>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, MORE ACTS OF BLUE ON BLACK VIOLENCE GENERATE UPSET.

ALSO, THE QUESTIONABLE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH TOLL OF RACISM.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >> WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL HANGING IN THE BALANCE, TWO NEW INCIDENTS OF POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST UNARMED BLACKS ADD SALT TO THE WOUND.

>> WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

>> [POLICE SHOUTING] HOW MANY OCCUPANTS ARE IN YOUR VEHICLE?

>> IT'S ONLY MYSELF.

WHY ARE YOUR WEAPONS DRAWN?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> SINCE ITS RELEASE ON SUNDAY, THIS VIDEO HAS GONE VIRAL.

>> ARMY MEDIC CAREN NAZARIO BLACK LATINO LIEUTENANT WAS PULLED BY VIRGINIA POLICE IN DECEMBER, PEPPER SPRAYED, HANDCUFFED AND FORCED ONTO THE GROUND AFTER POLICE FAILED TO NOTICE A TEMPORARY LICENSE PLATE PROPERLY AND LEGALLY DISPLAYED IN HIS REAR WINDOW.

HE HAS FILED A MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT.

>> I NEVER LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW, AND SAW A GUN PULLED IMMEDIATELY.

>> [POLICE OFF CAMERA] BUT WHEN WE FOLLOW YOU THAT LONG, LOOK AT THE CLIMATE IN THIS DAY.

AGAINST EVERYBODY.

AGAINST US, AGAINST Y'ALL.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> YEAH.

>> I'M NOT OUT TO HURT YOU AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA HURT ME.

THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY GOES HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> THEN LATER SUNDAY AFTERNOON BACK IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE HOME OF GEORGE FLOYD, A MOTHER GRIEVES THE LOSS OF HER 20 YEAR-OLD SON DANTE WRIGHT WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE AFTER THEY PULLED HIM OVER FOR HAVING AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION TAG.

THE OFFICER WHO FIRED THE WEAPON, 26 YEAR POLICE VETERAN, KIM POTTER CLAIMED SHE INTENDED TO USE HER TASER BUT GRABBED HER GUN ACCIDENTALLY.

NONETHELESS SHE HAS RESIGNED FROM THE FORCE, THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS RESIGNED, AND POTTER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

JOINING US NOW, I WANT TO WELCOME JESSE MCCOY, SUPERVISING ATTORNEY FOR THE DUKE CIVIL JUSTICE CLINIC LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON WITH ADVANCE CAROLINA AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST KERWIN PITTMAN.

LA'MESHIA LET ME ASK YOU REPORTERS, ACCORDING TO DANTE WRIGHT'S MOTHER HAD BEEN ASKING HER, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?

DO YOU WANT JUSTICE?"

AND I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING IT'S NOT ABOUT JUSTICE.

MY SON IS GONE.

I WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY WANTS?

>> THE BLACK COMMUNITY WANTS WE ELEVATED FOR THE PAST DECADES YEARS CLOSE TO A CENTURY.

MANY ADVOCATES AND EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY ON THE GROUND SAID WE NEED TO COMPLETELY INVEST OUR TAX DOLLARS THAT GOES TO THESE POLICE BUDGETS INTO OTHER NECESSARY RESOURCES SUCH AS COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONIST, OUR FOLKS COMMUNITY POLICING OUR OWN COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CAN PROTECT OUR OWN AND YOU KNOW OUR OWN COMMUNITY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.

WE NEED LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS, LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS, FOLKS WHO ARE ACTUALLY SPECIALIZED IN ADDRESSING SPECIAL NEEDS WITH INTERVENTION THAT HAS EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO THE CREDENTIALS TO DO SO, AND WE NEED FOLKS WHO ARE GROUNDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE US AND ARE FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'VE SAID THIS.

THIS IS JUST A LONG LINE OF SUCCESSION OF THE CRIES, BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED FOR AND ALSO ACCOUNTABILITY WITH ENFORCEMENT WHAT ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THE LAWS THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THE INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EVEN HALE RIGHT?

>> ACCOUNTABILITY IS KEY AND JESSE, LET'S FOCUS ON NAZARIO'S CASE.

LAW OFFICIALS IN VIRGINIA MAINTAIN THAT RECENTLY AS A FEW DAYS AGO THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS ACTUALLY A TEACHING MOMENT, AND HAD ONLY NIZARIO FOLLOWED ORDERS, THINGS MIGHT HAVE ENDED UP DIFFERENTLY.

WE'VE HEARD THINGS LIKE THIS BEFORE, 'FOLLOW ORDERS, DO NOT RUN, COMPLY IMMEDIATELY.'

WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC ABOUT THAT?

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU GET STOPPED BY THE POLICE?

>> WELL WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE BASIS OF THE STOP WAS A TRAFFIC STOP.

THIS WASN'T ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GARDEN VARIETY TRAFFIC STOP.

I BELIEVE THAT LIEUTENANT NAZARIO DID EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN SLOWING DOWN HIS SPEED, AND HE EVEN TOLD OFFICERS THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO A WELL-LIT AREA WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE TAUGHT.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ALSO CONTEXT.

THIS IS A BLACK MAN DRIVING THROUGH WINDSOR VIRGINIA.

SO TRYING TO GET A WELL-LIT AREA IN THE MIDST OF BEING STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC STOP IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ONCE HE WAS STOPPED, HE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED WITH HIS HANDS HELD OUT THE WINDOW, "WHAT AM I MY BEING STOPPED FOR?"

>> IS HE ALLOWED TO DO THAT?

IS HE ALLOWED TO QUESTION THE POLICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE AT THAT POINT HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AND HE IS ALREADY COMPLIED BY STOPPING.

THE OFFICERS RARELY WOULD ASK ANYBODY TO STEP OUT OF A CAR FOR A GARDEN, VARIETY TRAFFIC STOP.

>> BUT IF THEY ASK YOU TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR DO YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, OR ARE YOU ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU STEP OUT OF THE CAR?

>> AGAIN, THIS IS A BLACK MAN IN WINDSOR, VIRGINIA SO POLICE ASKING FOR HIM TO STEP OUT OF A CAR USUALLY FOR BLACK MEN POLICE ASKING YOU TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR IS NEVER A GOOD SIGN.

BUT IF HE IS ALREADY COMPLYING AND HE STILL HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON, THE POLICE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE HIGHER RESPONSIBILITY OF EXPLAINING TO HIM WHY HE IS BEING STOPPED AND IF HE'S BEEN DETAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF JUST RUNNING HIS LICENSE.

THAT'S FINE THEY CAN ASK FOR A LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THE TRAFFIC STOP, BUT COMPLIANCE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT IN OUR FAVOR.

>> WELL LET ME BRING YOU IN KERWIN BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CERTAINLY WHERE A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROTEST FROM LAST SUMMER AND NOW WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL PROTESTS IN RECENT DAYS.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON THIS TASK FORCE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO TRY TO MOVE TOWARD EQUAL JUSTICE?

>> OH YES, SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IS POLICY CHANGE AND ATTACKING AND BUILDING DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT WILL HOLD THESE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.

SUCH AS KIM POTTER.

IT IS NO REASON THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER WHEN SHE COULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THIRD-DEGREE MURDER AS WELL, AND IN 2007 IN FACT, IN THE SAME STATE A BLACK OFFICER SHOT A WHITE WOMAN BY ACCIDENT.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH BOTH CHARGES SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER AND THIRD-DEGREE MURDER WHO SUBSEQUENTLY GOT A 12 AND A HALF YEARS SO YOU SEE THE RACIAL BIASES BAKED WITHIN THE SYSTEM EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR BLACK AND WHITE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL TRY TO TACKLE WHEN WE HONE IN ON THE RACIAL BIASES BUILT WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM IN TACKLING THOSE WHO HOLD THESE INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE BUT ALSO HOLD THE BAD ACTORS THAT PERPETRATE THE RACIAL BIASES WITHIN THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WELL, JESSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KERWIN MENTIONED IS BEING ABLE TO TRACK THE INFORMATION AND A LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE DRIVING WHILE BLACK LEGISLATION FROM A BRAIN BALANCE MANY MANY YEARS AGO WE BEEN ABLE TO ACCUMULATE SOME DATA AND NOW SENATOR JAY CHOWDER E HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED HATE CRIME WHO WHO RECENTLY INTRODUCED HATE CRIME LEGISLATION HAS NOW INTRODUCED A BILL TO REQUIRE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DEVELOP POLICIES TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF RACIAL PROFILING IN TRAFFIC STOPS AND SEARCHES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE VALUE OF THIS LEGISLATION WOULD THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT ALWAYS MAKES DIFFERENCE IF THE POINT OF THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT WE KNOW ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY POLICE.

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE THOUGH IS I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE COPIOUS RECORDS TO SHOW THAT CERTAIN COMMUNITIES ARE PREYED UPON AND PROFILED FOR THESE STOPS AND FOR THESE POLICE INTERACTIONS.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT DO WE DO KNOWING THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WHAT ARE WE PREPARED TO DO TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> LA'MESHIA IS THIS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE?

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY AN HISTORIC BILL, SENATOR CHAUDURY SENATOR MURDOCH, SENATOR MOHAMMED INTRODUCING THIS.

THIS IS A BILL THAT IS PASSED DUE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT UPON THE EMANCIPATION OF SLAVERY.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WHAT IS DEFINED AS RACIAL PROFILING WHEN EXISTING AS BLACK AND BROWN IN AMERICA IS THE CRIME.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEFINING THIS BILL WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR HOW WE SEE RACIAL PROFILING, BECAUSE IT'S MANY THINGS.

IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH AN EXPIRED LICENSE TAG JUST LIKE DRIVE WITH AN AIR FRESHNER JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH A TEMPORARY LICENSE PLATE IN THE WINDOW WHICH IS LEGAL.

THAT'S RACIAL PROFILING AND HOW DO WE ENFORCE WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHERS AND AGENCIES VIOLATE THAT RACIAL PROFILING ACT IF THIS LEGISLATION GOES BILL?

GOES TO LAW?

AND THAT'S MY QUESTION AND THE LAST THING IF THE ADVISORY BOARD WILL NEED TEETH.

WE NEED TO KNOW VERY CLEARLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ENFORCE AGAIN RACIAL PROFILING THE POLICIES THAT CAN BE CREATED FROM THE DATA, GUESS WHAT?

NEEDS TO COME THROUGH THAT ADVISORY BOARD.

IT NEEDS TEETH, AND THE DATA ALSO NEEDS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TO COLLECT THAT DATA AND TO CREATE THE NARRATIVE BECAUSE ONLY US THAT ARE IMPACTED CAN GIVE A TRUE NARATIVE, AS ALREADY BEEN STATED WE'RE IMPACTED, WE CAN TELL YOU HOW THAT DATA IS, BECAUSE WE'RE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

>> KERWIN, THAT MIGHT BE DIRECTED TO YOU AS WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THIS TASK FORCE AND YOU KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED IN MINNESOTA SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA, BUT IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO THOSE STATES AND YOU KNOW PERHAPS FIRSTHAND ABOUT HOW POLICING IS TAKING PLACE AND HOW RACIAL BIAS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW THE FACT THAT IT IS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND CAN A TASK FORCE AND ADVISORY PANEL BE HELPFUL AND INSTRUMENTAL?

>> YES, RACIAL BIAS IS BAKED IN A SECTION OF UNITED STATES LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM SLAVE PATROLS UP INTO NOW, SO IT IS IN EVERY STATE, IS NOT NOTHING NEW TO NORTH CAROLINA.

SO AS LA'MESHIA SAID WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT WE CREATE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO HOLD THESE INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE, SO IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND BEING ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THOUGH THEY ARE GOOD BUT WITHOUT ANY TEETH OR BACKING BEHIND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO HOLD THESE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE, AND SO THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE START TO HAPPEN AND CHANGE START TO HAPPEN WHEN INDIVIDUALS START LOSING THEIR JOBS, THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND GOING TO JAIL ON BAD DECISIONS REGARDLESS IF IT WAS A MISTAKE OR NOT BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN PRISON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY MADE A MISTAKE, SO THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE.

SO WE MUST FIND WAYS TO ENFORCE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HOLD THESE ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AND START TO TEAR DOWN THE RACIAL BIASES BAKED WITHIN THIS SYSTEM AND BUILD A NEW SYSTEM.

>> KERWIN PITTMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHILE FAIR HOUSING MONTH IS APRIL, FAIR PLAY HAS BECOME QUESTIONABLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE AND NATIONAL MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS NOW EXTENDED THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.

LA'MESHIA LET ME ASK YOU CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSING INSECURITY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY NOW AFTER A YEAR OF COVID.

>> SO HOUSING PANDEMIC AND HOUSELESSNESS WAS ALREADY A PANDEMIC FOR OUR COMMUNITIES PRIOR TO COVID COVID OF COURSE EXACERBATED IT, MADE IT WORSE.

AND SO EVEN LAST YEAR THERE WAS A MORATORIUM BY GOVERNOR COOPER THAT ENDED AND THERE WAS A MONTH BEFORE WE HAD ANOTHER PROTECTION TO PROTECT FOLKS FROM BEING EVICTED BY THE CDC.

IN THAT ONE MONTH GAP, 18,000 PEOPLE WERE EVICTED IN NORTH CAROLINA.

15,000 OUT OF THAT 18,1000 THAT WERE NOW HOUSELESS CONTRACTED COVID-19 DIRECTLY DUE TO EVICTION AND 400 OF OUR COMMUNITY FOLKS DIED FROM COVID-19 BECAUSE THEY WERE EVICTED.

THIS IS THE IMPACT.

32% OF ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE RENTERS.

WE KNOW THAT 300,000 PLUS NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE IMPACTED BEING BEHIND ON THEIR RENT PAYMENTS.

THIS IS HOW IT'S IMPACTING US.

WE'RE TALKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHOSE CHILDREN HAS ACTUALLY LOST INSULIN DUE TO BEING HOMELESS AND HOUSELESS BUT ALSO WITHOUT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR UTILITIES.

SO IN ADDITION TO EVICTIONS WE ALSO NEEDED UTILITIES MORATORIUM BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACED WITH THE DOUBLE IMPACT IN ADDITION TO OF COURSE LOSS OF INSURANCE AND OTHER THINGS OTHER PROTECTIONS SO THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE IN DIRE NEED AND NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO COVER WHAT'S ACTUALLY NEEDED.

>> IT'S JUST CRITICAL.

THANK YOU FOR OUTLINING IT IN THAT WAY AND ALSO ADDING THE ISSUE OF UTILITIES BECAUSE YOU COULD VERY WELL BE IN YOUR HOME BUT NOT HAVE THE ELECTRICITY, THE ACCESS TO INTERNET THE HEAT WHATEVER TO SURVIVE, AND I THINK THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE JUST INCREDIBLE JESSE, HOW IS THE MORATORIUM SUPPOSED TO WORK?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS MORATORIUM THAT WAS ENACTED BY THE CDC WAS DONE OUT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN AND THE CONCERN WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT EVICTIONS TO CREATE NEW TRANSMISSIONS OF COVID-19.

AT NO POINT WAS THIS TO PROTECT HOUSING PER SE, SO BECAUSE OF THAT WE SEE THE IMPACT OF THOSE SHORTCOMINGS IN ITS OPERATION, THE MORATORIUM RIGHT NOW ONLY PROTECTS AGAINST EVICTIONS THAT ARE BASED ON NONPAYMENT OF RENT.

SO THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF EVICTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS MORATORIUM AND IT ONLY COVERS PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE THE FACT THAT THERE'S A DECLARATION FORM THAT THEY HAVE TO SIGN UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY TO STIPULATE THAT THEY MAKE LESS THAN $99,000 FOR THE INDIVIDUAL OR LESS THAN A $198,000 IF MARRIED FILING JOINTLY, AND THAT THEY HAVE A REASONABLE EFFORTS TO SEEK SOCIAL SERVICES OR WHATEVER RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE IN THE AREA AND THAT THEY HAVE CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO PAY THE PARTIAL PAYMENTS OF RENT AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE TO STAND IN THAT LIGHT, THEY ARE TO BE PROTECTED FROM BEING ABLE TO BE EVICTED UNTIL THE MONTH OF JULY.

THE PROBLEM THOUGH IS THAT WE HAVE ALSO CARVED IN A NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONS FOR WHICH LANDLORDS CAN CHALLENGE, THE VERACITY OF THOSE DECLARATIONS AND IF THE LANDLORD IS SUCCESSFUL IN THAT CHALLENGE, THEY WILL BE PERMITTED TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> CAN YOU SHARE ANY OF THESE SORT OF LOOPHOLES SO PEOPLE CAN BE AWARE?

>> ABSOLUTELY SO ONE CLASSIC LOOPHOLE IS THAT LANDLORDS WILL OFTEN SAY THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ATTEMPT MADE TO PAY THE RENT BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN WHEN TENANTS HAVE PAID IN THOSE PARTIAL SUMS, THE LANDLORDS HAVE REJECTED THE PAYMENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE FULL BALANCE OF THE DEFICIT.

SO IN A SENSE IT GIVES THE LANDLORD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

IF PEOPLE WHO LARGELY ARE REPRESENTED IN COURT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE EXCEPTIONS AND AS A RESULT THEY GO TO COURT AND DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THESE ACTIONS.

>> THAT IS SO HELPFUL CAN YOU TALK LA'MESHIA ABOUT RENTAL AID AND THE DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A MORATORIUM AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SEPARATE PROGRAM THAT'S PROVIDING RENTAL 8 HOW'S THAT WORKING IN WAS THE DISTINCTION OF IMPACT?

>> SURE SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE HOPE PROGRAM THAT I HOPE THAT MANY NORTH CAROLINIANS IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF, BECAUSE FUNDING IS ABOUT TO BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE FOLLOW THE HOPE PROGRAMS, THE HOPE PROGRAM WAS AN EXTENSION OF GOVERNOR COOPER'S DECISION TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL FUNDING.

I BELIEVE IT'S 175 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE HOPE PROGRAM WAS CREATED OUT OF THAT.

BECAUSE THE NEED WAS SO STRONG THEY LITERALLY HAD TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM FOR A MONTH, BECAUSE THAT INFLUX OF APPLICATIONS.

AND SO HERE'S THE OTHER THING, MORE FUNDING, 546.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN RENTAL AID HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR NORTH CAROLINA BUT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A BILL CALLED H-196 IF FOLKS WANT TO LOOK IT UP, HAS MADE IT HARDER FOR THE HOPE PROGRAM TO GET THAT MONEY OUT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

NOW HOPE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF ALL THIS KIND OF LEGAL PAPERWORK, ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, THEY'RE NOW REQUIRING THE HOPE PROGRAM TO MAKE UP ITS OWN ONE STREAMLINED PROGRAM TO SERVICE ALL 100 COUNTIES NOW THE HOPE PROGRAM HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT UNIQUE FOR EACH COUNTY.

AND SO 100 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR ALL 100 COUNTIES.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RED TAPE THAT HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT, WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE FOLKS, THE LEADERS OF THE HOPE PROGRAM AND EVEN THEY SAID THIS IS TOO MUCH.

WE JUST WANT TO STREAMLINE IT, NEED TO GET IT OUT.

THE MONEY IS THERE.

>> AND BEFORE WE GET OUT -- THANK YOU BEFORE WE GET OUT HAVE JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES, I DO WANT TO ADD TALK ABOUT THE RISK OF A FALSE NARRATIVE KIND OF PLAYING OUT BEING REINFORCED DUE TO PERCEPTION OR EVEN A FEW WE'LL SCENARIOS SO YOU KNOW THIS CRISIS HAS CREATED A SITUATION TO FURTHER ENABLE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM.

LA'MESHIA TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT NARRATIVE OUT THERE.

HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S ABSOLUTELY A MYTH.

I MEAN IF WE'RE SITTING ON 546.5 MILLION DOLLARS THAT HASN'T BEEN DISPERSED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO'S TAKING ADVANTAGE?

THE MONEY IS STILL THERE, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE 3 MAJOR ISSUES.

ONE, IT'S GETTING FUNDING ASSISTANCE, RENTAL AID TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND UTILITY SYSTEMS.

TWO, ITS SUPPORTING LANDLORDS, RIGHT?

THAT'S ALSO NEEDING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE BUT THREE, IS THE FACT THAT UTILITY COMPANIES AND LANDLORDS CAN CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THE FUNDING FROM HOPE PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER RENTAL AID.

SO WE HAVE OUR LOCAL ELECTED OUR STATE ELECTED LEADERS WHO ARE REALLY CHAMPIONING AND PUSHING FOR MONEY BEING ALLOCATED, WE'RE ADVOCATING ON THE GROUND HEY LET'S GET THIS MONEY, WE GET THE MONEY, YET THE COMPANIES DON'T TAKE THE MONEY?

THAT'S A PROBLEM IN THE SYSTEM AND A MYTH THAT WE NEED TO DISPEL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ELEVATE WHY DO WE HAVE THE MONEY, WHY IS IT NOT BEING MOVED TO COMMUNITIES AND WHY IS IT ALLOWED THAT UTILITY COMPANIES CAN SAY NO TO THAT FUNDING AND LANDLORDS THE SAME IF IT'S THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL AID.

>> JESSE, IM GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD ON THIS WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.

>> WELL, I ALWAYS LIKE TO DISPEL THIS ONLY BECAUSE ONE THE MONEY FROM THE HOPE PROGRAM GOES TO THE LANDLORD IT DOESN'T GO TO THE TENANT.

NUMBER 2 WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORATORIUM IMPACTS EVERYONE BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORATORIUM ISN'T NECESSARILY GRANT SUPPLEMENTATION.

THE HOPE PROGRAM IS TRYING TO ADD THIS DIMENSION OF RENT SUPPLEMENTATION FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DISPLACED FROM WORK THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

COVID-19 IS A PANDEMIC THAT HAS AFFECTED ALL OF US AND AS A RESULT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVEN AWARDS FOR HOPE FUNDING SHOULD RECEIVE THOSE AWARDS AND ACCEPTED IT CREDIT IT FOR THE TENANT WHO HAS OTHERWISE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THOSE DEFICITS AND MAINTAIN HOUSING.

>> JESSE MCCOY, LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US GREAT INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DOCTOR TRAVIS ANDREWS A LICENSED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND CO OWNER OF ANDREWS, ANDREWS COUNSELING AND CONSULTING PLLC WITH OFFICES IN BURLINGTON AND IN CHARLOTTE.

DOCTOR ANDREWS I WANT TO JUST START BY ASKING YOU TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE STRESSORS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT RECOGNIZE THE TELL THEM THAT IT'S TIME FOR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE FIRST OFF.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SIGNS OF DISTRESS TYPICALLY LOOK AS IF TYPICAL NORMAL BEHAVIORS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OUR NORM.

SO BEHAVIORS OUTSIDE OF OUR NORM.

THOSE BEHAVIORS COULD BE MORE IRRITATION THAN UNUSUAL CHANGES IN HABITS SUCH AS DRESS, GOOD DRESSING, AND YOUR APPEARANCE, EATING HABITS OR SLEEPING.

ALSO TALKING ABOUT FEELINGS OF DESPAIR.

EXCESSIVE WORRYING TROUBLE CONCENTRATING AND EVEN SUBSTANCE MISUSE.

>> WELL, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT PUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER ESPECIALLY UNDER COVID AND DRESSING COMFORTABLY AND FEELING KIND OF LONELY ALL OF THIS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED NATURAL SIDE SYMPTOMS OF COVID BUT I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT SOME SIGNS OF MENTAL DISTRESS THAT WE MIGHT RECOGNIZE IN ADULTS AND KIDS THAT ARE DIRECT RESULT OF RACISM.

>> YEAH, FAR AS ADULTS IT'S MORE OR LESS FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND DESPAIR AND A SENSE OF YOUR CONFIDENCE DEPLETING FROM JUST BEING WHO YOU ARE AND SELF-DEFEATING TALK, SUCH AS "I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH" OR NEGATIVE THINGS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME AND THESE ARE RESULTS OF RACISM.

SO MUCH, SOCIETY HAS PLACED A PICTURE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WHICH THAT WE ARE INFERIOR.

WE ARE FEARED.

WE ARE ANIMALS AND ANYTHING I DO IS NOT CORRECT.

AND THOSE TYPES OF NEGATIVE DEPICTIONS MAINLY DUE TO SOCIETY, PLACES A TOLL ON US PSYCHOLOGICALLY IN WHICH OUR CONFIDENCE DROPS OR LESSENS.

OUR SAME DRIVE AND MOTIVATION IS NOT THERE SOMETIMES AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN, SIMILAR SYMPTOMS FAR AS NOT CONCENTRATING, TROUBLE FOCUSING, VERY IRRITABLE ANGRY OUTBURSTS AND A LOT OF ISOLATION.

SO MANY TIMES OUR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING MISDIAGNOSED.

SOON AS A CHILD MAY BE HYPERACTIVE OR NOT CONCENTRATING OR FOCUSING, THEY TEND TO LABEL THEM AS ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER.

HOWEVER, THE ROOT OF A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE COMING FROM TRAUMA.

TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE AND THAT ADULTS AND CHILDREN ARE FACING ON A DAILY BASIS IN SOCIETY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE TRAUMA, SO IF YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING SOME DIRECT COMMENTARY THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER RACIST WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SOURCES OF THIS TRAUMA THAT CAN BE AFFECTING ONE'S MENTAL WELLNESS?

>> TRAUMA ARE EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES THAT EFFECT US.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALL HAVE FACED SOME TYPE OF TRAUMA OR THE SEVERITY OF THE TRAUMA DIFFERS FROM INDIVIDUALS EXAMPLES OF TRAUMA COULD BE ABANDONMENT FROM A CAREGIVER A DIVORCE IN A HOUSEHOLD, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, CONSTANTLY WATCHING OUR PEOPLE BEING KILLED AND MURDERED ON TELEVISION.

WATCHING AND VIEWING THESE IMAGES CAN BE DISTRESSING FOR US ALL AND WHEN I THINK OF TRAUMA, I TELL LOT OF MY PATIENT THINK OF TRAUMA AS THIS - IMAGINE THE SAND ON THE BEACH, SO IF I TAKE MY HAND AND MY HAND CAN REPRESENT THE TRAUMA THAT I MAY FACE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RACISM, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IN FACT TAKE MY HAND AND IMPRINT IT IN THE SAND AND RELEASE IT, THAT IMPRINT IS STILL THERE.

AND THAT'S THE EFFECT THAT TRAUMA HAS ON OUR BRAIN.

IT WOULD NEVER GO AWAY.

SO OUR JOB IS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IS HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH THIS AND STILL BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN IN SOCIETY?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THERE HAVE TO BE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN NOT ONLY FIND THE ASSISTANCE BUT ALSO AFFORD THE ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT.

PEOPLE THINK THIS IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

>> YES, THAT'S VERY TRUE.

HOWEVER, A LOT OF A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS TAKE INSURANCE WITH A LOT OF ONE A ON A SLIDING SCALE FEE.

THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

WE HAVE SOME OF OUR STARS IN SOCIETY HAVE THE FREE INIITIATIVES FOR INDIVIDUALS.

SO IT'S JUST ABOUT REACHING OUT AND TAKING OUR TIME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MAY HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR THERAPIST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE FIRST TIME DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE NEXT -- DO YOUR RESEARCH.

LOOK FOR WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND DOCTOR TRAVIS ANDREWS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

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