>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, DISTURBING SCENES OF BORDER PATROLS MISTREATING HAITIAN MIGRANTS BRING OUTRAGE, AND A RESIGNATION.

STATE JUDGES BLOCK AN ATTEMPT TO PASS A VOTER ID LAW, AND THE STORY OF A MISSING WOMAN IN WYOMING PROMPTS QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUAL EFFORTS TO FIND THE MISSING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

STAY WITH US.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

SCENES AT THE U-S SHORELINE OF THE RIO GRANDE PORTRAY MISTREATMENT BY BORDER PATROL AGENTS ON HORSEBACK, USING THE LEATHER STRAPS OF THEIR REIGNS TO DRIVE BACK INNOCENT HAITIANS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS INTO TEXAS.

THIS AFTER HAITI'S RECENT TRIPLE DEVASTATION FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IN ADDITION TO THE ASSASSINATION OF THEIR PRESIDENT JOVENEL MOISE.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TODAY TO HAVE WITH US A NORTH CAROLINIAN OF HAITIAN DESCENT WHO HAS BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF ASSISTING HAITIANS HERE AND ABROAD SINCE THE 2010 EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME SABINE GUERRIER, FOUNDER OF HAITIAN HERITAGE AND THE NON-PROFIT FRIENDS OF HAITI.

SABINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE FAMILY BOTH HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND ALSO IN HAITI AND HOW IS EVERYONE DOING.

>> EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND LIKE YOU SAID IN YOUR INTRO, SINCE THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE, AND THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT THEN THE EARTHQUAKE THEN THE STORM, AND NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TEXAS.

SO EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH THE CRISIS.

IT'S A CRISIS AFTER CRISIS.

>> CERTAINLY AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THESE IMAGES THAT THE NATION, THAT THE WORLD HAS SEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE IMAGES AND ABOUT THE COVERAGE THAT IT'S GETTING HERE IN AMERICA?

>> MY HEART BREAKS OF COURSE BECAUSE WHEN I SEE THOSE IMAGES, GUARDS ON HORSEBACK, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE HAVING CATTLE, RUNNING AFTER ANIMALS NOT HUMAN BEINGS.

AND RUNNING AFTER PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING SEEKING A BETTER LIFE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND BUT ALSO IT'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SAY THAT AT LEAST PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHAT THE U.S. POLICIES IS DOING TO HAITI.

AND SO IT'S AN EYE OPENER BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE, BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT FLEE OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

SO I'M THE GLAD THAT IT IS BEING SEEN EVEN THOUGH IT IS HEART WRENCHING IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THIS, BUT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE UGLY TRUTH OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAS BEEN DOING TO OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE THOUGHT.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES, THE U.S. POLICIES ON HAITI AND THE CORRUPTION THAT THE U.S. HAS EMBRACED HAD RECOMMENDED HAS PUSHED ON HAITI BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT IN POWER PEOPLE WHO ARE CORRUPT, RAPISTS, GANG LEADERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PROTECT U.S.

INTERESTS.

>> THAT'S A VERY HUGE STATEMENT BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND NOT JUST ASSISTING AID EFFORTS BUT JUST INVOLVED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE POLITICS OF WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THERE WAS A GREATER EXPECTATION FOR IMPROVED TREATMENT TO ALL ALL THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM AND REFUGE HERE IN AMERICA UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR PRACTICES SO FAR.

>> SO FAR YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOT FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE SKIN IS A DIFFERENT COLOR, I'M SORRY TO SAY, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT WE HAITIANS WE ARE BLACKS.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT OUR LIVES MATTER BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE AFGHANS AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM ALSO, BUT 90,000 WERE BROUGHT OVER.

WHEREAS LESS THAN 50,000 HAITIANS MADE THE EFFORT, 2 MONTHS TO 3 MONTHS TO COME TO THE U.S. AND THEY ARE BEING SENT HOME UNDER TITLE 42.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD PUT THIS IN WHICH WE CRITICIZED WHICH DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WAS THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU IF YOU MADE IT HERE.

IF I'M TO SEEK ASYLUM MAKING THE EFFORT TO BE HERE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEND ME BACK WITHOUT DUE PROCESS WITHOUT GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLEAD MY CASE.

SO IT'S DOUBLE STANDARD DEFINITELY IS.

SO WHAT WAS SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN IS DEFINITELY THAT'S WHAT WE APPLIED NOW.

>> AND BEFORE WE GO WE HAD JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RELIEF EFFORTS AND HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP.

>> YES, WE HAVE A FAMILY WHO THANK GOODNESS MANAGED TO MAKE IT FROM TEXAS AND THEY ARE IN CHARLOTTE, A FAMILY OF 5.

SO OF COURSE, THEY ARE IN NEED OF EVERYTHING, CLOTHING, FOOD RIGHT NOW THEY ARE IN A HOTEL, ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER IS PAYING FOR THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GET TO A PLACE FOR THE FAMILY OF 5, THEY HAVE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN, TO SEE HOW WE CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN TEXAS TO SEND FOOD, CLOTHING, WATER, THEY HAVE NOTHING.

>> WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY AND BASED ON WHAT YOU SHARED, THE NEED IS IS TREMENDOUS AND SO ANY WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN HELP THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY WITH THEIR RESOURCES BUT ALSO WITH THEIR POLITICAL DECISIONS, SO SABINE GUERRIER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I ASK THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT AND HELP US.

HELP US CHANGE THE POLICIES ONCE AND FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH HAITI FOR A MOMENT AS WE MEET TODAY'S PANEL.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME POLITICAL ANALYST STEVE RAO, ATTORNEY JESSICA HOLMES AND LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON OF ADVANCED CAROLINA.

JUST THURSDAY THE U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HAITI SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION SAYING I WILL NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED STATES INHUMANE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE DECISION TO DEPORT THOUSANDS OF HAITIAN REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HAITI.

GIVEN RECENT EVENTS, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE MANY HAITIANS WOULD SEEK ASYLUM IN AMERICA.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HOWEVER IS STEADFASTLY TURNING THEM AWAY WITHOUT A HEARING AND FLYING THEM BACK TO HAITI ON PLANES UNDER THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL TRUMP ERA PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER TITLE 42.

AS WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY BLACK AMERICANS EXPECTED BETTER FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

I WANT TO OPEN UP WITH YOU STEVE, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY AND YOU KNOW THE FIRST THING, I'LL SAY DEBORAH, IS THAT THAT THAT THE UPHOLDING OF TITLE, 42 BY PRESIDENT BIDEN I THINK IS A ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HIM UPHOLDING MANY OF PRESIDENT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FOREIGN POLICIES.

WE'VE SEEN THEM UP HOLD OF THE POLICIES OF CUBA, YOU KNOW DIFFERENT DIFFERENT AREAS.

YOU KNOW JUST IN TERMS OF THE TRADE, KEEPING TARIFFS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND NOW THIS.

SO I THINK IT DOES CONCERN MANY OF US, SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT HE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD POLICIES OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPEALED TO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD AT THE UN THAT WE APPEAL TO THE COMMON HUMANITY OF ALL MANKIND AND THAT WE USE OUR DEVELOPMENT AID IN STRENGTH IN THE UNITED STATES TO LIFT UP ALL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE IMAGES OF IMMIGRANTS, ASYLUM, REFUGEES, REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE PRESENCE OF AGENTS ON HORSES AND WHIPS, IT SENDS A VERY ALARMING MESSAGE OF THE VALUE THAT WE'RE PLACING ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

AND THE FINAL THING, I'LL SAY IS THE SITUATIONS IN THESE COUNTRIES, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON THE SHOW.

IT JUST SHOWS THE DISRUPTION OF DEMOCRACY OVER 200,000 REFUGEES ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE THEY'RE FLEEING PERSECUTION, TORTURE, POVERTY EXTREME CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THEY NEED TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

HOW DO WE REFORM OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM TO PROCESS THESE CASES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE THAT ARE SUFFERING, BUT IF THEIR DEMOCRACIES WERE STRONGER, WE WOULDN'T BE IN SUCH A PROBLEM.

>> JESSICA, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO SEE THIS DISPARITY, THE CONTRADICTION?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> I THINK THERE'S A REALITY THAT ALTHOUGH WE'RE HEARING THE RIGHT WORDS COME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THE VICE PRESIDENT DESCRIBED THE IMAGES OF MEN ON HORSEBACK LITERALLY WHIPPING AT THESE INDIVIDUALS SHE DESCRIBED IT AS HORRIBLE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HIMSELF HAS TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE A MELTING POT IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY HAS TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS TROUBLING.

THAT SAID, WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SEE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE WORDS OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE ACTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

I WOULD AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE WATERS WHO MANY OF US REFER TO AS "AUNTIE MAXINE" WHEN SHE SAYS AS A BLACK WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S ONE THING TO SEE THESE IMAGES ON TV OR IN A MOVIE BUT TO SEE IT HAPPENING IN REAL TIME IS SOMETHING THAT I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD SEE ON AMERICAN SOIL IN MY LIFETIME.

>> AND YET WE'RE SEEING IT.

LA'MESHIA WHAT SHOULD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DO OR WHAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED OF THE PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE HOLDING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR FOR THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW LIKE THIS?

>> AT MINIMUM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD FULFILL ITS CAMPAIGN PROMISES.

WHEN BIDEN AND YOU KNOW PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS ELECTED GAMES DUE IN LARGE PART TO BLACK VOTERS AND THAT CAMPAIGN PROMISE WAS HE WOULD RAISE THE LIMIT ON THE REFUGEE CAP, HE WOULD RAISE IT TO A 125,000 REFUGEES THAT COULD BE RESETTLED IN THE U.S. EVERY FISCAL YEAR.

HIS PROMISE WAS TO HEIGHTEN THAT FROM TRUMP'S HISTORICALLY LOW REFUGEE CAP.

UNDER TRUMP'S PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, I THINK ONLY 15,000 REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO COME HERE EACH YEAR.

AND SO THAT PROMISE OF 125,000 HASN'T BEEN FULFILLED BECAUSE BIDEN BACKTRACKED THE ADMINISTRATION STATEED NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT IT WOULD KEEP THE CURRENT LEVEL OF REFUGEES THAT THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SET AND THAT WAS 15,000.

SO WHY THE BACK PEDAL?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE IMPACT OF THAT BROKEN PROMISE AND AT MINIMUM WE VOTED AS A PEOPLE.

MANY PEOPLE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BUT WE KNOW THE RESULT AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT ELECTION WAS VOTED IN A WHOLE AND A PROMISE TO ACTUALLY LET REFUGEES IN AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE IMPACT.

SO AT MINIMUM THE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE.

NEXT FOR OUR PEOPLE WE'RE SEEING HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF, WE KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY SAID THAT THE USE OF HORRSE PATROLS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.

SHOULD'VE BEEN DISMANTLED AND DISBANDED ALONGSIDE SLAVE PATROLS UPON EMANCIPATION IN THE 1800'S THAT'S WHEN SLAVE PATROLS WHICH IS, GUESS WHAT, THE MODERN VERSION TODAY IS HORSE PATROLS USING THE SAME TERMINOLOGY IT SHOULDN'T BE SUSPENDED SHOULD BE DISBANDED BECAUSE IT'S INHUMANE.

>> WELL WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO WATCH AS THINGS CONTINUE TO UNFOLD ON IMMIGRATION.

CLOSER TO HOME JUST AS WE'VE SEEN RESTRICTIVE VOTER LAWS ENACTED IN STATES ACROSS OUR NATION.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE MIX A RECENT EFFORT TO IMPOSE A VOTER ID LAW HOWEVER, WAS STRUCK DOWN 2 TO ONE BY A 3 JUDGES PANEL THAT CONCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THEY FOUND NO RACIAL ANIMUS OR HATRED IN THE INTENT OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THE OUTCOME WAS NONETHELESS A LEGAL RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, THE BILL SUPPORTERS INTEND TO APPEAL SO THIS IS NOT OVER.

SUPPORTERS OF SB 8.73 CONTINUE TO DEFEND THIS LEGISLATION ARGUING THAT IT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED AND ACTUALLY CO SPONSORED BY BLACK DEMOCRATS I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU JESSICA, SO HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY BE RACIST?

>> WELL, I'LL START BY SORT OF SAYING THE OLD AGE STATEMENT 'FORWARD TOGETHER ONE STEP BACK.'

THE GOAL IS FORWARD TOGETHER NOT TO TAKE ONE STEP BACK, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IN NORTH CAROLINA AND IN THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE DOING SORT OF A DANCE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

JUST RECENTLY WE IN NORTH CAROLINA PASSED A LAW OR JUDGES RULED THAT FELONS CAN VOTE, SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ON POST RELEASE SUPERVISION FOR EXAMPLE COULD VOTE.

LATER, THAT DECISION WAS APPEALED AND NOW IT'S TEMPORARILY BEEN BLOCKED.

>> LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AS A MATTER OF FACT >> ABSOLUTELY.

AND JUST THIS WEEK WE HAD A STEP FORWARD IN THAT 2 OF THOSE 3 JUDGES ON THAT PANEL DECLARED A DECEMBER 2018 LAW AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO IMPLEMENT A VOTER ID MANDATE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON ITS FACE MUTUAL, THE JUDGES DEEMED THAT IT WAS MOTIVATED AT LEAST IN PART, BY AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL INTENT TO TARGET AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS.

I MENTIONED IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN NORTH CAROLINA WE'VE BEEN PLAYING THIS DANCE AS IT RELATES TO VOTING RIGHTS.

ONE THING THAT I CAN MAKE VERY CLEAR IS THAT THE FACT THAT FOLKS ARE TRYING SO HARD TO PLAY AROUND WITH OUR VOTING RIGHTS MEANS THAT EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BALLOT, WE SHOULD DO JUST THAT.

IF YOU HAVE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS COMING UP IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THIS FALL, MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

IT MEANS JUST THAT MUCH.

>> STEVE I THINK IT'S INTERESTING WHAT THE JUDGES DECIDED IN TERMS OF THE WORD INTENT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOU KNOW INTENTION TO BE RACIST OR PARTISAN VERSUS MOTIVE VERSUS EFFECT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW DEBORAH, I THINK JESSICA YOU BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT ABOUT TAKING A STEP BACK BUT I THINK THAT THERE CLEARLY IS AN INTENT TO TARGET.

IN MY OPINION, MINORITY AND DISENFRANCHISED VOTERS, 39% OF BLACK AMERICANS DON'T HAVE AN ID.

THE DATA SHOWS THAT.

AND YOU ARE JUST MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO VOTE AT A TIME WHEN THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR EVERY AMERICAN.

I OFTEN DEBATE THIS WITH MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WHO SAY, 'WELL I NEED A VOTER ID TO CHECK INTO A HOTEL OR GET ON AN AIRPLANE', BUT VOTING ISN'T A TRANSACTION.

IT'S A RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS AMERICAN LEADERS TO MAKE THAT RIGHT EASIER SO I AGREE WITH FORMER COMMISSIONER HOLMES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I WORRIED ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INTENT FOR RACISM OR TARGETED PRECISION OF DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS, WE'RE SEEING YOUR STRIKING OUT A 2018 LAW.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

WHERE THEY'RE CURBING EARLY VOTING, MAKING IT HARDER TO CAST ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AND OUR SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IS UPHOLDING THESE LOWS.

SO WHAT I'M AFRAID OF AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITH THE SUPER DOCKETS RATHER THAN HAVING ORAL ARGUMENTS.

SO THIS IS VERY VERY ALARMING AND CONCERNING AND I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO CHALLENGE IT IS TO VOTE AND TO GET OUT THERE AND SAY THAT WE IN AMERICA ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP OUR RIGHT TO VOTE THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS THIS RIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY >> REGARDLESS OF THE RACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND LA'MESHIA, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A STEP FORWARD A STEP BACK, SO WE'VE HAD THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT OUT THERE, NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH, ALSO THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THE FREEDOM TO VOTE AT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT ITS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE.

>> SO THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT CONTAINS THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHAT WE CONSIDER THE MOST CRITICAL PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLY VOTING, VOTER REGISTRATION, A STOP TO GERRYMANDERING, BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THE FREEDOM BOAT ACT IS WHAT WE CONSIDER WATERED DOWN VERSION.

IT'S THIS COMPROMISE THAT HAS MADE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND ADDRESSING CONCERNS RAISED BY SENATE REPUBLICANS MAKE THEM FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE ABLE TO PASS A BILL THAT'S A BIT MORE WATERED DOWN.

SO HOW'S IT WATER DOWN?

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE THAT YOU SEE MUCH OF THE JOB WITH VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY RESTORE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 ACTUALLY PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES FROM MAINE, GERRYMANDERED HOW WE'VE SEEN IT, THIS ISSUE WITH THIS BILL IS IS THAT IT ACTUALLY GIVES STATES THE AUTHORITY IN ROOM AND DISCRETION TO DETERMINE AGAIN WHAT THEY SEE FIT AS FAIR VOTING.

WE'RE ALREADY IN A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

NORTH CAROLINA CAN'T AGAIN REGULATE ITSELF FROM RACIAL OR PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING WHICH IS WHY WERE IN THE SUPREME COURT THE LAST ALMOST A DECADE FOR RACIAL AND PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING FOR CUTTING BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS WITH PRECISION.

SO FOR AN ACT PASSED, GUESS WHAT, THAT ALLOWS THIS STATE, OUR STATE NORTH CAROLINA, TO DO WHAT IT'S ALWAYS DONE, IT JUST SEEMS AGAIN LIKE SMOKE AND MIRRORS.

>> ISN'T IT BETTER TO ACCEPT A LITTLE WATER, YOU KNOW FOR THE COMPROMISE TO MOVE FORWARD JESSICA?

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE ACCEPT THIS WATERED DOWN VERSION WHICH HAS A LOT OF GOOD PROVISIONS IN IT WHERE'S THE WATER AND WHY SHOULD WE ACCEPT IT?

>> PROGRESS IS PROGRESS.

I USE THE METAPHOR EARLIER ABOUT TAKING ONE STEP FORWARD I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS IS MORE OF A BABY STEP FORWARD, AND WE SHOULD TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET.

THAT SAID, THIS SHOULD NOT STOP THE MOMENTUM.

THIS SHOULD NOT STOP US FROM CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PERSON IN THIS STATE EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE SEE THIS TRICKERY THAT'S HAPPENING.

AGAIN AS FUTURE CONGRESSMAN RAO MENTIONED EARLIER, THE FACT THAT NOT JUST IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE SEEING THESE RESTRICTED BILLS THESE VOTER ID BILLS WHO HAVE RACIAL INTENT.

THEY CAN CALL IT WHATEVER THEY WANT TO CALL IT, BUT THE REALITY IS THE MOTIVATION AT THE END OF THE DAY IS TO KEEP BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE BALLOT.

>> TURNING TO A STORY THAT'S BEEN IN THE HEADLINES AND MET A TRAGIC ENDING.

THE BODY OF YOUNG GABBY PETITO FROM WYOMING REPORTED MISSING ON SEPTEMBER 11TH WAS FOUND IDENTIFIED AND RULED A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR HER FIANCE BRIAN LAUNDRIE WHO IS A PERSON OF INTEREST.

WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS HERE ON BLACK ISSUES FOR BECAUSE WHILE EVERYONE I BELIEVE SHARES IN THE SORROW AND HORROR FOR THE LOSS OF THIS YOUNG WOMAN.

MANY ARE REMINDED OF OTHERS GONE MISSING UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, NAMELY PERSONS OF COLOR AND WONDER WHY THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SIMILAR LEVEL OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AND INTEREST A WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE BY BRITTANY SHAMMAS AND KIM BELLWARE CALLS OUT THE RACIAL DISPARITY AND THERE'S EVEN A NAME FOR THIS PHENOMENON, COINED BY THE LATE JOURNALIST GWEN IFILL QUOTE 'MISSING WHITE WOMAN SYNDROME.'

SO I'M GOING TO OPEN UP WITH YOU STEPHEN TWENTY-TWENTY OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WERE REPORTED MISSING NEARLY 40% OF THEM PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WHAT DO YOU HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THIS DISPARITY IN COVERAGE.

>> WELL I THINK THE PRESS HAS AN OBLIGATION TO -- WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF ANY OF THESE VICTIMS.

MOST RECENTLY GABBY PETITO, JELANI DAY, BUT I THINK THAT THE PRESS HAS AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COVERING ALL OF THESE STORIES AND SO YOU KNOW I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY TO SEE YOU KNOW MORE COVERAGE ON WHEN WHITE WOMEN FOR EXAMPLE ARE MISSING.

AND I JUST THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AND I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS IT IS TO CALL IT OUT LIKE WE ARE AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

I MEAN IT'S JUST IT'S SO SAD THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE MISSING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE AUTHORS OF THE WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE SAID AN INTERESTING THING OF NOTE WAS THAT MORE PEOPLE WE'RE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITY IN COVERAGE MORE SO THAN THE DETAILS OF THE CASE AND THAT THIS WAS PERHAPS STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

JESSICA, IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MAYBE A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF AWARENESS ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES AND DISPARITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS MOVE FORWARD.

>> I WANT TO START BY ALSO JUST ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF THE MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BOYS AND GIRLS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT CONTINUE TO REMAIN MISSING.

I SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF GABBY PETITO.

THAT SAID THAT ISN'T THE ONLY NAME THAT WE SHOULD KNOW.

THE REALITY IS THAT I HAVE BEEN DISGUSTED BY THE LEFT MEDIA THE RIGHT MEDIA CONSIDERING THE COVERAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MISSING TYPICALLY THOSE WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE EVEN SEX TRAFFICKING, OFTEN TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN FAST, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING THAT COULD PUT THEMSELVES IN THAT POSITION.

NO THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THE MEDIA PUT GABBY PETITO FORTH AS IF SHE WAS AMERICA'S DAUGHTER.

THAT'S THE IMAGE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA COULD RELATE TO.

BUT THE MEDIA SHOULDN'T AND DOESN'T GET TO DECIDE WHOSE DAUGHTER, SON, MOTHER, FATHER IS WORTH LIVING AND WORTH COVERING IN THIS COUNTRY AND I IMPLORE THEM TO DO BETTER.

>> AGREED LA'MESHIA, WE DID ALSO LEARNED RECENTLY THE IDENTITY OF A BODY FOUND THAT WOUND UP BEING JELANI DAY WHO'S A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT.

I'M SORRY, JELANI DAY WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND AND DISCOVERED.

AND SOME ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION AROUND GABBY PETITO AND THE FACT THAT UNDER HER HASHTAG ADDITIONAL NAMES OF MISSING PERSONS OF COLOR WERE INCLUDED THAT THIS, WAS HELPFUL WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WANT TO GIVE CONDOLENCES TO OF ALL THE FAMILIES.

SO THINKING ABOUT OUR ALTERNATIVE MEDIA SOURCES BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER VIA SOCIAL MEDIA WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON MAINSTREAM MEDIA TO DO US JUSTICE.

WE KNOW THAT FOR BLACK CHILDREN WE ACCOUNT FOR 35% OF MISSING CHILDREN CASES IN THE FBI'S DATABASE, BUT ONLY AMOUNT TO 7% OF MEDIA REFERENCES.

IN ADDITION TO THE IMPACT ON INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS, WE SEE THAT IN WYOMING WHERE GABBY'S REMAINS WERE FOUND INDIGENOUS WOMEN THEIR HOMICIDES MAKE UP 21% IN THAT SAME STATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ONLY 3% OF THE POPULATION.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HEARING MORE OF THE IMPACT - OUR PEOPLE DESERVE MORE THAN TO BE MARTYRS OF A CAUSE.

WE DESERVE TO BE VALUED HUMANS TO BE SEEN TO BE HEARD AND NOT SILENCED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN'T BE FOUND IN ADDITION TO ALREADY FACING US INSURMOUNTABLE RACIAL OPPRESSION AND SO SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LIFT OUR INDIVIDUALS.

TWITTER IS AN INCREDIBLE CIRCULATION OF WHERE BLACK TWITTER WILL LITERALLY SHARE HASHTAGS THERE'S SO MANY BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK MEN THAT ARE MISSING OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND US HAVING TO DO IT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY PROTECT US AND WE CAN'T RELY ON MEDIA WHICH HAS BEEN INSTITUTIONALLY AND HISTORICALLY WHITE MALE LEAD.

>> AND THAT LAST POINT IS ONE THAT I WANT TO JUST KIND OF PICK UP LINE AS WE LOOK AT WHY.

SOME WOULD SAY 'WELL, YOU KNOW 'IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE.'

IT DOESN'T JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POWER STRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE WITHIN MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

WHO'S IN PLACE WHO'S MAKING THE DECISIONS WHO IDENTIFIES WITH THAT YOUNG WHITE BLONDE FEMALE AND THAT IS NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING JUSTICE FOR HER OR ANY YOUNG PERSON WHO'S FOUND MISSING, BUT IT IS TO INDEED RECOGNIZE THERE'S A STRUCTURE OUT THERE AND IT MATTERS.

LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON STEVE RAO JESSICA HOLMES I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

SOME REALLY TOUGH TOPICS THIS WEEK.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK TODAYS GUESTS.

WE INVITE YOU TO ENGAGE WITH US TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG "BLACK ISSUES FORUM".

YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR FULL EPISODES ON PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM, OR LISTEN AT ANY TIME ON APPLE ITUNES, SPOTIFY, OR GOOGLE PODCASTS.

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

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