CRYSTAL: HIGH, EVERYBODY, I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

DOCTORS ARE LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE SCRAMBLING TO PROTECT PATIENTS ON HOPEFUL PARENTS AFTER AN ALABAMA SUPREME COURT UPENDED THE PRACTICE OF IVF.

WE BREAK DOWN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

PLUS, WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS IN WORCESTER, WHERE THE STATE IS INVESTIGATING CLAIMS OF UNSAFE WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS.

>> I’M GOING BACK TO BOSTON NOT TO FIGHT IN THE STREETS, I WANTED TO BECOME A REPORTER.

CRYSTAL: GBH NEWS PHILLIP MARTIN BREAKS DOWN THE STORY BEHIND HIS AWARD-WINNING REPORTING.

WHEN ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULED THAT FROZEN EMBRYOS ARE CHILDREN, THE DECISION SENT SHOCKWAVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AT LEAST THREE ALABAMA CLINICS HALTED IVF PROCEDURES AND PATIENTS FOUND THEMSELVES IN LIMBO AND LAWMAKERS STARTED SCRAMBLING TO FIGHT BACK, INCLUDING SOME REPUBLICANS.

OTHERS, INCLUDING GOP SENATORS AND D.C. ARE BLOCKING PROTECTIONS FOR IVF.

HOW DID WE GET HERE, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MASSACHUSETTS?

I AM JOINED BY NORTHEASTERN LAW PROFESSOR KATHERINE KRASCHEL, WHO FOCUSES ON REPRODUCTION, GENDER, BIOETHICS AND POLICY, AND KATE WELDON LEBLANC, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FERTILITY FOR RESOLVE NEW ENGLAND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE LEGALLY.

I KNOW IT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE TO THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.

IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED?

KATHERINE: THE CASE THAT MADE ITS WAY TO THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT AROSE OUT OF A FEW COUPLES WHOSE EMBRYOS WERE DESTROYED WHEN THEY WERE ACCIDENTALLY DISCARDED.

SO THEY SUED THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE EMBRYOS WERE STORED, AS WELL AS THE CLINIC, THE HOSPITAL AND CLINIC WHERE THEY WERE STORED.

ONE WAS A REGULAR NEGLIGENCE CLAIM BUT THEY ALSO INCLUDED WRONGFUL DEATH.

WHILE DISMISSED AT THE LOWER COURT THE CLAIMS MADE THEIR WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IN FACT FAMILIES OR INTENDED PARENTS WHOSE EMBRYOS ARE DESTROYED IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BRING A CLAIM FOR WRONGFUL DEATH, A CIVIL CLAIM TO SEE THE CLINIC FOR MONETARY DAMAGES, TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR EMBRYOS UNDER THE THEORY THAT THE EMBRYOS HAD DIED, SPECIFICALLY THE WRONGFUL DEATH STATUTE GENERALLY APPLIES TO PEOPLE AND CHILDREN AND THAT IS HOW WE ENDED UP WITH THE DECISION OF THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT HOLDING THAT EMBRYOS OUGHT TO BE TREATED THE SAME AS CHILDREN ARE TREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE WRONGFUL DEATH STATUTE IN ALABAMA.

CRYSTAL: SO MANY FAMILIES ARE IN LIMBO NOW.

KATE, I AM SO THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IVF FAMILIES.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH FOUR IVF CYCLES MYSELF AND I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES BECAUSE AT LEAST THREE CLINICS WE KNOW OF IN ALABAMA HAVE HALTED PRODUCTION OR PROCEDURES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT.

KATE: ABSOLUTELY.

I ALWAYS SAY I AM SORRY WHEN WE HAVE THAT IN COMMON, BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE OUR COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE ANYONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH FERTILITY AND FAMILY BUILDING OR EVER HAS ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY SO THE BIGGEST IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS JUST SORROW AND WORRY FOR THE PATIENTS AND THEIR PROVIDERS IN ALABAMA WHO ARE JUST IN COMPLETE UNCERTAINTY AND GRIEF AND WORRY OVER WHAT THIS MEANS AND THEY LITERALLY HAD THEIR TREATMENTS HALTED IN THE MIDDLE OF CYCLES.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THE REALLY UNPRECEDENTED RULING AS ALWAYS MADE OUR HEARTS FIRST GO TO THE PATIENTS IMPACTED BUT THEN YOU ALSO CANNOT HELP BUT WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT BEYOND ALABAMA AND THAT WE DO NOT WANT THIS AT ALL TO BE THE TREND OF WHERE OUR COUNTRY IS MOVING.

CRYSTAL: WAS THIS SOMETHING, GIVEN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WE ARE IN, SOMETHING WE SAW WAS COMING DOWN THE PIPE PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE OVERTURNING OF ROE AND THE CONCEPT OF PERSONHOOD THAT IS PROTECTED UNDER LEGISLATION AND OTHER PARTS OF THE LAW?

KATHERINE: YES, CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH PERSONHOOD LAWS AND THINGS LIKE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS THAT TALK ABOUT BEGINNING AT FERTILIZATION OR BEGINNING AT CONCEPTION AND THE RULING IN DOBBS THAT TOOK AWAY ANY LIMITING PRINCIPLE IN TERMS OF WHAT STATES ARE ALLOWED TO DO IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING FETAL LIFE, EMBRYOS AND FETUSES, REALLY HAS EMBOLDENED COURTS AND LEGISLATURES LIKE THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT, WHICH WE SAW ISSUE THIS EXTREME RULING.

I THINK BEFORE DOBBS THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ISSUE THE SAME RULING, THEY WERE CERTAINLY LESS RESTRAINED IN DOING SO IN THE WAKE OF DOBBS, FOR SURE.

CRYSTAL: WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SOUND FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF RESOLVE NATIONAL SAYING LAWMAKERS WILL WRITE THE ROADMAP FOR HOW ARE OUR COUNTRY PROTECTS OR HINDERS IVF.

>> I WANT TO LET THE LEGISLATORS KNOW THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING, OUR COUNTRY IS WATCHING.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE TODAY IN THESE OFFICES WILL BE LOOKED AT BY THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS POTENTIALLY COULD BE A ROADMAP FOR OTHER STATES TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO IVF OR A ROADMAP ON HOW TO PROTECT ACCESS TO IVF AND FAMILY BUILDING.

CRYSTAL: CATES, I WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES -- KATE, I WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES WILL DO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WHAT THEIR RIGHTS TO BUILDING A FAMILY THROUGH IVF, WHAT IS THE NEXT MOVE THEY ARE AND HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION PERHAPS PROVIDE SUPPORT?

IN MASSACHUSETTS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PROTECTIONS BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

KATE: RIGHT.

THAT CLIP WAS FROM AN ADVOCACY DAY YESTERDAY AT THE ALABAMA STATE HOUSE AND I THINK ONE THING WE CAN ALL DO IS ADVOCATE NATIONALLY, LOCALLY, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THIS DECISION THANKFULLY DOES NOT IMPACT MASSACHUSETTS TODAY, THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO PROTECT -- TO PREVENT IT EVER HAPPENING AT A BROADER LEVEL THAT WILL IMPACT PATIENTS HERE SO WE ARE ALREADY, ADVOCACY IS ALREADY PART OF OUR MISSION BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT BILLS WE SUPPORT ALREADY LIKE THE MASSACHUSETTS PARENTAGE ACT, WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS IT CAN PROTECT CHILDREN BORN THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION.

IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL PATIENT AND FAMILIES, THOSE IN ALABAMA I KNOW ARE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR SOLUTIONS ARE AND I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE SORROW AND DEVASTATING NATURE OF THE RULING ITSELF, IT IS ALSO THE UNCERTAINTY THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN SURE IF THEY CAN MOVE THEIR EMBRYOS OR WHAT THEY CAN DO AS A NEXT STEP IN THEIR OWN TREATMENT .

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY TO REALLY GET EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION TO THOSE PEOPLE SO THEY KNOW HOW THEY CAN PROCEED WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY BUILDING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A REAL FOCUS OF COURSE THE WHOLE LAST COUPLE WEEKS SINCE THE RULING HAS BEEN, HOW CAN WE HELP THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND ALSO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE SO THAT THIS NEVER IMPACTS PEOPLE THAT ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO GROW MUCH WANTED FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND ALSO VERY MUCH WE SEE THIS IN THE BROADER CONTEST OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT START PARSING THESE ISSUES.

THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY INTERCONNECTED.

WE HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE WHO NEED ALL SORTS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, BECAUSE OF FETAL ANOMALIES IN PREGNANCIES OR OTHER REALLY DEVASTATING LOSSES THAT HAPPEN DURING PREGNANCY.

SO WE ARE REALLY ADVOCATING FOR ALL ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

CRYSTAL: I AM ALSO THOUGHTFUL ABOUT INSURANCE COMPANIES, THE HEADQUARTERS MIGHT NOT SIT IN THE STATE WHERE THE PATIENTS AND SUBSCRIBERS ARE AND THEN THE IDEA OF MOVING EMBRYOS TO A DIFFERENT CRYO-BANK.

IS THERE LEGAL PRECEDENT OR PROTECTION AROUND US THAT CREATES A GUIDELINE FOR FAMILIES?

OR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE CONCERNED THAT THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN A STATE THAT IS HOLDING THE ALABAMA DECISION BUT I LOVE OVER HERE WHERE IT IS OK, BUT THAT END UP BEING -- BUT I LIVE OVER HERE WHERE IT IS OK, BUT THAT COULD END UP BEING A MESS.

>> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY INSURANCE THAT COVERS THE COST OF TRANSFERRING EMBRYOS.

IT SADLY SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES WHERE INSURANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO INSURANCE PLAN COVERS MEDICAID INSURANCE PLAN COVERS COMPREHENSIVE FERTILITY CARE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT INSURANCE AND IVF, THE THING I THINK ABOUT MOST IS ACCESS.

AND THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROADMAP BARB TALKED ABOUT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE, IT REALLY THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, FIRST, YES, ABSOLUTELY, THERE ARE WAYS THE OPINION SPELLS OUT A WAY THAT STATES, CONSERVATIVE STATES COULD ENACT RESTRICTIVE LAWS LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN THE CONTEXT OF ABORTION THAT RESTRICT FERTILITY CARE SO SEVERELY THAT CLINICS HAVE TO CLOSE AND THERE IS GAPS IN ACCESS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS, THE MASSACHUSETTS PARENTAGE ACT IS CRITICAL LEGISLATION WAITING TO BE PASSED IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT SADLY YES MASSACHUSETTS HAS A LOT OF PROTECTIONS AND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BUT YET ARE PARENTAGE LAWS IN MASSACHUSETTS HAVE FALLEN FAR BEHIND.

OTHER STATES LIKE CONNECTICUT HAVE PASSED THE PARENTAGE ACT BUT NOT MASSACHUSETTS IN THE ACT PROTECTS FAMILIES, SECURE HIS FAMILY THAT ARE CREATING AND BUILDING THEIR FAMILY THROUGH USING ASSISTED REPRODUCTION IN WAYS THAT ARE DESPERATELY IMPORTANT AND URGENTLY NEEDED IN MASSACHUSETTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CREATED THROUGH IVF.

IT IS ACTION PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS CAN TAKE NOW TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF IVF AND TO SECURE THE FAMILIES BEING MADE WITHIN THE STATE TODAY.

CRYSTAL: WE LOVE A CALL TO ACTION.

KATHERINE KRASCHEL AND KATE WELDON LEBLANC, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

THAT INTERVIEW WAS TAPED BEFORE THE NEWS BROKE THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE LOBBIED TO PROTECT DOCTORS IF THE EMBRYOS THEY CREATE ARE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STORY CLOSELY.

NEXT, ASBESTOS, GROUNDWATER, FAULTY HEATING SYSTEMS.

THAT IS WHAT MANY TENANTS IN HOUSING PROJECTS LIVE WITH AND NOW THE CITY AUTHORITY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR UNSAFE LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS AND IT IS NOT JUST IN WORCESTER.

PLENTY OF TENANTS ACROSS THE STATE DEAL WITH POOR INSULATION AND INSUFFICIENT HEATING, LEAVING THEM SHIVERING IN THEIR HOMES.

SAM HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORIES AND JOINS ME NOW.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU GOT ON THIS BEAT.

DID TENANTS REACH OUT TO YOU?

SAM: IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

LATE LAST YEAR I HEARD ABOUT SOME GROUNDWATER AT WORCESTER PUBLIC HOUSING, THEY COULD NOT TREAT THE WATER OR TAKE SHOWERS.

THEN I HEARD ABOUT ISSUES THAT OTHER HOUSING COMPLEXES AS WELL.

SO THAT IS WHERE WE GOT INTO THE ASBESTOS AND LACK OF HEAT AND MORE BROWN WATER AT OTHER COMPLEXES AND AS I WAS REPORTING THAT OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING STORY, I REALIZED, WE REALIZED HEAT WAS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN PUBLIC HOUSING.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING TO HAVE ISSUES STAYING WARM AND THAT IS WHAT THE SECOND STORY LOOKED AT.

YOU COULD BE A HOMEOWNER, OWN AND LIVE IN YOUR OWN HOME, AND NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE HEAT.

SO YOU KEEP THE THERMOSTAT AT 60°, 60 TWO, BECAUSE YOUR OIL IS COSTING $3000 A YEAR AND CONSERVING IS THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO.

CRYSTAL: I AM THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IS IT JUST SORT OF THE STATE WE ARE IN NOW WHERE INFLATION IS SO HIGH, EVERYTHING COST SO MUCH MONEY?

OR HAS THIS BEEN BUILDING FOR A WHILE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS?

SAM: I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

ONE IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

WHAT HOUSING ADVOCATES SAY IS WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS ARE SUFFERING THROUGH AND SETTLING WITH POOR CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANYWHERE ELSE.

THEY ARE WORKING -- THEY ARE LOOKING DAY AND NIGHT BUT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING.

CRYSTAL: WE HAVE A SOUNDBITE FROM ATTENDING COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FEEL -- FEAR OF RETALIATION IF THEY SPEAK OUT AND SHOWING A LETTER THAT THREATENS LEASE ENFORCEMENT.

>> EVICTION IS THE WORRY NUMBER ONE AND EVERYTHING.

THAT IS WHY PEOPLE DON’T TALK.

THEY ARE AFRAID THAT HOUSING WILL AFFECT THEM.

CRYSTAL: IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WERE HEARING WHEN YOU WERE TALKING WITH FOLKS?

SAM: YES.

AFFECTION IS THE CONCERN ON PEOPLE’S MINDS, REGARDLESS OF IF IS PUBLIC HOUSING OR MARKET RATE HOUSING.

TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT STORY FOCUSED MONEY -- MAINLY ON HEAT, I SPOKE WITH WHEN RESIDENT LIVING IN HER LIVING ROOM, INFLATING AN AIR MATTRESS IN HER LIVING ROOM BECAUSE HER BEDROOM HAS HOLES IN THE WALLS SO COLD AIR FLOWS THROUGH THE HOLES AND HER BEDROOM IS FREEZING AT NIGHT.

SHE SPENT DECEMBER SHIVERING IN BED ALMOST EVERY NIGHT AND THEN DECIDED SHE COULDN’T DO IT ANYMORE, I AM GOING TO STAY IN MY LIVING ROOM, WHICH DOES STAY WARMER.

SHE INFLATES HER MATTRESS AND THE LIVES THAT WAY.

SHE HAS COMPLAINTS TO HER LANDLORD, SHE EVEN WITHHELD HEAT AT ONE POINT, THEN SHE GOT CONCERNED ABOUT THEM TRYING TO EVICT SO SHE GAVE IN A LITTLE BIT AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING HER THEY WERE GOING TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT THEY HAVEN’T.

IT KIND OF ILLUSTRATES THE POWER LANDLORDS HAVE OVER RENTERS, AS WE WERE SAYING BEFORE.

TO BE CLEAR, NOT ALL LIMB BOARDS ARE LIKE THIS.

IN FACT, MASS LANDLORDS, WHICH REPRESENTS SMALL LANDLORDS IN THE STATE, THEY SAY WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR TENANTS WARM AND THE LAW MAINTAINS, MANDATES THAT LANDLORDS HAVE TO KEEP TENANTS WARM DURING THE WINTER.

IT IS A HANDFUL OF LANDLORDS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW.

CRYSTAL: WHAT RECOURSE DO THE TENANTS HAVE, WHERE CAN THEY GO?

SAM: THE STATE HAS COME UP MANDATES THAT -- THE STATE MANDATES THAT LANDLORDS UNITS ARE ABLE TO HEAT UP TO 64° AT NIGHT AND A LITTLE MORE DURING THE DAY.

IF IT DOESN’T HAPPEN, IF IT IS NOT THE CASE, TENANTS CAN GO TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND COMPLAIN .

IF THAT DOESN’T WORK, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE CAN STEP IN.

WHEN I REPORTED THIS STORY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TOLD ME IF PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH, THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO US AND COMPLAIN.

SO IT IS VERY COMPLAINT DRIVEN.

THE STATE JUST CAN’T GO IN INSPECTING EVERY SINGLE UNIT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS HEAT, IT WOULD BE INEFFICIENT AND TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES, SO IT RELIES ON THE TENANTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THE TENANTS ARE AFRAID TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE SOME ARE COMPLAINING AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT, BUT OTHERS ARE NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF EVICTION AND THAT IS WHERE WE GO BACK TO THE FEAR OF EVICTION.

CRYSTAL: CERTAINLY WANT TO WATCH AND IT IS STILL COLD OUTSIDE SO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

FINALLY TONIGHT, AT THE HEART OF JOURNALISM ARE THE SUBJECTS OF THE STORIES WE COVER.

PHILLIP MARTIN KNOWS IT BEST BASE TO HIS LONG CAREER IN THE FIELD.

THIS SPRING HE WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE MASSACHUSETTS HALL OF FAME FOR HIS WORK.

HE SHOWS HOW HE COMBINES JOURNALISM AND STORYTELLING ON STORY FROM THE STAGE AND WE BRING YOU HIS WORDS NOW AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT SHOW IN THIS ONE.

PHILLIP: DETROIT, 1975, I WAS AN ANTIRACIST ACTIVIST.

I HAD BEEN ALL MY LIFE, IN JR. HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD BEEN IN THIS FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHEN MY FRIEND RICHARD CAME IN TO CLASS AND HANDED ME A LEAFLET THAT SAID COME TO BOSTON FOR THE SUMMER TO FIGHT RACISM, I WAS READY.

I WORKED AT THE DETROIT FREE PRESS THAT NIGHT, BUNDLING NEWSPAPERS AND DROPPING THEM OFF IN THE SUBURBS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

BEFORE WE WOULD TAKE OFF, I WOULD READ THE NEWSPAPER COVER TO COVER AND OFTEN I WOULD BE READING ABOUT BOSTON.

WHAT I WAS READING WAS A ON BLACK CHILDREN WHO WERE IN SCHOOL BUSES.

THIS WAS ALL OVER THE NEWSPAPERS .

I WAS FIRED UP.

SO JUNE 1975, I PACKED UP MY CAR , I HAD A FORD PINTO, I PACKED IT UP WITH BLUE JEANS AND T-SHIRTS, CASSETTE TAPES, ESPECIALLY MY THEME MUSIC, EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

THAT WAS MY SONG.

I DROVE WITH TWO FRIENDS FROM DETROIT, TOWARDS CLEVELAND, CONTINUED GOING TO YOUNGSTOWN, IT REACHED PITTSBURGH, BROKE DOWN, FIX THE CAR, IT MADE IT TO THE MASSACHUSETTS BORDER, AND GETTING TO MASSACHUSETTS WAS EXOTIC.

I HAD NEVER BEEN TO MASSACHUSETTS AND HERE I REACHED THE BERKSHIRES.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

BUT HOURS LATER WE HIT THE BOSTON BORDER.

MY GOD.

GRITTY, GRIMY, DIRTY, AND PEOPLE WERE INCREDIBLY UNFRIENDLY.

THIS SUMMER WAS ORGANIZED BY THE COMMITTEE AGAINST RACISM AND INCLUDED PROGRESSIVES, LIBERALS, PEOPLE WHO WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THEMSELVES CONSERVATIVE ANTIRACIST.

THE VERY FIRST DAY I AM STANDING AT THE SUBWAY STATION IN FIELDS CORNER, DORCHESTER, THE LARGEST PART OF BOSTON.

AND I HEAR SOMEONE GOING, THE N WORD.

A YEAR BEFORE ROBERT DE NIRO SAID, ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

I SAID, ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

I DON’T SEE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS PLATFORM.

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

THESE YOUNG MEN MADE IT CLEAR THEY WERE CALLING ME THE N WORD.

I GREW UP BOXING.

APPARENTLY SO DID THEY.

IT TURNED INTO A BRAWL.

WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, THEY ARRESTED ME.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE ARRESTED.

I WAS FREAKED OUT.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE IN JAIL FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT THE KIDS PRESSED CHARGES.

THEY ATTACKED ME.

BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE ARRESTED THAT DAY.

THE SUMMER WAS LIKE THAT, DAY IN, DAY OUT.

FIGHTS AND RACES CONTRADICTIONS.

I WAS ASSIGNED TO TEACH AT THE FREE SCHOOL, TEACHING KIDS DURING THE DAY HISTORY AND POETRY.

THE WORST AND MORE EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION THAT OCCURRED THAT SUMMER WAS JUST LEAVING THE OFFICE ON HUNTINGTON AVENUE.

ONE DAY WITHIN MINUTES, THE OFFICE WAS FIREBOMBED.

I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT COULD’VE BEEN ME.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME IN THAT OFFICE.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHY HE HAD GOTTEN TO KNOW THAT SUMMER WHO WERE FROM SEATTLE AND ST. LOUIS AND OTHER CITIES, HE SAID, THAT IS ENOUGH.

THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME.

THEY LEFT.

I DECIDED TO HANG IN AND A FEW DAYS LATER WE HEAR ABOUT AN ATTACK ON BLACK BIBLE SALESMAN.

BIBLE SALESMAN.

THESE GUYS WERE HERE TO LITERALLY SELL THE GOSPEL DOOR TO DOOR IN BOSTON.

AND THEY DECIDED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER THAT THEY WOULD GO TO THE BEACH.

BUT THIS WAS CARSON BEACH IN SOUTH BOSTON.

A BEACH WHERE THEY DID NOT WANT YOU THERE.

BY THEY I MEAN THE RESIDENCE OF SOUTH BOSTON.

THE MAJORITY.

HE WENT TO THE BEACH THAT DAY AND THEY WERE BEATEN WITHIN INCHES OF THEIR LIVES.

THESE MEN, ONE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

THIS UNIFIED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN BOSTON.

WHITES, BLACKS, LATINOS, ASIAN AMERICANS WHO BASICALLY CAME TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO MARCH ON CARSON BEACH TO GUARANTEE THE BEACH COULD BE USED BY EVERYONE AND SHOULD BE USED BY EVERYONE.

WE MET AT A PARK, FRANKLIN PARK, IN BOSTON.

A GENTLEMAN FROM THE NAACP GAVE A SPEECH AND SAID WE ARE GOING OUT TODAY TO CARSON BEACH AND WE ARE GOING TO LAY OUT BLANKETS AND PICNIC BASKETS AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE BEACHES FOR EVERYONE.

SO WE STARTED MARCHING, ABOUT 350 PEOPLE, FROM THE LANDING AREA TO THE BEACH.

BEFORE WE EVEN HIT THE SAND, YOU COULD HEAR THE SOUNDS, KIND OF A ROAR, OF PEOPLE CHANTING AND SCREAMING.

THE CHANTING WAS, HERE WE GO, SOUTHIE, HERE WE GO.

HERE WE GO, SOUTH LEE, HERE WE GO.

IT WAS THUNDEROUS.

AS WE REACHED THE SAND, WE REACHED OUT AND WE COULD SEE 1000 PEOPLE ON THE OTHERS OF THE POLICE LINE.

A POLICE LINE THAT INCLUDED COPS ON THE SANDS, HELICOPTERS, IN THE HARBOR IN PATROL BOATS, AND ON HORSEBACK.

NO SOONER HAD WE GOT TO THE BEACH WHEN PEOPLE STARTED LAYING OUT PICNIC BASKETS AND BLANKETS, A ROCK WAS THROWN.

IT HIT A COP ON HORSEBACK.

THE HORSE REARED AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

THE COPS STARTED RUSHING TOWARDS THE CROWD, MAINLY OUR SIDE.

PEOPLE ON THE OTHERS TO THE POLICE LINE START RUSHING TOWARDS US.

I’M LOOKING AT A GUY STRAIGHT AHEAD RUSHING TOWARDS ME AND HIS FISTS WERE BALLED UP.

WE GET INTO A FIGHT, HE HITS ME, I HIT HIM.

WE ARE BOTH BLOODIED.

THIS IS HAPPENING UP AND DOWN THE BEACH.

TO MY RIGHT, A FRIEND OF MINE WAS BEING ATTACKED.

I GRABBED HER AROUND THE SHOULDERS AND WE STARTED RUNNING OFF THE BEACH AS PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING ALL AROUND US.

ON THE SANDS, IN THE WATER ITSELF, THE HELICOPTER AS ABOVE, A THUNDEROUS NOISE, THE SOUNDS OF THE HORSES RUNNING ON THE BEACH, I KNEW WE HAD TO GET OUT.

WHEN I SAID OUT, I MEAN AT THIS POINT I HAD TO GET OUT OF BOSTON .

SEVEN DAYS AFTER THAT EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT, I WAS BACK ON THE DOCK -- DOCKS OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, BUNDLING NEWSPAPERS AND DELIVERING THEM LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND BEFORE WE DELIVERED THEM, READING THEM FRESH OFF THE PRESS AND I AM READING ABOUT BOSTON’S RACIAL VIOLENCE AND THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES BEING ATTACKED THAT SEPTEMBER.

THE STORIES THEMSELVES WERE NOT ALWAYS COMPLETE AND I FELT THEY LACKED COMPLEXITY BASED ON WHAT I HAD SEEN THAT SUMMER.

AND I DECIDED, TO THE CONSTERNATION ON ASTONISHMENT OF MY FAMILY, THAT I AM GOING BACK TO BOSTON NOT AS AN ACTIVIST, NOT TO FIGHT IN THE STREETS, I WANTED TO BECOME A REPORTER.

SO I PACKED UP, AGAIN, MY FORD PINTO AND I DROVE BACK TO BOSTON.

AND I BECAME A REPORTER.

OVER THE YEARS, REPORTING ON THE COMPLEXITY AND BOSTON’S RACIAL DYNAMICS.

AND THAT IS WHAT I DO TODAY.

CRYSTAL: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT BUT COME BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PUSH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WHAT A CONFERENCE -- WHAT A JUDGE SHOWS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNORS CASTLE AND HOW TRAIL BLAZERS OF REPARATIONS DISCUSSIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS PAVE THE WAY TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

THOSE STORIES TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

GOOD NIGHT.