>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING.

ON THIS NEW YEAR, JANUARY 1st, 2021.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

TONIGHT WE BRING YOU A SPECIAL BROADCAST, A SERIES OF REPORTS WE AIRED THIS YEAR FOCUSING ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.

WITH 2020 BEING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, WE'LL BEGIN WITH VOTING RIGHTS.

STILL A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, AND ONE WOMEN FOUGHT HARD TO ACHIEVE.

AS WE LOOK BACK ON THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19th AMENDMENT AND THE ROLE SANDY AIKINS PLAYED.

>> Reporter: INSIDE THE WOMEN'S MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA, IN A ROOM LINED WITH CLOTHES, BUTTONS, POSTCARDS AND POLITICAL SIGNS, PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEUM AND HOIBERG READS FROM A POEM WRITTEN BY A SUFFRAGIST MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

>> A LONG GOOD DAY, TAXES WE'LL PAY, LAWS WE LAY, WE WANT SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> Reporter: BUT WHO WERE THESE TRAILBLAZERS FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOW DID SAN DIEGANS PLAY A PART?

IN 1895, SUSAN B ANTHONY, A FAMOUS LEADER OF THE NATIONAL SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, PAID A VISIT TO THE THEN SLEEPY TOWN OF SAN DIEGO.

>> I'M SO EXCITED, SUSAN B ANTHONY.

SHE SPOKE AT THE METHODIST CHURCH.

STANDING ROOM ONLY.

>> Reporter: DETERMINED THAT CALIFORNIA WOMEN WOULD GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE, IN 1896, ANTHONY LED THE FIRST LOCAL CAMPAIGN.

THE AMENDMENT PASSED IN SAN DIEGO.

BUT FOR THE STATE -- >> DOWN TO 300, WHICH WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> Reporter: AT THE TIME, WOMEN WERE CONSIDERED TO BE MORALLY SUPERIOR TO MEN, AND THERE WAS A FEAR OF WHAT STEPS THEY WOULD TAKE IN SOCIETY, SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO VOTE, PARTICULARLY ON THE ISSUE OF PROHIBITION.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE COULD HURT THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY.

IT WASN'T FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS, IN 1911, THAT WOMEN WOULD SEES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, THIS TIME LED BY A LOCAL.

POINT LOMA RESIDENT DR. CHARLOTTE BAKER.

>> SHE WOULD DELIVER A BABY IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON SHE WOULD GET ENGAGED IN CIVIC DUTIES, SO SHE BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.

>> Reporter: SUFFRAGIST GOT ORGANIZED.

>> >> Reporter: WITH SUPPORT FROM OTHER PROMINENT WOMEN, LIKE FLORA KIMBALL OF NATIONAL CITY, ELLEN BROWNING SCRIPPS, AND ATTORNEY CLARA SHORT RICH FOLZ.

THE LOCAL SUFFRAGIST USED A THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY THEY BELIEVED WAS SHORT TO WORK.

IN STARTERS, INSTEAD OF PROTEST, THE WOMEN USED THE POWER OF PERSUASION.

>> THESE WOMEN WOULD GO INTO A MAN'S HOME, AND THEY WOULD SIT WITH THAT MAN, AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN GETTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND THEY WOULDN'T LEAVE UNTIL THEY CONVINCED HIM.

AND THEY EVEN SAID THEY WERE CONDUCTING INVASIONS, INVASIONS OF MEN'S HOMES.

>> Reporter: THE WOMEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE TIMES.

THE CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION WAS COMING TO SAN DIEGO, AND BALBOA PARK WAS HAVING A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN JULY OF 1911.

FOR THEIR SECOND STRATEGY, THE SUFFRAGIST WOULD PARADE.

THEY DECORATED A FLOAT WITH A YELLOW RIBBON, PROMOTING THEIR CLEAR MESSAGE OF THE QUALITY.

>> WE CALLED IT A MODERN BOSTON TEA PARTY FLOAT.

WE ALSO HAD ON THERE, TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

IT'S TYRANNY NOW, AS IT WAS IN 1773.

>> Reporter: FOR THE MOST PART, SAN DIEGO COUNTY WAS STILL A RURAL TOWN.

AGRICULTURE WAS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE LABOR OF WOMEN.

THE SUFFRAGIST KNEW THEY HAD TO REACH THE OUTLYING COMMUNITIES BY USING THEIR THIRD STRATEGY -- AUTOMOBILE CAMPAIGNING.

THE CAMPAIGN STARTED ON A MONDAY MORNING.

>> WOMEN LEFT SAN DIEGO FOR OCEANSIDE.

IT TOOK THEM SEVERAL HOURS TO GET THERE.

THE ROADS WERE PROBABLY ROTTED, DUSTY, WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> Reporter: FROM THERE, THEY DROVE TO SPEAK TO MEN IN ESCONDIDO, AND TO FALLBROOK, AND FINALLY TO RAMONA.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE IT TOOK THREE DAYS TO COVER OUR COUNTY?

IT WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

AND THEN, OCTOBER 11th OCCURRED, AND THAT WAS THE BIG ELECTION DAY.

WASN'T GOING TO GO DOWN TO DEFEATS, LIKE IT DID IN 1896, OR WOULD IT BE SUCCESSFUL?

>> Reporter: IT WAS A WIN.

THE FINAL STATEWIDE VOTE WAS CLOSE, WITH A MARGIN LESS THAN 1.5%.

IN SAN DIEGO, THE MARGIN WAS WIDER, WITH MORE THAN 57% OF MEN VOTING YES TO GRANT WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> THINK OF THE DETERMINATION OF THOSE SUFFRAGISTS, JUST SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE NUMBERS WEREN'T HIGHER.

>> Reporter: THE VOTES WERE HIGH ENOUGH, AND CALIFORNIA BECAME THE SIX TO STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO GIVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, ALL OF WHICH WERE WESTERN STATES.

>> I DO THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SENSE OF EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, THE PIONEER SPIRIT, THE OVERALL PROGRESSIVENESS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD VENTURE FROM THE EAST COAST TO COME OUT HERE.

TO ME, THAT'S FASCINATING.

>> AND 100 YEARS LATER, THE UNITED STATES ELECTED ITS FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENTS, CALIFORNIA SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS WAS ON THE WINNING TICKET WITH PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN.

THEY WILL BE SWORN IN JANUARY 20th.

HER REPLACEMENT IN THE SENATE WILL ALSO MAKE SOME HISTORY.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALEX PADILLA WILL BECOME CALIFORNIA'S FIRST LATINO U.S.

SENATOR.

>>> LIKE VOTING, SERVING IN OUR MILITARY IS ANOTHER PATRIOTIC DUTY, BUT STILL TO THIS DAY, THE ARMED SERVICES STRUGGLE WITH RACE RELATIONS.

AS KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WALSH SHOWS US, THE MARINE CORPS IS TAKING NEW EFFORTS TO COMBAT RACISM.

>> Reporter: FROM THE TIME MARINES ENTER BOOT CAMP, THEY'RE TOLD THAT THE SERVICE IS COLORBLIND.

THERE ARE NO WHITE MARINES, BROWN MARINES, OR BLACK MARINES.

EVERYONE IS MARINE GREEN.

>> A STATEMENT I'M TOLD, AND I EXPLAINED IT TO A LOT OF THE LEADERS.

>> Reporter: STEPHAN WILLIAMS RUNS A LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

HE JOINED THE CORPS IN 1993 AND RETIRED IN 2014.

DURING THAT TIME, WILLIAMS FACILITATED MANY CONVERSATIONS ON RACIAL BIAS.

HE STILL WORKS WITH MARINE UNITS AS A CONSULTANT.

>> WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE THAT HEY, WE'RE ALL GREEN, IT'S JUST LIKE SAYING I DON'T SEE COLOR.

IF YOU DON'T SEE COLOR, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON YOUR TEAM, SO I HAVE TO KNOW THAT HEY, AS AN ASIAN MARINE, I KNOW THE CULTURAL CHALLENGES YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE MARINE CORPS.

>> Reporter: WILLIAMS, WHO IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN, REMEMBERS WALKING INTO AN EMPTY BARRACKS.

HIS NEW ROOMMATE HAD A CONFEDERATE FLAG ON THE WALL.

>> I TOLD HIM LISTEN, THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE, AND THEY PUT ME OUT OF THE ROOM, I GOT A DIFFERENT REMAKE.

BUT LATER ON, THAT PERSON WAS ACTUALLY COURT-MARTIALED FOR ACTIVELY RECRUITING INTO A RACIST ORGANIZATION.

>> Reporter: EARLIER IN HIS CAREER, AT THE TIME, WILLIAMS SAYS HE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO HIS COMMAND.

HE FIGURED HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

OTHER MARINES FELT THE SAME WAY.

>> WHEN YOU GO AGAINST THE GREEN LIKE THAT, YOU DON'T WANT TO GET SINGLED OUT, SO WHEN YOU GET LABELED AN OUTCAST.

>> Reporter: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ CLASS IS FROM SAN DIEGO.

HE RETIRED FROM THE MARINES IN 2015.

ORIGINALLY FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AS A KID, HE WAS ATTRACTED TO THE MACHO IMAGE OF THE CORE.

HE REMEMBERS TALKING TO A FRIEND OF HIS IN HIS UNIT, WHO WAS CONSISTENTLY BEING SINGLED OUT FOR EXTRA DUTY.

THEY BOTH AGREED IT WAS FOR ONE REASON.

HIS FRIEND WAS BLACK.

>> I ACTUALLY REMEMBER TALKING TO HIM AND APOLOGIZING TO HIM, AND IT GOT ME REALLY EMOTIONAL, BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I DIDN'T -- I JUST LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT.

BUT I DIDN'T SPEAK UP.

>> Reporter: IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF RETIRED MARINES, IT'S A COMMON STORY.

10 YEARS AGO, TRAVIS OR WAS AT AN ISOLATED POST IN HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN.

MOST OF THE UNIT WAS WHITE.

HE REMEMBERS FELLOW MARINES REPEATEDLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CORPSMEN, THE NAVY TERM FOR MEDICAL, OR SAYS HE REMEMBERS DEFENDING THE CORPSMEN AFTER SEEING HIM HELP SAVE THE LIFE OF AN AFGHAN WOMAN.

>> SO WHY ARE YOU GIVING HIM A HARD TIME, KIND OF DEAL.

PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH AS I SHOULD HAVE, IN RETROSPECT, BUT LIKE AGAIN, I WAS YOUNG.

>> Reporter: STEPHAN WILLIAMS, THE RETIRED MARINE WHO STILL WORKS WITH MILITARY LEADERS ON ISSUES OF RACE, SAID IT'S STILL A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> FIRST LET ME TELL YOU WHY PEOPLE DON'T SAY SOMETHING.

THEY LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO LOSE RIGHT IN THERE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS.

IF I SPEAK OUT, BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FACTORS IN YOUR CAREER.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET PROMOTED, IF YOU'RE NOT.

IF YOU'LL BE AT THE STATION, IF YOU WILL NOT, HOW LONG YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, HOW LONG WILL THEY BE WITH YOU?

IT'S REALLY KIND OF DIFFERENT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE POWER AROUND US, BUT WE TALK ABOUT INTESTINAL FORTITUDE ALL THE TIME, AND MORAL COURAGE, ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: WILLIAMS WORKED IN PERSONNEL FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF HIS CAREER.

HE REMEMBERS WHITE MARINES MAKING FUN OF THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S NAME ON THEIR RETIREMENT PAPERS.

QUINTON HANNAH WAS A SERGEANT.

HE LEFT THE ROOM MARINES IN DECEMBER AFTER FOUR YEARS IN THE CORE.

LIKE OTHER MARINES, HANNAH SAYS THERE HAS BEEN CHANGE, BUT IT'S BEEN SLOW.

FOR HIM, AND HONEST, OPEN CONVERSATION IS THE KEY.

IT BINDS TOGETHER PEOPLE AND IT BINDS TOGETHER UNITS OR SHOPS.

>> WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CONNECTION, WHERE YOU COULD TALK TO SOMEONE, OR HAVE A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION AT ALL TIMES, AND NOT JUST BE WORK RELATED, IT COULD DIMINISH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SHOPS.

IT COULD DIMINISH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: HE WELCOMED THE BAN ON THE CONFEDERATE FLAG, BUT HE SAYS THE CORE IS NO WORSE OR NO BETTER THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN INSTITUTION WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING RACE.

MEANWHILE, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ASPER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS ORDERING THE PENTAGON TO TAKE YET ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW RACIAL DYNAMICS PLAY OUT ACROSS THE MILITARY.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SOME SCHOOLS ALSO DEAL WITH RACIAL ISSUES.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER JOE HONG LOOKED AT THE ISSUE OF CAMPUS POLICING AT ST USD SCHOOLS, AND FOUND THAT YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE WERE UP TO FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED OR DETAINED THAN THEIR WHITE PEERS.

>> IT'S JUST THE WAY LIFE IS.

GROWING UP AS A BLACK PERSON, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S JUST HOW SOCIETY WORKS.

>> Reporter: LAYLA WILLIAMS GRADUATED LAST MONTH FROM SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT UNION.

SHE SPENT HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FOSTERING CONVERSATIONS AMONG TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ABOUT RACISM ON CAMPUS.

SHE SAW THIS AS PROGRESS FOR HER SCHOOL.

BUT SHE SAYS SHE ALSO SAW AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE DURING HER TIME IN SAN DIEGO HIGH, AND SHE HAD THE PERSISTENT FEELING THAT CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS TARGETED BLACK STUDENTS.

>> THEY'RE COMING ONTO CAMPUS, YOU WANT YOUR SCHOOL TO BE A TRUSTFUL, SAFE PLACE.

YOU WANT TO BE WHERE YOUR STATE HAS FAITH IN YOU, TRUSTING YOU, BUT WHEN YOU'RE COMING ONTO CAMPUS AND THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS A SECURITY GUARD OR POLICE OFFICER BEAR, GLARING AT YOU, YOU'RE JUST KIND OF LIKE DYING, DOES MY SCHOOL EVEN TRUST ME?

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED IS ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT CURRENTLY HAS 37 SWORN POLICE OFFICERS PATROLLING CAMPUSES AND THE SURROUNDING STREETS.

A KPBS ANALYSIS OF A RISE IN DETENTION RECORDS FROM 2007 TO 2019 SHOWS THAT WILLIAM SCHOOL, SAN DIEGO HIGH, HAD 545 ARREST, MORE THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

THE ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWED THAT ON AVERAGE, 8% OF STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT WERE BLACK, BUT ABOUT 20% OF YOUTH ARRESTED OR DETAINED WERE BLACK.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHITE STUDENTS MADE UP ABOUT 25% OF TOTAL ENROLLMENT, BUT ONLY 16% OF ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS.

BLACK YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY THAN WHAT USED TO BE ARRESTED FOR A FELONY CRIME.

MEANWHILE, THE DATA SHOW THAT WHITE YOUTH ARE INCREASINGLY MORE LIKELY TO BE DETAINED FOR REASONS RELATED TO MENTAL ILLNESS, COMPARED TO BLACK YOUTH.

>> JUST AS WE SEE BROADER SOCIETY, DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL PROCESSING SYSTEM, VARY BY RACE.

THE STUDENTS -- IT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US THAT WE SEE THE SAME BIASES WITHIN THE MICROCOSM WHICH IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: ROGER COLVIN IS A PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE SAID THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN SAN DIEGO UNIFIED ARREST MIRROR THOSE IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE.

>> HAVING A PARTICULARLY TOUGH TIME, BECAUSE THERE IS OFTEN THE NOTION THAT THEY REQUIRE EXTRA PUNISHMENT, OR HARSHER PUNISHMENT.

THERE IS DATA THAT TALKS ABOUT OR SUGGEST THAT YOUNG BLACK BOYS ARE OFTEN THOUGHT TO BE OLDER THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE.

>> WHAT'S HIS NAME?

>> GEORGE FLOYD!

>> Reporter: THESE TIMES, ALONG WITH THE NATIONWIDE PUSH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE WAKE OF THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HAND OF MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS, HAVE LED WILLIAMS AND OTHER STUDENTS TO CALL FOR THE DEFUNDING OF SAN DIEGO UNIFIED POLICE.

THEY PARTICIPATED IN A PROTEST AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE TODAY,.

A RECENT GRADUATE OF SAN DIEGO UNIFIED.

>> THE SYSTEM WAS CREATED TO PROCESS, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE SCHOOL POLICE, THERE IS NO SAVING A SYSTEM, THERE IS NO ALTERING A SYSTEM THAT WAS NEVER CREATED FOR US.

IT COMPLETELY NEEDS TO BE DEFUNDED.

WE COMPLETELY NEED TO REWORK THE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT'S POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT IT IS CURRENTLY ABOUT $9 MILLION, LESS THAN 1% OF THE OVERALL DISTRICT BUDGET.

OFFICIALS SAY DEFUNDING THE DEPARTMENT WOULD MAKE CAMPUSES LAISSEZ FOR STUDENTS.

THEY ADDED THAT THE SAVINGS WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH FOR A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RESOURCES FOR COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL MARQUEZ POINTED TO A MORE THAN 50% DROP INTEREST OVER THE PAST DECADE AS EVIDENCE THAT CAMPUS POLICE ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO DECRIMINALIZE CAMPUS BEHAVIOR.

>> DARK KIDS, WE SHOULD GET THE BEST SERVICE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM, SO I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE COACHING EXPERIENCE, WORKING WITH YOUTHS, OR PASTORS WORKING WITH YOUTHS, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHERE OUR VACANCIES WILL REMAIN VACANT UNTIL WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO WORK IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED BOARD VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD BARRERA SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE SPIRITS OF THE STUDENT ACTIVISM AND AGREES THAT POLICING NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT, AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT DEFUNDED.

>> I GUARANTEE THAT THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH IN OUR DISTRICT IS NOT A PROCESS THAT'S INTENDED TO DELAY, CHANGE.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT'S INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHANGE IS THE RIGHT CHANGE.

>> Reporter: BARRERA AND OTHER OFFICIALS SAY CAMPUS POLICE PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY IN CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, AND UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS.

HE SAID THE DISTRICT WILL NOT MAKE ANY FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT THE POLICE BUDGET WITHOUT A ROBUST SURVEY OF ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

JOE HONG, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER WAY TO FIND ORIGINAL KPBS CONTENT IS THROUGH OUR KPBS PODCAST.

RED SCIENTIST AND PORT OF ENTRY ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ORIGINAL SHOWS WE PRODUCE.

NEWS PROGRAMS LIKE KPBS MIDDAY ADDITION, ROUNDTABLE, AND SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN FIND THEM ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS AND ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> MANY OF OUR CULTURAL EVENTS WENT VIRTUAL LAST YEAR, AND WE ARE HOPING WE CAN ALL GET BACK TOGETHER IN 2021.

THAT INCLUDES THE G.I.

FILM FESTIVAL.

WE WORK WITH FILM CONSORTIUM SAN DIEGO AND OTHERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT G.I.

FILM FESTIVAL SD.ORG.

THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL BE HELD IN MAY.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE NAVY, ONLY A HANDFUL OF AFRICAN- AMERICANS REACH THE TOP JOBS, AND RIGHT NOW, NONE ARE AT THE TWO HIGHEST RANKS, AND A NAVY TASK FORCE IS LOOKING AT THAT ISSUE, AND THAT DISCRIMINATION ACROSS THE BOARD.

AGAIN, HERE IS OUR MILITARY REPORTER, STEVE WALSH.

>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM STARTS AT THE TOP.

OUT OF 268 ADMIRALS IN THE U.S. NAVY, ONLY 10 ARE AFRICAN- AMERICAN.

MOST OF THEM ARE REAR ADMIRALS, LIKE ALVIN HALSEY, WHO IS RUNNING THE NAVY TASK FORCE.

>> REALLY, SOMEONE HAS GOT TO LOOK AT AND SEE WHO IS HE, WHERE IS HE COMING FROM, HOW CAN HE FIT IN?

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADMIRALS AT THE TWO HIGHEST RANKS.

BUILDING AND ADMIRAL IS A 20 TO 30 YEAR COMMITMENT, HALSEY SAYS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TEST SCORES AND PERFORMANCE REVIEWS.

SOMEONE HAS TO BE WILLING TO GUIDE THAT YOUNG OFFICER.

>> IS A BLACK OFFICER IN THE NAVY I'LL TELL YOU, WITHOUT MORE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE ME THEN LOOK LIKE ME, SHEER MATHEMATICS, RIGHT, I'LL TELL YOU THAT ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY FEW GUYS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME IN SMALLER NUMBERS.

SOMEONE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE ME HAD TO REACH OUT AND ENGAGE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY CAREER.

>> Reporter: AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR 13% OF THE POPULATION, BUT ONLY 9% OF NAVAL OFFICERS, SO THE PIPELINE STARTS OFF SMALL .

THEN, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, MANY PEOPLE JUST BECOME EXHAUSTED, SAYS KEITH GREEN, A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WHO RETIRED IN THE 1990s.

HE RECENTLY WROTE THE BOOK, BLACK OFFICER, WHITE NAVY.

>> IT IS NOT SIMPLY JUST UNCONSCIOUS BIAS.

THERE ARE ACTIVE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE WORKING FOR A BLACK PERSON OR A MINORITY, THEY DON'T LIKE WORKING WITH ONE, AND THEY DON'T LIKE HAVING ONE BE THERE SUPERVISOR.

>> Reporter: NOT EVERYONE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICER ENCOUNTERS IS A PROBLEM, HE SAYS, BUT THE EXTRA EFFORT TO WORK AROUND THOSE WHO ARE TAKES ITS TOLL ON THEIR CAREER.

>> NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO DO ALL THE OTHER STRESSFUL THINGS THAT ANY OTHER MILITARY PERSON HAS TO DO, YOU HAVE TO PLAY THAT DOUBLE GAME OF CONSTANTLY FIGURING OUT WHY YOU'RE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY, OR WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU, WHY IS SOMETHING HAPPENING TO YOU THAT ISN'T HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: RETIRED REAR ADMIRAL SINCLAIR HARRIS HEADS THE NATIONAL NAVAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS WORKED FOR 50 YEARS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN THE SEA SERVICES.

HE SAYS IT TAKES HUNDREDS OF ENSIGNS TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ONE ADMIRAL, OR WHAT THE NAVY CALLS FLAG OFFICERS.

>> GOT TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN, IN THE BEGINNING, SO THAT THE QUALITY CUT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO SENIOR OFFICER, AND GET TO FLAG OFFICER, YOU HAVE ANOTHER PEOPLE IN THE POT.

>> Reporter: HE CALLS IT DEATH VALLEY, THAT POINT WHERE JUNIOR OFFICERS OPT TO END THEIR CAREERS.

GRADUATING FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY IS THE MOST WELL-WORN PATH TO ADMIRAL, BUT LESS THAN 6% OF THE CURRENT CLASS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY IS AFRICAN- AMERICAN.

THE ACADEMY IS NOT THE ONLY PATH.

ADMIRAL HARRIS WAS REJECTED WHEN HE APPLIED AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER.

HARRIS SAYS ONE SOLUTION IS MENTORING OFFICERS WHO COME THROUGH LESS TRADITIONAL PATHS.

>> WE ONLY HAVE 1 OUT OF 20 DIVERSE CANDIDATES GOING UP FOR FLAG OFFICER IN A CERTAIN COMMUNITY, AND THEY DECIDE HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I JUST GOT THIS HIGH-PAYING JOB AT IBM, OR MY WIFE IS SICK OF ME BEING GONE TO SEE, MY HUSBAND IS SICK OF ME BEING GONE TO SEE.

GUESS WHAT, NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO ZERO AND YOU'VE GOT TO WORK THROUGH THAT PIPELINE, AND THAT PIPELINE IS ANEMIC.

>> Reporter: THE NAVY IS MORE DIVERSE AT LOWER RANKS.

20% OF ENLISTED SAILORS ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

MASTER CHIEF STEPHEN PHILLIPS IS PART OF THE ONE NAVY TASK FORCE, WHICH IS LOOKING AT HOW TO END THE DISCRIMINATION IN THE RANKS.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, THROUGHOUT MY 31 YEARS, WHERE I'VE SEEN RACISM OR DISCRIMINATION PERSONALLY AGAINST ME, I KNEW WHAT THE POLICY WAS, RIGHT?

I KNEW THAT IT WAS WRONG.

I KNEW THAT IT WAS JUST OVERT AND OUT THERE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE A MINORITY YOU JUST KIND OF PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN.

YOU THINK ABOUT SELF- PRESERVATION.

YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> Reporter: AT THE MOMENT, THE NAVY IS ENCOURAGING ENLISTED AND OFFICERS ALIKE TO SPEAK.

ONE NAVY TASK FORCE IS SCHEDULED TO ISSUE ITS REPORT IN DECEMBER.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FEELINGS OF DISCRIMINATION OR INJUSTICE COME IN MANY FORMS, EVEN IN THE SHAPE OF A WALL.

FOR SOME TIME, MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND NATION HAVE BEEN PROTESTING DESTRUCTION OF THE BORDER WALL IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THEY SAY THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES ARE BEING DESTROYED.

HERE IS KPBS REPORTER MAX NADLER.

>> Reporter: IT STRETCHES FOR 14 MILES ALONG RUGGED TERRAIN, THE QUICKLY RISING WHILE NOW CUTS THROUGH AREAS THAT THE COMMITTEE I NATION, A COLLECTION OF NATIVE TRIBES, FACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER, CONSIDER A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

IT WAS USED FOR GENERATIONS BEFORE WHITE SETTLERS ARRIVED.

BURIAL SITES, VILLAGES, AND OTHER CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LOCATIONS.THE LANDSCAPE.

BUT THEY SAY THAT CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, WHICH IS HELPED MANAGE CONSTRUCTION ON THE SITE, IS NOT CORRECTLY ASSESSING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT THEY'RE NOW BUILDING A TOP OF.

>> THEY'RE USING 10-YEAR-OLD SURVEYS TO TRY TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T SITES IN CERTAIN AREAS, AND WHEN WE'VE GONE OUT THERE TO PROTEST, WE'VE SEEN SOIL WITH SIGNS OF CREMATION.

WE'VE SEEN FLAKES, TOOLS, GRINDING STONES.

WE'VE SEEN EVERYTHING OUT THERE, AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT THEY SAY THERE AREN'T ARTIFACTS.

>> Reporter: 28-YEAR-OLD CYNTHIA PARADA IS A TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBER.

SHE AND OTHER YOUNG WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEADING THE PROTEST MOVEMENT IN THE SEARING HEAT OF SUMMER IN THE LAGUNA MOUNTAINS.

THEY'VE BEEN STANDING IN FRONT OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND BLOCKING ACCESS ROADS.

PARADA SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS BREAKING THE LAW BY DISREGARDING THE NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES' PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT.

CONGRESS ENACTED IT IN 1990 TO PROTECT AND SAFELY RELOCATE NATIVE BURIAL SITES.

>> WE JUST WANT THEM TO DO IT RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WAIVING THE LAWS THAT PROTECT OUR REMAINS, AND THEY'RE WAVING A LOT OF OTHER LAWS AS WELL, WHICH WE ARE JUST NOT OKAY WITH BECAUSE WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET THOSE LAWS TO BEGIN WITH AND NOW THEY'RE WAVING THE MAN JUST BLOWING THROUGH THE WORK.

>> Reporter: LAST WEEK MEMBERS OF THE NATION WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST, WHO SAYS SHE IDENTIFIED WHAT WAS MOST LIKELY A CREMATED HUMAN BONE.

>> A HAND OR FOOT BONE.

>> Reporter: IN THE PAST, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION HAS REACHED OUT TO NATIVE GROUPS TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH REMAINS, AND ENGAGE IN A GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION WHILE PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES.

USUALLY DOES THIS MONTHS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT THIS TIME, PARADA SAYS THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT DOING ANY OF THAT.

>> WE ACTUALLY JUST HEARD ABOUT IT, AND WE WENT OUT THERE TO SEE IF IT WAS TRUE, AND WE'VE SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION WORK GETTING DONE, AND THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TOLD THEM THE DOD IS ALLOWED TO WAIVE LAWS REGARDING BURIAL SITES, BECAUSE THE WALL CONSTRUCTION IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.

THE MONEY USED FOR THE WALL CONSTRUCTION IS BEING REDIRECTED FROM THE PENTAGON'S COUNTER NARCOTIC BUDGET, A TRANSFER OF MONEY THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT.

NOW WITH FURTHER PROOF THAT CBP AND THE DOD ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE LAW, THEY ARE PREPARING A LAWSUIT OF THEIR OWN TO TRY TO STOP IT.

>> THEY'RE CREATING NEW ACCESS ROADS.

THEY'RE CREATING NEW STORAGE AREAS FOR THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND NONE OF THOSE AREAS WERE MONITORED.

>> Reporter: CBP SAYS IT HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS OF VARIOUS TRIBES SINCE JUNE TO ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC CONCERNS.

PROTESTERS, AND ESPECIALLY YOUNGER TRIED MEMBERS SAY THOSE MEETINGS OF GONE NOWHERE.

>> WE ARE JUST OUT THERE SIMPLY PROTECTING THE LAND, PROTECTING THE HISTORY.

>> Reporter: 19-YEAR-OLD BROOKE BAINES GREW UP ON THE MANZANILLO RESERVATION, HAS BEEN JUGGLING HER FIRST CASHIER JOB WITH HELPING ORGANIZE THE PROTESTS.

>> WOMEN ARE A STRONG GROUP OF WOMEN, SO I WOULD SAY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE YOUNG WOMEN ARE LEADING IT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS WORLD ARE RAN BY MEN, AND OLDER MEN, AT THAT.

>> Reporter: BAINES SAYS THAT'S WHY THEY HAD TO CONTINUE DIRECT ACTION, TO KEEP GOING TO THE WALL, TO TRY TO STOP CONSTRUCTION.

>> I PRAY WHILE I'M OUT THERE.

I'M PRAYING THE WHOLE TIME I'M OUT THERE FOR SAFETY OF MY PEOPLE, FOR PROTECTION, FOR THE DESECRATION, AND UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SURROUND ME, THAT ARE DOING THESE THINGS.

SO I'M NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT ME AND MYSELF AND MY BODY.

I'M PRAYING.

>> Reporter: MAX RIVLIN-NADLER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THAT WILL DO IT FOR TONIGHT'S SPECIAL BROADCAST.

YOU CAN FIND IN THESE STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG /EVENING EDITION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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