>> COMING UP ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM A SECOND IMPEACHMENT FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DOMINATES THE HEADLINES.

PLUS THE DIGITAL BACKLASH AGAINST HIM PROMPTS WORRIES ABOUT CENSORSHIP, AND ITS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IMPACTING BLACK PEOPLE.

ON ALL THIS AND MORE, NEXT.

♪ HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

THE BIG NEWS RIGHT NOW - A SECOND IMPEACHMENT FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE HISTORIC VOTE HAPPENED IN THE U.S. HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY.

BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> THE HISTORIC DECISION CAME IN THE U-S HOUSE ONE WEEK AFTER THE WASHINGTON, D.C.

RIOTS.

10 REPUBLICANS VOTED IN #*FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT.

AND 7 OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA'S 8 G-O-P CONGRESSMEN VOTED AGAINST THE MOVE.

AMONG THEM WAS FIRST-TERM CONGRESSMAN MADISON CAWTHORNE.

>> I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THIS DIVISIVE IMPEACHMENT AND REALIZE THAT DIVIDING AMERICA WILL NOT SAVE THIS REPUBLIC.

I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT SIMPLY VOTE FOR WHAT FEELS GOOD.

>> IN A VIDEO RELEASED AFTER THE VOTE, PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT COMMENT ON HIS IMPEACHMENT.

>> WE HAVE SEEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.

WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY RIOTS TOO MANY MOBS TOO MANY ACTS OF INTIMIDATION.

AND DESTRUCTION.

>> THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS A TRIAL IN THE SENATE.

BUT SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL SAYS THAT WON'T BEGIN UNTIL AFTER INAUGURATION DAY.

>> LET ME BEGIN BY... >> PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN DOESN'T WANT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO CAUSE SENATORS TO LOSE SITE OF QUOTE, OTHER URGENT BUSINESS - LIKE COVID-19 RELIEF.

>> THIS WEEK, WE'RE JOINED BY JESSICA HOLMES, FORMER CHAIR OF THE WAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND 2020 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS, FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND WRITER COURTNEY NAPIER, AND PATRICK HANNAH, THE CHAIR OF THE CORPORATE ROUND-TABLE FOR THE "NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS".

WHAT DID IMPEACHMENT ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR VIEW AND ARE WE ANY CLOSER TO UNITY RIGHT NOW?

LET ME OPEN UP WITH YOU COURTNEY.

>> THANK YOU DEBORAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

AS FAR AS THE IMPEACHMENT, I FEEL LIKE IT IT WAS A GOOD SIGNAL TO THE CONGRESS TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE COUNTRY THAT WE VALUE JUSTICE.

IT WAS A OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN, AND WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN IS JUSTICE, WHAT WE BELIEVE IN IS PROTECTING PEOPLE PROTECTING AMERICANS.

AND THE PRESIDENT PUT AMERICANS IN DANGER.

AMERICANS LOST THEIR LIVES, AMERICANS WERE HARMED BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY THE 6TH, AND SO THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE FOR CONGRESS TO IMPEACH HIM AGAIN PATRICK HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU DEBORAH, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY THAT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING ONCE SAID "INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE."

AND SO YOU THINK ABOUT AN ATTACK ON THE CITADEL.

OF OUR UNITED STATES CAPITOL, THERE'S A LOT OF REACTION TO THAT.

YOU REFLECT BACK ON THE WILMINGTON RACE RIOTS OF 1898.

YOU THINK ABOUT 1921 AND THE TULSA RIOTS, THERE'S A VISCERAL REACTION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, A BUILDING THE SLAVES HELPED BUILD, I THINK IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO WONDER.

OUR ANCESTORS TOLD US ABOUT SOME OF THESE EXPERIENCES THEY FACED AND TO SEE THIS HAPPENING TODAY IN 2021, IT'S SAD, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> JESSICA WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WE ANY CLOSER TOWARD UNITY WITH ALL OF THIS HAPPENED?

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP WITH 10 REPUBLICANS JOINING THEM MAKING THEM THE MOST BIPARTISAN PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT IN UNITED STATES HISTORY AND MAKING DONALD TRUMP, THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY TO BE IMPEACHED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IS WHAT THE SENATE WILL DO IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE A CONVICTION IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE THAT COULD POSSIBLY IMPACT TRUMP'S ABILITY TO EVER RUN FOR FEDERAL OFFICE AGAIN.

AND IT COULD ALSO IMPACT THE LEVEL OF BENEFITS THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE AFTER HE LEAVES OFFICE.

WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO INSTEAD OF THIS NECESSARILY BRINGING US CLOSER, IT'S FURTHER HIGHLIGHTING THE RACIAL INEQUITIES IN TREATMENT BETWEEN BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND AND WHITE PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW THE PROTESTERS - CALL THEM TERRORISTS - WERE TREATED, THE LEVEL OF RESTRAINT THAT WAS SHOWN BY THE CAPITOL POLICE WAS NOT EVIDENCE IN A LOT OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS THAT WERE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THERE WAS A VERY CLEAR DISTINCTION IN THE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VOICING THEIR CONCERNS.

A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE NAACP AND OTHER BLACK LEADERS MET WITH PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS WERE AND ASKED FOR A SPECIAL ENVOY AS A CABINET POSITION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THAT THERE'S STRONGER SUPPORT FOR NOW, OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT KIND OF NEED?

>> RIGHT WELL IT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I THINK YOU KNOW THE UBIQUITOUS NATURE OF WHERE WE ARE AS A SOCIETY WITH RACIAL DISPARITIES WARRANTS CLOSER ATTENTION BEING PAID TO SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES AS WELL AS SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGES THAT BLACK COMMUNITIES FACE IN PARTICULAR.

SO I DO THINK THIS NEW WORLD THAT WE ARE IN DOES WARRANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND PUBLIC POLICY MEASURES FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

I'M THE FORMER VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE DURHAM NAACP.

I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAACP AND I THINK THAT RISING IT TO A LEVEL OF HAVING SOMEONE WITH A MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE MEANINGFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD ALSO ADD DEBORAH, IF I COULD, BACK TO THE QUESTION ON IMPEACHMENT, I THINK THE DIFFERENCE OR ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL FACTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL IS THAT THE SENATE PRODUCES A TRIAL.

I WORKED IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE DURING THE LEWINSKY TRIAL.

WHEN YOU HAVE A TRIAL IT DOES REQUIRE EVIDENCE TO BE PRODUCED.

HAVING THE HOUSE TO IMPEACH IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT TRYING TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE THE TRIAL IS WHERE THE EVIDENCE WILL BE PRODUCED WHERE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT WOULD COME IN AND PRESIDE OVER A TRIAL AND THAT TAKES TIME TO PREPARE FOR.

EVIDENCE HAS TO BE SUBMITTED SO IT'S STILL INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AS WE MOVE INTO THE INAUGURATION THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, WE SHALL SEE AND RECENT EVENTS HAVE MADE IT PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF DIVISION OVER THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS.

AND THAT HAS LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CALLING FOR CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER WANTS FEDERAL STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO MAIL IN VOTING.

RIGHT NOW THE RULES VARY FROM STATE TO STATE, REPUBLICAN SENATORS, TIM SCOTT IS CALLING FOR A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE WITH 2 GOALS: HIGHLIGHT ANY ISSUES WITH NOVEMBER'S ELECTION AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BOOST PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

IS THE PROCESS WORKING, OR IS THERE A NEED FOR ELECTION REFORM?

I'M GONNA OPEN UP WITH YOU JESSICA.

>> I DO THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR ELECTION REFORM.

THAT SAID, I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS FRAUD WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN TERMS THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN SPEAKING.

FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I SAY THAT WE NEED ELECTION REFORM, SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY HERE ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA, WE ARE THE MOST LITIGIOUS STATE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AS IT RELATES TO REDISTRICTING.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE GOP AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SHOWN A PROPENSITY TO GERRYMANDER, TO PACK DISTRICTS TO QUOTE, UNQUOTE TARGET AFRICAN AMERICANS WITH SURGICAL PRECISION.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED ELECTION REFORM.

I'M A BIT MORE WEARY OF ELECTION REFORM COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE ON THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT WHERE IT'S NOT DONE WELL ON THE STATE LEVEL, I'D BE OPEN TO SEEING WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS IN MIND AS IT RELATES TO ELECTION REFORM.

ONE BEFORE AND I SUPPORT IN PARTICULAR IS AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION TO DRAW MAPS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT BOTH PARTIES GERRYMANDERED MAPS IN THEIR FAVOR TO THE POINT WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE CHOOSING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS OPPOSED TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS CHOOSING THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE.

>> A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ELECTION REFORM.

PATRICK, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MAKING SOME CHANGES?

>> SO WE KNOW WE ALL KNOW THE STRUGGLE FOR VOTING RIGHTS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT DID NOT PASS UNTIL IN 1965.

YOU'D LOOK AT CASES SUCH AS PLESSY VERSUS FERGUSON, THAT SAYS SEPARATE BUT EQUAL IS OKAY, YOU LOOK AT BROWN V BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT PASSED IN THE 50'S AND SO THAT'S LESS THAN A LITTLE OVER 60 YEARS AGO AND WHY I MENTIONED THOSE IS BECAUSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SOMETHING THAT IS SACRED THAT ALL OF US AS AMERICANS SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION WE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL ACCESS AT THE VOTING BOX WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CITIZENS TO VOTE FOR VOTING RIGHTS TO BE RESTORED AND SO I THINK REFORM IS NECESSARY AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LEADERS IN THAT SPACE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> COURTNEY, WASN'T SO LONG AGO, CERTAIN GROUPS WERE SAYING THAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO CHANGE IS NOT REALLY WORKING AND NOW THOSE SAME INDIVIDUALS ARE SAYING HEY THINGS ARE WORKING SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, VOTING RIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PARTISAN ISSUE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE OF THE MAJORITY WANTING TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHO WAS ELECTED AND THE MINORITIES FIGHTING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FULLY REPRESENTED.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE TO JESSICA'S POINT YES THERE DOES NEED TO BE SOME REFORM.

I DO FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN PRIMARILY ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THE FREEDOMS THAT WE EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW HAVE ALWAYS HAPPENED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND SO I DO FEEL LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH THIS.

WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE STATE LEVEL AS WE'VE SEEN VERY RECENTLY VOTER ID'S ARE BECOMING REINTRODUCED AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE AS AS BLACK FOLKS AND AS MINORITIES HAVE ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN MIND AND ESPECIALLY WITH FEDERAL ELECTIONS WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH HAPPEN WITH THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, AND EVEN LOCALLY YOU KNOW WITH THE WITH THE JUDGES RACE.

WITH NEWBY AND AND BEASLEY.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES AND SO I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NEED TO STEP IN AND CLEAR THINGS UP ACROSS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> MAJOR CORPORATIONS ARE ALSO TAKING ACTION AFTER THE WASHINGTON DC RIOTS, BIG TECH SITES LIKE YOUTUBE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ARE SUSPENDING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACCOUNTS BUT THESE MOVES ARE SPARKING QUESTIONS ABOUT CENSORSHIP.

ARE THE MOVES OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES IMPOSING ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ARE THEY ABUSING THEIR POWER OR ARE THEY MAKING PROPER CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENTS?

COURTNEY, LET ME OPEN UP WITH YOU.

>> I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS QUESTION.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

YES, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TAKING THE STEPS THEY NEED TO TAKE AND YES, THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE NOW.

AND I FEEL LIKE THE ISSUE AT HAND IS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEANS YOU ARE FREE TO SAY WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO SAY, IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE FREE TO SAY TO HAVE AMPLIFICATION ON THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA TO DISSEMINATE MISINFORMATION AND SEDITIOUS LANGUAGE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND THAT ESPECIALLY IN A FREE MARKET CAPITALIST COUNTRY LIKE THE UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNMENT'S NOT GOING TO STEP IN AND TELL A PRIVATE COMPANY WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT PUBLISH.

MAYBE IT SHOULD HAPPEN, MAYBE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT THE FACT IS THAT IT PROBABLY WON'T.

YES, THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES.

THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR GIVING PLATFORM TO PEOPLE THAT ARE INCITING VIOLENCE AND SPREADING DISINFORMATION.

>> WHERE DID THE TWO GET SEPARATED AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS JESSICA?

>> WELL FOR STARTERS THE CONSTITUTION SUPPORTS COURTNEY'S POSITION.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS INDIVIDUALS FROM GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP.

FOR EXAMPLE, TWITTER AND FACEBOOK ARE PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANIES.

SO THEY'RE NOT ABUSING THEIR POWER, AND IN FACT, THE CONSTITUTION SUPPORTS THEIR RIGHT TO TAKE DOWN DONALD TRUMP'S TWITTER IF HE IS INCITING VIOLENCE FOR INCITING AN INSURRECTION.

AND PATRICK?

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS PANEL JUST MADE.

THE ONE IMPORTANT FACT THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF IS THAT YOU KNOW THESE COMPANIES HAVE A VERY LARGE INFLUENCE IN OUR SOCIETY RIGHT.

BILLIONS OF PEOPLE USE THEM AND SO WE HAVE TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE.

EACH OTHER THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THEIR VALUES AND WHAT THEY REPRESENT AND THEIR CUSTOMERS.

WE ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND CONSUMERS OF THESE TECH COMPANIES AND THE DATA THEY HAVE ON US IS ENORMOUS, SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND TAKING THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY HAVE SET FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO A LEVEL THAT WE ALL CAN BE PROUD OF.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED AND TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS.

>> AND THE CONCERN ALSO OVER HOW MUCH POWER COMPANIES ACTUALLY HAVE.

ARE THEY EXERCISING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ARE THEY ABUSING THEIR POWER?

BECAUSE WHILE A LOT OF PEOPLE UP ARE APPLAUDING THEIR MOVES TODAY, IT MIGHT FLIP IN THE FUTURE.

PATRICK?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU ARE WITHIN THE RESULTS THAT YOU PRODUCE AND SO, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STEP BACK.

I'VE NEVER SEEN CORPORATE AMERICA BE SO ENGAGED.

LET'S KEEP IN MIND DESPITE ALL THIS THAT'S GOING ON WE'VE HAD A YEAR OF A PLAGUE, WE'VE HAD A YEAR OF QUARANTINE WE'VE HAD A YEAR OF OF RACE RIOTS AND PEOPLE EXPRESSING VIEWS THAT WE'RE JUST TAKEN BACK FROM.

AND WE HAD A VERY CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SO HERE WE ARE ON A NEW YEAR WITH ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND AMERICANS ARE FRUSTRATED AND TIRED, AND BLACK AMERICA IS JUST OVERWHELMED.

WE ARE JUST PUSHED TO THE BRINK OF RECOGNIZING WHERE WE ARE IN THIS SOCIETY, SO CORPORATE AMERICA DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND I BELIEVE COMPANIES HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP, YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE VACCINATION THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

WHETHER YOU LIKE THE SPEED TO MARKET OR NOT WE HAVE A PLAGUE, AND THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT HAS TO BE PRODUCED IN A MEANINGFUL WAY SO WE TURN THIS CHAPTER AND MOVE BACK TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY.

BUT YES, CORPORATE AMERICA CAN DO MORE BUT I REALLY THINK THAT SOME OF THE COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB DURING THIS PLAGUE TO STEP UP IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

>> I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY MAKE A POINT AS WELL, EXCUSE ME, MAKE A POINT AS WELL THAT A LOT OF THESE TECH COMPANIES ARE ALREADY CENSORING AMERICANS.

A LOT OF BLACK ANTI-RACIST EDUCATORS, BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVISTS AND SO FORTH HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ALL KINDS OF BLACK OUTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON TWITTER ON INSTAGRAM AND ON FACEBOOK, AND SO THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AND IT SEEMS AS IF... WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THEY'RE REFLECTING THE PUBLIC SECTOR'S CENSORSHIP OF A LOT OF THESE ACTIVISTS AS WELL AND SURVEILLANCE OF THESE ACTIVISTS ALSO AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CENSORED THAT SHOULDN'T BE AND SO IT REALLY SHOULDN'T REALLY BE A DISCUSSION.

I THINK THE DISCUSSION COMING UP WHEN IT'S DEALING WITH WHITE INDIVIDUALS LIKE OUR PRESIDENT AND HIS SUPPORTERS, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HOLD THE MEDIA ACCOUNTABLE TO AND SAY WELL WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO SHOULD NOT BE CENSORED HAVE THE FREEDOM THAT THEY DESERVE AND THOSE THAT SHOULD WHO ARE INCITING VIOLENCE AND CAUSING HARM SHOULD IN FACT LOSE THEIR PRIVILEGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ON THIS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAME TOGETHER WEDNESDAY TO OFFICIALLY BEGIN THE NEW SEASON.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AGENDA FOR THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATURE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE AT THE PRIORITY LIST, ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS?

JESSICA?

>> I'LL START WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE KNOW ACCORDING TO THE DATA THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19.

AS IT RELATES TO GETTING THE VIRUS BUT ALSO DYING FROM THE VIRUS.

ALSO EDUCATION WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THE WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW QUICKLY WILL OUR CHILDREN RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AS OPPOSED TO LEARNING VIRTUALLY.

AND ALSO THE ECONOMY.

RIGHT NOW, WE ALL KNOW IN 2013 THE GOP SLASHED NORTH CAROLINA'S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND THAT'S NOW COMING BACK TO BITE US AS A STATE AS WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT OUR STATE HAS EXPERIENCED.

SO THERE'LL BE A LOT ON THE AGENDA.

WHAT I THINK SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA, AND IT'S MEDICAID EXPANSION.

UNFORTUNATELY.

SPEAKER TIM MOORE HAS ALREADY MADE VERY CLEAR THAT REPUBLICANS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN MEDICAID EXPANSION, I'M HOPING THAT THERE CAN BE SOME MOVEMENT THERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, DEMOCRATS LOST WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBERS GAME.

THERE ARE 69 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE TO 51 DEMOCRATS.

IN THE SENATE THERE ARE 28.

REPUBLICANS TO 22 DEMOCRATS, SO REPUBLICANS STILL MAINTAIN A STRONG MAJORITY IN BOTH THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE AND THE NORTH CAROLINA SENATE WHICH ONCE AGAIN MAKES FOR A VERY INTERESTING SESSION CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND THAT HE HAS VETO POWER.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING INDEED.

COURTNEY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES?

>> YEAH, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT JESSICA WAS SAYING ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AS SHE SAID, WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE GIVE US FAR AS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REVISIT THAT.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN STIMULUS CHECK AS NORTH CAROLINIANS.

WE HAVE TOO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS REALLY STRUGGLING DURING THIS TIME AND BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND WE NEED A PLAN FOR BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

WE NEED A PLAN AS JESSICA ALSO SAID FOR OUR KIDS AS FAR AS SCHOOL AND SUPPORT FOR THEM AT HOME TOO.

AND SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ECONOMICALLY.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY -- >> I'LL ALSO ECHO THE FACT THAT BROADBAND IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WOULD HOPE WOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ISSUES AND THE FACT THAT CHILDREN ARE HAVING TO GO TO SCHOOL VIRTUALLY ONLY FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS INEQUITIES AS IT RELATES TO BROADBAND ACCESS ACROSS OUR STATE.

>> PATRICK I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

>> YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SATELLITE THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE SHOULD ALL COME TOGETHER ON IS BEING MEANINGFUL AND FOCUSING ON COVID-19 RESPONSE.

WE NEED A ONE NORTH CAROLINA PLAN FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS VIRUS DOESN'T CARE WHAT YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS THAT DOESN'T CARE WHAT YOUR POLITICAL PERSUASION IS, YOUR RACE, YOUR GENDER, NORTH CAROLINA REALLY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON HOW ARE WE GETTING THE VACCINATION TO THE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR I THINK THAT WE HAD ONE NORTH CAROLINA PLAN TO ADDRESS THE OUR RESPONSE TO GETTING THE VACCINE TO THE PUBLIC AND WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN HELPING TO PARTNER TO GET THE RESOURCES TO WHERE THE COMMUNITIES NEED THEM MOST, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HURTING THE MOST.

SO THE GOVERNMENT -- WE REALIZE THIS THE ENORMOUS POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A SIMILAR PLAN AND NOT JUST RELY TOTALLY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS SESSION IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUES THAT MY COLLEAGUES JUST REFERENCED WHICH ARE ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES TODAY ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

>> KELLY MCCULLEN REPORTING FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM WHERE DURHAM NORTH CAROLINA COULD SOON BE ONE OF A HANDFUL OF AMERICAN CITIES PARTICIPATING IN A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.

FUNDING IS COMING FROM TWITTER CEO JACK DORSEY TO ALLOW THE CITY TO SUPPORT SOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH UP TO $1000 MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

DURHAM LEADERS SAY THEY'RE STILL DETERMINING HOW THEY WOULD SELECT RECIPIENTS AND THEY ENCOURAGE PHILANTHROPIST TO DONATE SO THEY CAN KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING.

>> AND JOINING US NOW IS DURHAM CITY COUNCILMAN MARK ANTHONY MIDDLETON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

>> IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE BIG FAN OF THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU CAN YOU TELL US WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PROGRAM?

>> WELL, THE RUBRIC FOR SELECTION IS STILL BEING WORKED OUT, IT COULD BE ANYONE THAT LIVES IN THE PARTICULAR CENSUS TRACK OR ZIP CODE THAT'S BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED.

WE MAY TARGET, GENTLEMEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE RETURNING CITIZENS FROM INCARCERATION, TO COMBAT RECIDIVISM IT MAY BE SINGLE FAMILIES, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS.

SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF APPROACHES THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING THE SELECT FOLKS WITH SOME DEGREE OF RANDOMIZATION, BUT THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE ANSWERED IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A VERY SHORT RUNWAY.

AND NARROW WINDOW, THE STAND THIS UP IN ORDER TO GET THE GRANT FOR DINNER SO STAY TUNED.

>> TERRIFIC AND HAS THIS PROGRAM BEEN SUCCESSFUL ELSEWHERE?

>> WELL STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA GOT QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION THEY ROLLED OUT A GUARANTEED INCOME INITIATIVE, OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH OF RICHMOND, OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SHUT OUT THE MAYOR BENJAMIN DOWN THERE SO THERE ARE SOME SUCCESSFUL CONVERSATION PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY RELATIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE, THE HOPE IS THAT DURHAM WOULD ADD TO THE COLLECTION OF DATA POINTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND CREATE A CRITICAL MASS THAT WILL COMPEL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PICK THIS UP AND MAKE THIS A FEDERALLY FUNDED NATIONAL A PROGRAM WE KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES ARE ACTUALLY THE LABORATORIES FOR DEMOCRACY.

I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER CITY THAN DURHAM TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXPERIMENT.

>> IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN OBVIOUS ANSWER BUT HOW DO YOU SEE THIS REALLY IMPACTING BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM?

>> FAMILIES THAT AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT EVICTION, CHILDREN THAT THE FED AND CLOTHED STABLE FAMILIES MAKE FOR STABLE COMMUNITY STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ULTIMATELY STABLE NATION.

THAT'S WHERE OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE COMES FROM THOSE ARE WHERE FUTURE LEADERS COME FROM, SO THIS ISN'T A PROGRAM TO GIVE OUT YOU KNOW LUXURY CARS AND MANSIONS.

THIS IS A AN INITIATIVE THAT SAYS THAT AS A SOCIETY AS PART OF THE AMERICAN PROPOSITION WE MAY NOT MAKE YOU RICH, BUT THERE IS A LINE BENEATH WHICH WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO FALL AND THAT'S BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

>> AND SO WHAT HAS TO COME TOGETHER IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BECOME A REALITY.

>> A PROPOSAL OF THE MONEY IS BASICALLY ON THE TABLE, THE CEO OF TWITTER JACK DORSEY, AS BUT AT 15 MILLION DOLLARS OF HIS OWN MONEY TO FUND THIS INITIATIVE.

THERE ARE ABOUT 30 CITIES THERE IN THE PARK THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.

AIR SHOW HERE IN DURHAM SIGNED UP THE MAYORS OF GUARANTEED INCOME BUT DURHAM WAS ALREADY ON THE RADAR THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING OUR CHAT ARE MONITORING THE MEDIA THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT I I PROPOSE THAT WE DO A MUNICIPAL EXPERIMENT WITH BACK IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

SO THE MONEY IS BASICALLY IN THE PIPELINE.

THE THRESHOLD WE NEED TO CROSS IS PUTTING TOGETHER A CREDIBLE AND VIABLE PROPOSAL WHICH WE WILL HAVE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET THE $500,000 AT LEAST $500,000 GRANT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THIS KIND OF PROGRAM IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

WELL, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

>> IN THE WORLD'S MOST WEALTHIEST WEALTHIEST MOST POWERFUL NATION ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET, IT'S A BIT OF A PARADOX TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN FOOD LINES BEFORE PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY INCLUDING 4 OR PEOPLE WORK EVERY DAY BEING FOOD LIVE TO BE STRUGGLING.

SO PAIN IS IS AN INCREDIBLE FOCUS OR IF YOU WILL BRINGS CLARITY OFTEN TIMES I THINK BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE HURTING FROM POLITICAL STRIPE TO THE PANDEMIC THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD, I THINK THE TIME IS RIGHT.

IT'S ALL.

WE'RE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF A CRUCIBLE IN AMERICA, WE'RE HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN AND WHAT CONSTITUTES THE FABRIC OF AMERICAN LIFE.

AND CERTAINLY OUR WELL-BEING AS CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS IS THAT THE FOR THAT DISCUSSION SO THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TIME HAVE THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS.

>> COUNCILMAN MARK ANTHONY MIDDLETON SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS, PATRICK HANNAH, JESSICA HOLMES AND COURTNEY NAPIER.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN CONTACT US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG #NCBLACKISSUES AND TO WATCH ANY TIME ONLINE HEAD TO PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM.

FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU WHO INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING PBS NC.