Even more so for bernie sanders. Amy today, a historic conversation between noam chomsky and Harry Belafonte, two longtime champions of social justice. They appeared on stage together in conversation for the First Time Ever on monday at dememocry now s s 20th anniversary celebratation. The ku klux klan for some of us is a constant has a constant existence. It touches certain aspects of White America that all of the sudden White America wakes up to the fact theres something called the klan. Carson, whok at ben donald trump has picked to head the department of housing and urban Development Even though he has no experience in housing or urban policy. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described carson as a disturbingly unqualified choice. We will speak with new York City Councilmember Jumaane Williams all that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In syria, Government Forces have seized as much as 75 of eastern aleppo. On tuesday, antigovernment rebels withdrew from aleppos old city, and the Aleppo Leadership Council called for a fiveday truce to allow for thte evacuation of civilians from rebelheldld areas. The Syrian Government, however, says its opposed to any more temporary truces in aleppo. And on monday,usussia and chchia vetoeded a u. N. Security Council Resolution for a a weeklong ceasefire in the city. The battlele for controlol of easterern aleppo is seen as decisive turning point in the fiveyear civil war, which began with a democratic Popular Uprising in 2011. If the Syrian Government retakes all of aleppo, the antigovernment rebels will be left with h little territory and only the Northern Province of idlib in some areas in the provinces of aleppo and homs around damascus. The ongoing ground offensive comes after eastern aleppo has been besieged for weeks by syrian Government Forces and under aerial attack by the Syrian Air Force and russia. The u. S. Backed iraqi army is continuing its weekslong campaign to retake the city of mosul from isis militants. On tuesday, the iraqi army, backed by dozens of u. S. Airstrikes, advanced on the center of mosul. President obama gave his final anned addrdress on nationanal security tueuesday. He sought to defend his legacy in the war on terrorism. He has bombed seven countries and vastly expanded the drone program. Many human rights activists have criticized obamas policies, particularly his drone war, as being an expansion and legalization of president george w. Bushs policies. During the speech, obama also called for the closurere of the military prison at guantanamo a Campaign Promise he made more , than eight yeaears ago that hs administstration has failed to fulfill. Obama also sought to push back on some of Donald Trumps proposals, which have included resurrectingng the registry for immigrants from majority muslim nations which was implemented after 9 11. This is president t obama, speaking at the macdill air base in tempora. Pres. Obama the United States does not impose a religious test as a price for freedom. We are a country that was founded so that people could practice their faith as they choose. The United States of america is not a place where some citizens have to withstand greater scrutiny or carry a special id card or prove they are not an enemy from within. We are a country that has blood and struggled and sacrificed against that kind of discrimination and arbitrary rule. Here in our own country and around the world. Amy president elect donald trump has fire Lieutenant GeneralMichael Flynns son from the Transition Team for sharing fake news. Michael flynn is trumps pick for National Security adviser. His son, also named michael flynn, has come under fire for sharing a fake news story pushed by rightwing websites. In one such tweet, flynn wrote u decide nypd blows whistle on new hillary emails money laundering, sex crimes w children, etc. Must read then linked to a fake news article on the website truepundit. Com. Among the conspiracy theories flynn has pushed is one claiming Hillary Clinton and other prominent democrats were running a child sex ring from the back rooms of a washington, d. C. , pizza restaurant. On sunday, an armed North Carolina man was arrested after walking into the restaurant comet ping pong, and then fired firing at least one shot. He said he was inspired by the fake news stories. Donald trump is slated to meet with outgoing North Carolina governor pat mccrory today. Earlier this year, mccrory signed the antilgbt law known as the bathroom bill which denies transgender people use of the bathroom, changing room, or locker room that matches their gender identity. It sparked massive protests nationwide. Nenews reports suggest mccrory s under consideration for the position of fema director, or possibly a highlevel position in the energy or transportation departments. In new york city, close to people protested outside wells 100 fargos 15th annual pipeline symposium to demand wells fargo and other banks stop investing in the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. This is rachel marcohavens of earth guardians. We are standing here today in front of the waldorfastoria and traditionally has held the 1 for as long as it has been standing. Inside there are pipeline investors. I just met one. I met three and they all say they dont care about what happens to the people along the lines of the extractive industry. We are here because water is life. We must stand in solidarity across Turtle Island to take care of each other and to stop this fossil fuel infrastructure and to recognize that we can transition to renewable now. We must defund these corporations. Amy on sunday, the u. S. Army corps of engineers denied Energy Transfer partners, the Company Behind the Dakota Access pipeline, a permit to drill under the missouri river, halting consnstruction for now. This is rocio velandia at the new york city protest reacting to the news. They had announced they were , but we saw it as a war tactic to disperse and confuse. We are the Indigenous Peoples of mother earth and we are used to the injustices against our people. We know how to survive. We have been here for thousands of years, and we will remain. And whatever happens to the Indigenous Peoples, it is action happening to everyone on earth. We have to understand when the water is on, we will all be gone. Amy a second massive winter blizzard has hit the resisistane camps atat Standing Rock in norh dadakota last night, forcing war protectors to seek shelter in nearby Community Centers and the Standing Rock sioux tribe casino. The Standing Rock healer and medic council said its treated two people for hypothermia, and condemned the state of north dakota for maintaining a police road block on highway 1806 the main road leading in and out of the camps that has been delaying the evacuation of patients amid the blizzard. Thousands of water protectors remain at Standing Rock, concerned that the Company Behind the pipeline has vowed to drill on, despite being denied the permit by the army. On Energy Transfer partners monday, filed a lawsuit in federal court asking a judge to grant the necessary permit, claiming the army has bowed to political pressure. In the filing, Energy Transfer partners says the delays to the project have cost 450 million so far. Meanwhile, in Western North dakota, authorities shut down an oil pipeline after a spill leaked into a nearby creek. Authorities say they do not know how much oil has contaminated the water stream. Canadas Energy Minister jim carr has apologized after implying the canadian government would deploy troops against protesters opposing the proposed 1 billion kindermorgan tar sands pipeline, which was approved by Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau last week. Last week carr said the government would use its Defense Forces to quell protests. Scientist say thousands of snow these have died in montana after the flock landed on the toxic waters of an old, open pit copper mine near butte. The berkeley pit mine was closed in 1982 and is now a super fund site. Its filled with water contaminated with arsenic and a host of other toxic chemicals. The World Council of churches is condemning israel for interrogating and deporting its associate general secretary dr. Isabel apawo phiri upon her arrival at tel aviv airport. The respected african theologian was traveling with other Church Leaders for a conference in jerusalem when she was denied entry into israel. Israeli Officials Say they blocked her entry because of her support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions , movement, or bds, an International Campaign to pressure israel to comply with International Law and rerespect palestinian rights. In colombia, authorities have arrested a man suspected of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a sevenyearold indigenous girl over the weekend in a brutal case of Sexual Violence that has sparked widespread outrage in colombia. On tuesday, authorities charged in a protect an upperclass architect Rafael Uribe Noguera with the kidnap and murder of yuliana andrea samboni. The crime has sparked ongoing protests. On monday, colombian president Juan Manuel Santos tweeted with profound indignation i condemn the crime against the 7 year old in botoga. Niunamas or not one more, the hashtag used across latin america to condemn violence against women. In greece, riot Police Attacked hundreds of protesters marking the 8th anniversary of the Police Killing of 15yearold Alexandros Grigoropoulos in 2008. His killing sparked weeks of massive protests and a commemorating his death is held march each year in athens. In louisiana, authorities have arrested ronald gasser, who o is white, for shooting and killing former nfl player joe mcknight, who is black, in a possible ce of road rage last week. Hes been charged with manslaughter for the Fatal Shooting last thursday. This is Jefferson Parish sheriff newell normand. We are here to announce the , whiteof roronald gasser male born 17 1961 for the count of manslaughteter as it relateto thee incident relative to the killing of joe mcknight thatat occurred thursday afternoon at corner of homes and amy the case sparked outrage after authorities released gasser last week, even though he admitted shooting mcknight multiple times. Passed, lawmakers have antiabortion legislation would ban abortion from the moment a heart which can be detected, which is usually about six weeks into pregnancy. John kasich must decide whether to sign the bill which would become one of the most severe antichoice restrictions in the country. The emergence of a Liberties Union and a slew of other organizations have enougugh legislation is unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it in court if it is signed into law. And in new york, a former black panther is free after 37 years in prison. Maliki shakur latine was reunited with his family and friends tuesday. His release was granted after he had support from the parole preparation project of the National Lawyers guilds new york city chapter. In 1981, Maliki Shakur latine was sentenced to 25 years to life for attempted murder of a police officer. A court later overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial, but the decision was reversed on appeal. Supporters have launched a website to raise funds for his basic needs as he turns to his next challenge finding a j. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. On monday, over 2300 people packed into the Historic Riverside Church in new york city to celebrate the 20th anniversary of democracy now it was a momentous occasion. In part because it marks the first time noam chomsky and Harry Belafonte appeared on stage together in conversation. They have then longtime champions of social justice. Noam chomsky is a worldrenowned political dissident, linguist, author who gained fame in the 1960s were his critique of the vietnam war and u. S. Imperialism. He is Institute Professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of technology where he has taught for more than half a century. Harry belafonte is a long time civil rights activist, immensely popular singer and act for. He was one of Martin Luther kings closest confidants and out organize the march on washington in 1963. Democracy now Juan Gonzalez and i sat down with noam chomsky and Harry Belafonte on monday at Riverside Church. Now, i just want to start off by saying you have just witnessed an historic moment. Is this the first time harry and noam, that you have met . It is that the first time we have met, but it is the first time we have shared a platform together. [applause] it is a little intimidating to sit with so much knowledge andnd sensitivity. Anyway, it is nice to be with all of you. Amy so we have this opportunity to talk with the two of you at this critical juncture in u. S. History and the world. Harry, before you went off to war, you were banned from the copacabana as an africanamerican. You come back and you are headlining there as one of the worlds great enterertainers and musicians. You marched in selma with dr. King, were one of his closest confidants. Noam, you marched against the vietnam war. You thought you would be spending years, maybe decades in jail, even as you are rising in your academic career at m. I. T. , willing to give up everything. Giants of many movements. Your thoughts today in the age of donald trump . I differ to you. [laughter] your much more eloquent. Admit that i had far commitments to the belief t in the final analysis believe in america that might eventually our citizens will rise up and righteously stop the enemy at the gate, if not, in fact, put them in retreat. Eventsh time e certain took place, the horror and terror of not only i referenced before to some, i know i mention the fourth reich. I wasnt wasnt quite sure what i was talking about. For clarity, as you know, the torment was the nazi era, called the third reich. Ive that we have thoroughly ansed ourselve of that ourselves of that encounter and that we would be much more resilient. I think to a degree, we do reveal some resilience. But the real test has not yet until the transfer has taken place. And what concerns me is the on the mischief beyond the mischief of trump and all of those in hisis cabinet and the peoples yes appointed t to leadership, of not quite understood we had another severe idst,ended enemy in our m and it was our species or weakness in the face of absolute creed, i think we have failed to come to certain solid conclusions. [applause] because we have been so contaminated with possessions forgotten we have have destroyed our children or set the tone for that. I would welcome professor chomskys point of view, and i hope you says something that will make me dance out of here. [laughter] well, i should say that i was trumpat immunized to the Electoral College victory of course, not popular victory, as you know but the fact that my wife was the only person i knew who even before the republican primaries had predicted that trump was going to win, was looking at the country somewhat from the outside. She is from brazil and felt somehow she had her finger on the pulse of a large part of the country and was confident this was going to happen. So i wasnnt all that s surpri. Or, i think it is extremely dangerous and many ways, like the ones i mentioned and others that you are quitite familiar with. On the other hand, there is plenty of opportunities. We should bear in mind that the country has become much more civilized in the past 50 or 60 years. A meeting like this could not have been conceivable in 1960, 1970 the kinds of commitment and engagagement that you and my toers like you are committed is something quite new. And there have been many advances and achievements. Womens rights, civil rights generally, rights of gayays, opposition to aggression, environmental concernrns did not evenen exist at t that time. There has been tremendous progress. That means that struggles today start from a much higher plane than they did not many years ago at the time when harry was marching in selma. It was a much harsher world but it is today. The reason is, plenty of people did commit themselves to constant dedicated struggle and were plenty of achievements. And that goes back in american history. No need to review it. But the earlier period is one of total horror. After all, the country was founded on two incredible crimes, unbelievable crimes. Virtual extermination of the indigenous population. Crisis, whenrant we dont think about today. And form of slavery, which wasas the most viciouous and history and, in fact, is the basis for a large part of the wealth and Economic Development of the United States england, france, and others. That is history. When donald trump talks about making the country great agagai, for many people, it wasnt that great. Quite the opposite. [applause] the point is, there has been plenty of progress becausese peopople facing much harsher conditions than we do did not give up. That is an important lesson. Furthermore, even the election itself suggests major opportunities. For one thing, as you know, the democrats actually had a considerable majority of the vote. If you look at the younger voters, the people who will shape the future, they were overwhelmingly trump, even more so, prossanders. [applause] we should also bear in mind what remarkable phenomenon the Sanders Campaign [applause] somebody unknown, came from nowhere, practically no one in the country knew who he was, using words like socialism, which used to be a real curse word. No corporate support, no medidia susupport, no support from the wealthy. Everything that has always been crucial to winning elections. Mostly we have bought elections. Had none of it. And practically took over one of the two major parties. Could have taken it over if it hadnt been for shenanigans [applause] it was primarily driven by young people. All of these are very hopeful signs. There are opportunities that can. E grasped no time to run through them, but there are plenty of them. And it is very much in our hands and among the younger of you in your hands to carry us forward arduouslong path, long path toward trying to create a Civilized Society and decent world. Amy m. I. T. Professor of political dissident noam chomsky and worldrenowned entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte speaking at Riverside Church on monday at democracy now s 20th anniversary celebration. We will return to their this tour conversation, the first time they are on a public panel together, talking about trump, ku klux klan, and much more in a minute. [music break] amy , really tom morello monday at Riverside Church. Over 2300 people at Riverside Church. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We return now to this historic conversation between m. I. T. Professor, worldrenowned political dissident noam chomsky, and Harry Belafonte, known around the world as an entertainer and an activist. They have never appeared on stage together in conversation before. Juan gonzalez and i interviewed them together. Juan i would like to ask both of you, theres been a lot of discussion in recent weeks about come of theworkers workining class in this electit, of trumps supposed appeal to white workers. Harry, yoyou know the civil rigs movement, as it was growing and developing, needed and was fueled as well by progressive unions, like 1199 and the auto workers and others that gave a andngth and organization resources. Im wondering how youre looking oam three mention the young people. The problem is, the socalled creative classes are increasingly concentrated in the big cities. There is seattle and chicago and new york and then the issue then is what happens in the rest of the country . Back in the 1960s and 1970s, we still say go back out and organize in the communities from which you came from. How do you see this whole analysis of loss of the workingclass this sort o of progressive politics that we are hearing in the commercials and the Corporate Press . Take a look at these last few elections. In many of the trump many of the trump voters among the white working class, voted for obama. The slogansluted by of the campaign. You may recall the 2008 campaign was based on the slogan hope and change. Well, many people voted, rightly, for hope and change. The workingclass has suffered not disastrouously, but severely from the neoliberal policies of the past generation. Pretty muchh from 1979. If you take the 2007, the peak of what the economist recalling the economic miracle, right before the crash, 2007, american ,orkerers who had real wages considerably lower than in 1979 befofore these policies were instituted. They lost listen to alan greenspan, who during the height of the euphoria over the economy was called saint alan, the greatest economist of all time. He testified to c congress explaining the basis for the success of the economy that he was running. He said it was based on growing worker insecurity, growing worker insecururity meaning if workers are beaten down enough and intimidated enough and iff ththere is if there organizations, unions are sufficiently destroyed, they cannot ask for higher wages and for decent benefits, that it is good for the economy, create a healthy economy by some measure. We know the measure. Well, all of this has happened. The workingclass has suffered from it. They had a real need for hope and change. Well, they did not get hope and they did not get change. I dont usually agree with sarah palin, but i think [laughter] i think she nailed it when she asked at one point, where is all changeyopey business . It showed very quickly and midterm future elections. This election, a con man came along and is offering hope and change. And they are voting for it. Suppose people like you, the people who form the sanderers movement, would present an programc, constructctive for real hope and change. It would win these people back. I think many of the trump voters [applause] many of the trump voters could have voted for sanders if there kindndhe right time of activivism and organization. And those are possibilities. It has been done in the past under much harsher circumstances. Organizing whahat working people in indiana is a lot easier than what the freedom riders try to do in the south 60 years ago. Much easier. It takes work, but it can be done. My feeling is that a core part of the Progressive Program is to rebuild the organized structure of the Labor Movement, which all throughout modern history has been in the forefront of progressive change. And that is not impossible, either. It hasas been bebeaten down prey severely in the past generation. It has been worse before. You go back to the 1920s, a period which is not unlike today in many ways, the gilded age, you know, the Labor Movement was virtually destroyed. Woodrow wilsons red scare practically wiped it out. There had been a militant activist Labor Movement. There was a list nothing left of it in the 1920s. Why the 1930s, a revived. Militant labor organization, the aflcio overcame racist conflicts, lady bassist for the new deal programs, which were highly beneficial to the extent they remain beneficial. Back in happen again. No reason why it cant. [applause] amy in a moment, patti smith is going to be coming out on the talents. Share her but i wanted to wrap up with harry. Democracy now originally came out of pacifica radio, which was five stations. Wbai in york in houston. Kfpt in houston. A few weeks after when on the air and 1970, it was loan up by the ku klux klan. When they got back up on their feet and rebuild, the klan blew it up again. Strapped 15 times the dynamite to the base of the transmitter. And it took months to get back on the air after that. I cant remember, it was the grand dragon or the exalted cyclops because i often confuse the titles [laughter] amy he said it was his proudest act because he understood how dangerous independent media is, for people to speak for themselves. That is the story of history, though. Who would have thought in 2016 we would be talking about the ku klux klan today . When donald trump was asked whether he would disavow david know, hepport, you hesitated. He said he would have to find out more from david duke or the exactly camino who it was who was supporting him, maybe the only time he hesitated before he spoke. What was it, which klan chapter he wanted to know in the United States it was to make a decision . But what about this . What about donald trump, the ku messages that the he is constantly putting out to lure more voters and support . Believe trump and bringing a new energy to the realization of the vastness of the reach of notku klux klan is out ofng that has been the basic purview of thought. The ku klux klan, for sosome of us, is a constant has a constant existence. It isnt until it touches certain aspects of White America , all of a sudden they wake up to the fact that theres something called t the klan andt does its mr. [applause] what causes me to have great thought is something that is most unique to my e experience. As i said earlrlier tonight, at the doorstep of the 90 years of age, i had thought i had seen it all and done it all come only to find out at 809i knew nothing. The most kill your thing to me is in the absence the black presence in the middle of this thestance, not just skirmishes we have seen in ferguson and black lives matter and i think is protests and those voices being raised are extremely important [applause] but t we blew thisis thing a log time ago. When they y started the pupurge against communism in this country and against the voice of i in a designhope for socialist theory and for the sharing of wealth the equality abandonkind, when we our vision and vigils on that topic, i think we sold out ourselves. [applause] a cube of a group of young black students a few days ago in harlem asked me at this point in my life, what was i looking for. And i said, what i have always been looking for where resides the rebel heart. Without the rebellious heart, without people who understand that there is no sacrifice you can make thatt is too great to retrieve that which you have lost, we will forever be distracted with physicians and trinkets possessions and trinkets and title. And i i think one of the big wis blackappepened w was when people began to be anointed by the trinkets of this capitalist ciety and began to become bigtime players and began to become heads of corporations, they became players in the game of our own demise. [applause] and although i believe professor chomskys evaluation is valid and a basis for great thought, i am looking at the victories were having like the ones we saw a few days ago [applause] the fate of american brothers. The fact that our native american brothers and sisters have stopped the engines for a moment. [applause] is really a call for us to be reminded that the engine can be stopped. [applause] and therein i find solace. Tore and i find the capapacity do things and create things that will make a difference where it appears we appear to be headed. We have to be more adventurous. The heart has to find a greater space for rebellion. [applause] we pay a penalty for such thought. , was just recently reminded particularly close to my own feelings and thoughts because i was one of the voices that was raised in recruiting those Young Students to participate in our rebellion. In ago david goodman, andrews brother is here today. He is always at the right places. But i think there are those kinds of extremes that will be experienced in the struggle, but the real nobility of our existence is how we have appeared to pay that price. And i think once the opposition understands that we are quite repaired to die for what we believe [applause] that death for a cause does not just sit with isis, but sits with people workers, who are genuinely prepared to push against the theft of our nation and the distortion of our constitutioion. And that for m many of us, no price is too great for that charge. [applause] and we have great history to call upon. I mentioned a few before, but we still have a few left. I wanted to take this opportunity, but i know we are winding down, dysphagia you, amy, and, juan, i have been through much in this country. I came back from the second world war. While the world rejoice in the fact that hitler had been defeated, there were some of us who were touched by the fact instead of sitting at the tabless feast at the great victory, we were worried about our lives because the response for many in america was the murder of many blacack servicemn that came back. And we were consnsidered to bee dangerous because we have learned the capacity to handle weaponry, had faced death in the battlefield, and whehen we came back, we had an expectation as the victors, came back knowing that, yes, we might have fought to end hitler, but we also fought for our right to vote in america. [applause] in the pursuit of such rights came the civil rights movement. Well, that can happen again. We just have to get out our old coaoats, just them off, stop screwing around and just chasing the good times, and get down to business. Some ass kicking to be done. Amy world renowned entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte and m. I. T. Professor, linguist, polilitical dissident noam chomy speaking at Riverside Church 20thy at democracy now s anniversary celebration. We began on nine pacifica and committed to radio stations most of today we broadcast on over 1400 Public Television and radio stations around the world. A very special happy birthday to noam chomsky. Today is his 88th birthday. Harry belafonte will turn 90 on march 1. You can watch the f full event f our celebration with Harry Belafonte, noam chomsky, danny glover, patti smith, tom morell o, denny to veto, and more. And a surprise appearance at democracynow. Org. When we come back, we look at dr. Ben carson, ththe retired nurse e surgeon who donald trums but to serve as secretary of the department of housing and urban development. Stay with us. [music break] amy Harry Belafonte singing 60 years ago in 1956. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We end todays show by looking at dr. Ben carson, theetired neurosurgeon Donald Trumps has picked for secretary of the department of housing and urban development, or hud. Trumump picked carson even thouh the doctor has no government experience in housing or urban policy. Last month carson told the Washington Post having me as a federal bureaucrat would be like a fish out of water, quite frankly. Dr. Carsons top advisor Armstrong Williams has also admitted this lack of experience could be problematic. Williams said dr. Carson feels he has no government experience. Hes never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency. Hud is a 48 billion agency which oversees Public Housing , ensuring that lowincome families have access to safe homes and neighborhoods. During a recent interview on fox news, carson said he was qualified in part because he grew up in the inner city. What would steer you to take the job for which h a lot of fos say, hey, you have these ample medical degrerees, one of the nation top neurosurgeons, what you know about doing this . Grew up in i know i the innercity and have spent a lot of time there and have dealt with a lot of patience from that area. And recognize that we cannot have a strong nation if we have weak inner cities. Amy dr. Trumps choice of ben carson to have the department of housing and urban development has alarmed many housing advocates and democratic politicians. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described carson as a disconcerting and disturbingly unqualified choice. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee responded to nancy pelosi by tweeting nancy pelosi says he is not huckabee later retracteded his tweet after became to light that dr. Carson had never lived in Public Housing. Carsons views s ve facedd criticism. His been a vocal critic of the fair housing rule which requires local communities to assess patterns of income and Racial Discrimination in housing. Carson has described the rule as a mandated socialengineering scheme. Carson said this is just an example of what happens when we allow the government to infiltrate every part of our lives. This is what you see in communist countries. Well, to talk more about the implications of ben carson becocoming the head of housing d urban development, were joined by jumaane williams, new York City Council member for district 45 and chair of the citys housusing and buildings committee. He has spent much of his career fighting for Affordable Housing. Welcome to democracy now thank you for having me. Amy your thoughts on dr. Carson as hud secretary . I think i called it illadvised, responsible, and hovered on acidity. Some of those could be used to describe some of the recent womens. This one struck a nerve having impact the i know the can be probably will be, fortunate, magnificent in the wrong direction in terms of what is going to happen in the city. We are suffering crippling homelessness, record high homelessness, not having enough Affordable Housing in the city. We actually have been pleadingg for additional funding dollars, particularly in section eight. We had a good idea thisis may be cut under trump administration. Now dr. Ben carson, who has no experience at all it is not just in housing, nothing to do with policy, nothing to do with government it is disconcerting this would be the pick. And maybe ousting maybe because it had the word urban in it, maybe trump needed to have someone with militant and his skin. Otherwise, i cannot figure out why. Amy you are not always a critic of dr. Carson. You grew up on his legacy, his reputation. My mother gave me a copy of gifted hands. He is someone that i looked up to. It wawas so disappointing to really find out who he really was and it turns out he even represented misrepresented many things in the book. In my eyes, and i think many people like me, are kind of fall from grace for who we thought he was tuturned out to be. It isumon reza late joke that like housing and urban development is brain surgery, but that is actually the problem. Correct housing is not a plaything. It is not something you can play around with. I believe the rubric a family is the glue for a Healthy Community and d have someone who really wants to dismantle any governrnment involvement in makg susure every community has acces to that is very scary. We should be worried. Amy during the primary campaign, donald trump repeatedly lashed out at dr. Carson. This is donald trurump speakingn cnn a year ago. ,rmr. Trump other people said and ive not seen it yet, but i knowow it is in the book, that e is a pathological temper or temperament. That is a big problem becausese you dodont cure that. That is like, i could say, as an example, y you dont cure a chid molester. You dont cure these people. You dont cure e a child molest. There is no cure for it. Pathological therees no cue for that. Say it, he said it in his book. When a hear someone is pathological, when someone says, i went after my mother saying about himself with a hammer and hit h her in the head come to us a whwhoa, i dont kw anyoyone that ever did, personally. That is a big statement. When he said he had a friend in the face with a padlockck, right in the face, i say, whoa, that is pretty bad. Amy your thoughts . We have learned a donald trump can say whatever he wants and switch it a minute later and nobody really cares. Talking about what someone went through in theheir childhood, obviously, is a little suspect, particularly when that person has obviously come far from that particular position. But whwhat is scaary is donald trump has his own sort of history when it comes to discrimimination, in housing in particular. So they have what he stands for one comes to housing by the way, housing was not even mentioned very often and the campaign, which is another scary thought. And yes dr. Ben carson who was to dismantle everything that is been put in Place Dynamic a lets go to the historory of donald trumpmp. Former victims of racial housing discrimination at units operated by the trump family spoke out. In 1973, the Nixon Justice Department sued donald and his father fred trump for discriminating against African Americans in new york. One africanamerican woman who was denied an apartment at fred trumps wilshire apartments in k times. This is mae wiggins. My friend and i applied for an apartment in queens, new york, and we were both told there were no vacancies. I realized there were vacancies because they still had the ads running and i was pretty sure it was because of the color of our skin. I have always felt that the Trump Organization was biased. And i will go to my grave with that thought. Amy according to the new york times, the very first time donald trump was mentioned in the paper was in 1973 in a frontpage article headlined major landlord accused of antiblack bias in city. The 1973 article quoted donald trump responding to the charges. He said they are absolutely ridiculous. We never have discriminated and we never would. The trump fafamily settled witih the Justice Department in 1975 with a Consent Decree that they were later accused of breaking. Jumaane williams . And one of the important points here is, even as the trial and of them is going forward, one of the biggest complaints that he had wasnt that they didnt do anything, it was that they would be singled out. That is to say, this was commonplace among many copies, why to single is out. It is very nerveracking that you now have a president who believes in discrimination, i think, particularly when it comes to housing, then appoints someone who doesnt believe in the Fair Housing Act, who doesnt believe in the recent improvement of the Fair Housing Act put in place by y president obama to affirmatively make sure that people have access to fair housing. We have to do things that are affirmative. The situation we are put in we are in were put in affirmatively. We have to have a plan to reverse it or to correct many things we believe are wrong. Dr. Ben carson, one, does not believe that, unfortunately, that is a policy decision. On top of that, this has no experiencece at all when it coms to anything related to anything that hud does. One has to try to figure out why these appointees are being made. Amy i want to turn to ben carson in the challenges of of his childhood with a local radio station. Dr. Carson the thing i hated most in life was poverty. As i began to read those books, particularly about peoples accomplishments, i began to realize that poverty was really more of a choice than anything else. And i could change that. Depended on how hard i wanted to work. Amy that was dr. In carson talking about poverty is a choice. Poverty i is a choicece more than ananything else. I am astonished by the comment. I have a feeling that both he and the president elect believe that. That is what is particularly scary. That is why we believe the billions of dollars the state receives is in jeopardy now, which is only going to exacerbate the problem that is already huge. Amy you refuse to stand for the pledge of allegiance the city hall meeting. What were you protesting . I have personally, not set it a long time, i always stand out of respect, i decided to stay seated and kind of go with what Colin Kaepernick w was doing and what people were doing across the country really to say that there is a problem here when it comes to policece violence and n violence that i believe is being ignored by not g giving the pror resources to communities. I defy anyone to tell me about patriotism and what america stands for while we have elected a man who ran on everything that is do people say the america stands for. Amy jumaane williams, chair of the new york city housing and buildings committee, thank you so much for joining us for this hour. That does it for the show. A special thanks to the staff at Riverside Church. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. Email your comments to outreach democracynow. Org or mail them to democracy now p. O. Box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now ] elaine the latin American Country of peru is well known for its andean culture, cuttingedge cuisine, but also something more sinister counterfeit money production. Im elaine reyes in washington, d. C. , and this is americas now. First up, counterfeit money production has become a big illegal business in peru. Authorities are on the lookout for forging fafactories printing fake u. S. Dollars, then slipping them into circulation. Enrique i would say its, like, aboutthey make, like, 10 million per daday face value