Disregard of black bodies and lives removing the images of from syrup and uncle bin from rice isnt enough the streets are calling out for freedom liberty an america that finally treats black people as equals with protest and mounting calls for justice in the wake of the deaths of george floyd a model robbery Briana Taylor ryszard brooks and thousands of black americans the message the u. S. Is clear water down legislation p. R. Campaigns from top brands of multibillion Dollar Companies and going to cut it. At the intersection of race and accountability its time we start watching the next you want to know whats going on the city you streets you want to. Let me show you what she sees see the prizes you always state ill see you drone strikes mass graves you see this least systemic deception is the late show which i will see when you feel as. Though they were on the watch of the hawks. And ill be sure and joining us now is civil rights attorney and executive director of the Rainbow Push Coalition the one and only Robert Patillo and professor in black historian Brittany Lewis thank you both for coming on today and celebrating juneteenth with us here watching dogs. Thank you so much for having us. How dangerous and think i britney you know has been going to. Britney is taking on a new meaning this year with a backdrop of civil unrest calls for systemic change could this be a watershed moment in civil rights history and what changes do you see coming down the pike. You know i mean ive certainly heard i certainly hope so you know i think its such an important time and although the black community has been celebrating for a very long time our abolition has been long calm i do think at this moment if its simply going to be a watershed moment in history the fact that the people have had enough weve seen more confederate statues thrown into oceans weve seen uprisings go on for weeks i do think this is going to be a good week moment ive also noticed that there are a 1000000000. 00 and it seems that are claiming that they are going to claim that this is going to be a paid holiday like you mentioned earlier weve seen the racialized image is that brands have been you think removed however i dont think thats going to be enough and i think that our community the black community is going to continue to push for more not simple reform and not an easy solution. And robert do you agree what do you think that this era in history how do you think it plays into juneteenth. Well you know this is kind of a kairos moment that were stepping into because what were saying is america finally confronting the the racialized nature of their history for too long weve had this sanitized Johnny Appleseed version the will mirror history where america is always to good guy who really knows that superhero movies are the heroes from jail so what were saying now were starting to go brush back and people back those layers and sorely confronting the fact that america was built on the foundation the but all of the genocide of the indians the subjugation of africans of this country and show juneteenth of the holiday which forces america to look like that the reason. The president tried so the him and most white people didnt know about the holiday because they didnt want to go about the holiday they dont want to think about the civil war with regard to slavery and what the confederate stages and federal money was weve heard this live for years and generations i can look out this window and see the still see Stone Mountain where we say the civil war was about states rights is about a different way of life no about slavery the quarter tones is about slavery the flag of the confederacy the battle flag of the norm Northern Virginia army is about slavery in america is finally coming to terms with their own pastoral reality. Couldnt agree more Robert States and corporations are pushing to honor juneteenth as a holiday though its been celebrated by black americans since 865 do you think this step is you know some good call it pandering or could there be more to whites recognizing this long and hollow holiday and what what responsibility do you go to school do schools have to teaching the true history of slavery and the emancipation for black americans. Or part part of the issue is that the way that we teach black history in this country is a fairy tale we tell this very convenient story where you know Martin Luther king and Abraham Lincoln got together and decided to end slavery so they got on the underground railroad will frozen parts of Harriet Tubman with them and then they gave the i have a brain speech later on that they broke obama for as they were thinking thats the way that we like it 3 in this country we take out we sanitize we give the Disney Channel version of black history we go through all the warts all the bruises all the bodies that were burned the century long battle for the enforcement of the of the rights that we should have had as human beings thats where you get to this of this point of people not knowing their true history and i think the reason juneteenth is a very genting making that a holiday celebrated by corporations that there is a bill now to make it a federal holiday is a convenient way of hopefully tape. And there always will the bowl trains with the field order by general during the civil war there are going to be motor fuel orders there think of the americans trying to avoid we just sure would feel special feel the order number 50 number 15 was published 40 acres of the mule to africanamericans and just a conversation that is not going below so juneteenth as nice to celebrate lets get to shore move through order number 50 sounds like reparations might be on the horizon brittany how does americas history impact present day struggles of black americans and how can the country reconcile its past with todays demonstrations meanwhile still move forward and do you think what do you think that progress looks like can it really be reached. Sure i mean i think the most important thing is going to go back to the conversations we had earlier about reparations i think the problem here is that most americans dont understand the connection between enslavement private property and capitalism you know we talk about capitalism capitalism you know as if its the greatest thing its directly connected to democracy when actually its directly connected to our inflate minute us imperialism just to get kind of a quick recap you know many of the same fortune 500. 00 companies that are claiming that they want you recognized as a federal holiday ill most of them got their start in the slave business so since enslaving humans and transporting them to a new continent was a risky and dangerous Business Insurance policies were purchased in those insurance policies were purchased through companies that exist today new york life i mean you know they sold those policies so i think its really important for us to continue to draw the connections between enslavement between private property and capitalism and to fight for the reparations that we deserve african beings that america has been insulated longer than theyve been 3 thats very important when you think about how we translate wealth in this country so i think yes the people are rising up the people have the power to make change we have not stopped i think were going to continue to see us pushing for new reforms just beyond the funding of police but reforms in terms of how we understand the u. S. As a. And tittie i want to ask you brit is still with you is how do you see politics i mean are do are there any politicians out there right now implementing reforms in their platforms entering in this Election Year that you say yes thats the kind of reforms were trying to get behind you see anyone out there actually making the correct moves that would bring that reconciliation that youre talking about. 0 7 i think its tough and im not this is not a popular opinion i know people believe that electoral politics will eventually africanamerican liberation and having more black faces in high places will be enough i push against that narrative i do but we you know our ancestors have fought and died for centuries for our right to vote so we should engage on the National Mall on the state and the local level the only really conversations that im interested in right now i would say would be coming from the you know the city council of minneapolis thats out of this and thats the things at least department those are the type of changes that are truly revolutionary because reform is not enough we have seen reforms everything you know all the amendments to the constitution are reforms right for people slowing the language of progress slowly trying to get the next step in black freedom and liberation and i think were at a point where were firms or reforms are not enough theyre not lasting and theyre not going to create sustainable systemic change. And Robert Netflix is netflix the c. E. O. Recently announced a 120000000. 00 donation to historically black colleges and universities people are donating in the millions to black civic organizations do you think this is just riding the wave or is this possibly an entryway to equity and accountability for big business. Well its all this a couple years ago with the need to move with. These reckonings came and people had to confront their own their own biases and prejudices in their companies they tried to buy their way out of it buy their way into some good publicity the truth is the reason people are making these donations and so that more and dives into their own races. A. B. C. Where the executives there were told what picking cotton wool for guards and some of the black anchors a many of these corporations who are making these wonderful pledges the reason theyre doing it is so they dont have to confront the institutional system the greats of the day benefited from for year so instead of making your 120000000. 00 donation the black hole just a pipeline where black producers can become executives that where black content creators can have their film on your platform. When you see your eat your ego seeing statements that we find out how many people who are in your Diversity Inclusion division who what is your number of minority so contractors that youre working with so you have to get into the real some of that work is very easy to write a check when youre a multibillion Dollar Company and then write it off as a charitable donation all your taxes quite frankly i want to know what system that changes youre making will your corporation that will allow africanamericans to get their finally get their equal representation of that the company that you can buy your way out of you know show us and start doing rather than just trying to support cut checks i mean thats really what we want to see from everybody across the board robert thank you so much bernie lewis thank you so much for starting this conversation off with us today always a pleasure. Thank you. All right as we go to break remember that you can also start watching the hawks on demand through the brand new portable t. V. App which is now available on all platforms yes all platforms you have no excuse not to get it so get out there and get it all right coming up we discuss the efforts to declare dream teams the federal holiday here in the United States you dont want to miss this is we celebrate juneteenth here im watching the whole. As the culture war d rages on and they did the billionaire finances only getting wealthier their wealth is iraq the 20 percent or 584000000000. 00 since the start of the pandemic splash law how will this fact sheet to complete coverage and is a term that under its last minute north. West needs a national the start of you know when youve been able to molest that solicit it possible to prevent. Her from the regular morgue or your home or your partner are going to be moving through are. Not. Wash your psyche of all but us lucifer mistletoe is just that in a couple of them to fail. It is not my achievement mr davies our 5 year of plans were conceived by lineage and carried out by the people themselves if alan would produce or even florek it with the idea of making a film like this he probably be branded as crazy. How was the sentiment during the war the soviets were brave heroes resisting the nazis thats going to change of course after the war but once the cold war begins. Little people think that hollywood is a free plates but only what is a strictly defined but one side of the business and the other side is ideology. How would i define hollywood is they call it the dream manufacture which i thinks true but i think equally its a problem in the fact. 54 jets and more than 1300 military person. Now are headed to air force base in alaska where is that to say come on ill show you whats the reason for any type of enhanced u. S. Military presence in this area russia. What is it suddenly about the South China Sea that makes it so that it 11000000000 barrels of oil. Take a look at this map who really owns what kind of says no it belongs to us india says no we claim that that belongs to us both of these countries have Nuclear Weapons capabilities there is reason for concern so thats why were going to drill down on this story for you today right here on the news with rick sanchez where you know as we always like to say we do believe by golly its time to do news again. July the 4th the United States of america celebrates its great day of independence the day that we as a country cut off our chains of oppression from Great Britain broke their imperial yoke in just a few weeks fireworks will be shot into the heavens and the red white and blue will be the featured colors of every barbecue in the us of a will take a day off from work and celebrate that but for our native brothers and sisters whose ancestors this countrys liberty was forcibly for us to plan through disease and genocide or for black americans whose families incarceration and for servitude this country was built upon. The 4th of july is just another day on the calendar or worse a celebration of hypocrisy about the celebration of the 4th of july writer order an icon former slave Frederick Douglass once said i say with a sad sense of the disparity between us i am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary this 4th of july is yours not mine you may rejoice i must more fellow citizens above your National National tumultuous joy i hear the mournful wail of millions whose chains heavy and grievous yesterday are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. Enter juneteenth the celebration of black america is true independence from the bombs of cruelty and servitude but while every american knows the history and meaning behind the celebration of the 4th of july not every american especially those who were born here and share my skin color are taught the meaning or even aware of the celebration and importance of june team well one group looking to change all of that is Steve Williams the president of the National Juneteenth observation foundation who is out today petitioning the u. S. Congress and president out of states to declare juneteenth a True National holiday he joins us now from the capital thank you so much for joining us steve. Good afternoon thank you for march for having me. Everyone happy juneteenth to you sir you know as i stated earlier today you in the National JuneteenthObservance Foundation are making your case to the u. S. Government to declare juneteenth a National Holiday what has been the reaction from lawmakers so far in trying to make this case and get this declared a federal holiday. Well the reception has been great understand that this was 1st started by the reverend ronald. Some 25 years ago dr morris passed away in 2008 and passed a mammal to me so we just kept up. Its encouraged and the reception on capitol hill has been great they have recognized our efforts over the years away remembering that to get to america so i just want to thank my order to rectus my executive team and all the junk to pursue run into just the orders over the years and it looks like thats why. Steve 1st off i want to thank you for for your work because this is this is something that America Needs to know about juneteenth is something that shouldnt only be celebrated and recognized by africanamericans in this country what is the historical and contemporary significant directed oh im sorry go ahead no i said youre correct. I have a question for you what do you think is the historical significance of getting the us to officially recognized as a National Holiday why is this so important. Would a reason why this is organised because its balance it completes the cycle of the celebration of freedom as it. Was. Black men fought in the revolutionary war and were. More than we were still slaves we were slaves like new revolutionary war so that celebrates. The people the 4th of july. So that can be a combination as ballast to all these freedom celebrations and the historical importance is now america is really to take a step forward to be great to live up to its creed of acknowledging everybody by i think now some of the june. You know for Many Americans especially those of us who grew up in White America like myself we were never taught about juneteenth in school or to understand and celebrate its importance this needs to change why is the celebration of juneteenth so important to the fabric of us culture and why is it so important to teach white people why they need to Pay Attention to this holiday and why its so important. Its important because it lets people know the just ignore me some out of contributions black people have made to the creation and the foundation of america to understand to struggle to understand that slavery actually ended it took place it was real it was it any of the other things which is being tried to be propagated now its important for them to understand almost everything that you see everything that you touch in america has been the fact that and contributed to by black people during slavery specially after slavery. And how has the current political atmosphere at the protests the events of the past few weeks affected. Positively or negatively your continued efforts to get juneteenth recognised as a federal holiday do you think those events helped or hurt. Of course with some awareness and the thing that i say is that which is being aware being made aware its you technology is something that we have been living with all this time in america this is not new for us so Technology Made it more apparent made it aware to the forefront juneteenth it was is the exact perfect vehicle to bring america together under this particular distressed circumstance and to show the good positive aspects of sides from all sides will be mentality with your reception of the search of the memmott with the your a white person who was understand whats going on in american a country its made it changes your perspective about people who chose to go out and meet and socialize people also seem to want to ask you one of the state what have been the steps involved in getting juneteenth recognizes a holiday you know you can walk people what you had walked people through what you had to do to get this you know potentially recognize it is there anything people can do to support your organization and support your efforts to to make this a federal holiday. Well. Given that like i said doc marsh darted this out and we started out with the legislation back in the 1990 s. We it was a learning process and we had this cicely found out that we werent going to get anything done until we went through and we until we went through and we got 39. 00 states are more do recognize juneteenth because there was a moratorium it was a passed or not anymore our days so we had to do that we had to. Go state by state and and get people juneteenth is there to get legislation passed in the states we had to do it soon. We had to do a legislation. It was a constant battle back before. The momentum picked up and we got an opportunity to go in and we work with the different sitters you know. And they got the message to 47 states it just wont be a night to corporations punch. Steve i want to thank you so much for the hard work that you guys are doing out there once again that was Steve Williams president of the National Juneteenth observation from vision. As we sit here today and celebrate in june what comes to your mind as to how we should you know as to how this celebration has taken hold and what will and what will be like moving forward i think that the celebrations now are probably bigger and more bold than weve seen were seeing cities make proclamations across the country that have never recognized juneteenth before and i think that to your point earlier were going to see more schools actually educate people on what. I think one of the greatest things thats come out of this this year is that there will be more knowledge outside of the Africanamerican Community of why do this such an important holiday what it actually means and why is to be honest why a lot of black people celebrate juneteenth and dont celebrate the 4th of july you know that one of the biggest things is look i grew up in a multicultural suburb but i had never even experienced juneteenth or even knew about it until i was in my early twentys you know hanging out with my friend robin chicago you know and that was like the 1st time id ever even been aware that this even existed and that broke my heart finding out that this important day this important celebration for black america is its almost completely oblivious to White America times absolutely and it goes back to the white washing of American History where American History has been sanitized and dumbed down so much that a lot of the efforts of the black community a lot of the trouble strife and agony and pain that the black community has felt is not within our his. 3 books at all it isnt it is a butt but thankfully right donald trump now has made juneteenth aware for all of us. Have to bring it up because that was like one of the most like just shake my head are you really kidding me you know political moments of your now that we havent had already many more but that was one of the worst he always found a way to top and its incredible right its truly truly blows my mind. You know i got to say you know i think the you finish it off today except thats whats important you know closing out to show you know what are your thoughts on that and what do you feel is the state of where were at it this year juneteenth should be a catalyst the protests the uprisings the level of concern by the communities and people taking to the streets i feel like this is a time that america should finally listen to those that are in the streets it makes sense weve been protesting literally these same things since june 2965 so in 2020 my expectation is that america will finally wake up and basically take the war from its eyes and say we need to advance these changes we need to start recognizing these people we need to ensure that our constitution recognizes africanamericans as well and that we are continuing a white supremacist narrative and a white supremacist system that hurts people perverts want to thank you so much regard that as our show for today remember everyone in this world we are not told that we are loved enough so i tell you all i love you. And im in the keep on watching all those hawks out there and have a great day and night everybody. You can become a battleground in the u. S. That is our moment people are demanding the shutdown of a local. Yankee is right now my focus because its a very dangerous oh no care power plant the owner is attempting to run the reactor beyond its operational limits this case just sort of puts a magnifying glass on the power in this country wheres it going is it moving more towards corporate interests or is it more in the idea of a traditional participatory democracy is your power line with the people this case demonstrates that struggle in very real ways. You know what wall streets up to its usual bag of tricks now back in 2008 financial crisis and remember that movie the big short and remember i was obvious that everything was going to blow up and remember how the wall street people were conspiring and then it all blew up in a few people make billions and billions of dollars because they cooked the books grabbed all that cash and were causing reports that you know what this same thing is going to happen again in 10 to 12 years and guess what here we are 12 years later and. As the culture war rages on and they did the billionaire class is only getting wealthier their wealth is 20 percent or 584000000000. 00 since the start of the endemic. How will this fact sheet on the cover and is a term that under the new norm. Is your media a reflection of reality. In a world transformed. What will make you feel safe. Full community. Are you going the right way or are you being led. Directly. What is true what is faith. In the world corrupted you need to descend. To join us in the depths. For a mate in the shallowness. Just a better term. One. Coming from. The world according to ships. Today we discuss why the troops are leaving afghanistan. Extremism in america and the challenges of owning a Small Business in the age of the coronavirus. The world looking. I am frizzy to santos for our top story today the u. S. Has delivered a portion of its feb peace deal with the