.com/donate

In this week's episode of "Mainline Presents: To the Left," Aja & co-conspirator Ryan in Marketing are joined by event and music labor organizer Chris Tollack in Atlanta and Phillip Golub of the Musicians Workers Alliance in New York City. The four discuss what happened in Bessemer, the lengths corporations go with anti-union messaging, manufacturing consent, what the PRO Act does, and how it would empower musicians/artists/freelancers, and the "precariat" class. (This episode is Ryan's fault.)Support our work at https://mainlinezine.com/donateP.S. Abolish the police.To learn more about what happened in Bessemer from lead organizer Joshua Brewer: https://labornotes.org/2021/04/inside-alabama-amazon-union-drive-interview-lead-organizerJoin the Debt Collective:https://debtcollective.org/Check out MWA:https://musicworkersalliance.org/"Breaking Down the PRO Act" by Brandon Magner (because none of us are labor law experts, and labor law is intentionally confusing): https://brandonmagner.substack.com/p/breaking-down-the-pro-act