>> RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY IS GENEROUSLY BROUGHT TO IN PART BY -- >> UNI.

>> YOU AND I.

>> YOU AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEET.

>> BECAUSE WHAT I TREAT -- >> IS SO RARE.

>> BUT IF YOU NEED ME -- >> I'M HERE.

>> I AM HERE.

>> I AM HERE.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A POLITICAL DEBATE FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS, AND HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, IT IS ABOUT TO GO UP AGAIN, BUT FOR MANY, WILL IT BE ENOUGH?

>> WHAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE LIVING WAGE?

>> SOMEWHERE AROUND $17.50, $18 AN HOUR DEPENDING ON THE JOB.

>> TONIGHT, ONE YEAR LATER, A LOOK BACK AT THE STORIES WE'VE COVERED AND THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET.

>> WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

>> THESE FAMILIES.

I CAN'T SLEEP AND STAY-AT-HOME AND HAVE A DAY OF RELAXATION KNOWING THAT MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP AND THESE FAMILIES ARE DESPERATE, AND I HAVE A SIMPLE MACHINE THAT CAN GET THEM INFORMATION AND PUT THEM AT EASE.

>> DID YOU GET DEATH THREATS?

>> THERE WERE DEATH THREATS.

PEOPLE SAYING, HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

HE IS A MURDERER FOR DENYING THAT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE IS USEFUL.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL IS OFF THIS WEEK.

UP FIRST, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RHODE ISLANDERS WILL SEE A SLIGHT BOOST IN THEIR PAYCHECKS NEXT YEAR.

IN JANUARY, THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE WILL GO UP FROM $11.50 AN HOUR TO $12.25 PER HOUR.

PROPONENTS HAVE LONG BEEN ADVOCATING FOR $15 AN, HOUR BUT, OPPONENTS SAY THE WAGE HIKE COMES AT A TIME WHEN BUSINESSES ARE GRAPPLING WITH INCREASED LABOR COSTS.

THOSE WHO EARN MINIMUM WAGE OR CLOSE TO IT KNOW THE SACRIFICES INVOLVED WHEN MAKING SO LITTLE.

>> I DON'T SLEEP MUCH.

I DON'T EAT MUCH.

MY PLANTS AND FISH HAVE DIED, BUT I AM PAYING MY BILLS AND DOING WHAT I CAN.

>> EDDIE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO HUSTLE.

HE WORKS TWO JOBS AS A SECURITY GUARD.

HE SAYS HE AVERAGES 90 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK.

>> THAT IS NOT INCLUDING TRAVEL TIME, AND IT TAKES ME AN HOUR TO GET TO MY SECOND JOB.

>> BABBITT WAS EARNING $12.85 PER HOUR WORKING SECURITY AT AN EVENT VENUE.

HE RECENTLY SAW HIS PAYCHECK GO UP TO $15 PER HOUR.

WHILE HE IS MAKING MORE THAN RHODE ISLAND'S CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE, HE SAYS IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

>> GAS WENT UP.

ALL MY BILLS KEEP GOING UP.

I NEEDED A SECOND JOB.

>>>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INFLATION IS DRIVING UP THE COST OF LIVING, FROM HOW MUH YOU PAY AT THE PUMP TO THE GROCERY STORE.

SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS ARE HURTING PRICES.

THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS INFLATION IS AT THE HIGHEST IT HAS BEEN IN MORE THAN A DOZEN YEARS.

WHAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE LIVING WAGE RIGHT NOW?

WITH THE WAY PRICES ARE, SOMEWHERE AROUND $17.50, $18 AN HOUR.

>> THE MINIMUM WAGE IN RHODE ISLAND IS NOT INCREASING BY THAT MUCH, BUT IT IS GOING UP FROM $11.50 PER HOUR TO $12.25 PER HOUR IN JANUARY.

IT WILL INCREASE INCREMENTALLY EVERY YEAR UNTIL IT REACHES $15 AN HOUR COME 2025.

GEORGIA HOLLISTER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR HIGHER WAGES FOR YEARS.

>> I THINK THE POLITICS IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE SHIFTED, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH MORE AND MORE FOLKS RUNNING FOR OFFICE ON THESE BOLD IDEAS, ESPECIALLY AROUND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, COLOR.ALLY WOMEN, PEOPLE OF >> SHE IS THE RHODE ISLAND REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE RHODE ISLAND FAMILIES PARTY.

SHE SAYS LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME AMERICANS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO GET RAISES WHILE THE RICH CONTINUE TO GET RICHER.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE WHERE THE POWER IS CONCENTRATED AT THE TOP WHERE CORPORATE INTERESTS HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER OUR POLITICS AND ECONOMICS, AND THEY HAVE HOARDED THE GOODS FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY'VE RIGGED THE SYSTEM POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE DECLINE OF LABOR ORGANIZING.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, PROTESTERS HAD BEEN MARCHING FOR HIGHER WAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY POINT TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE.

IT IS $7.25 PER HOUR.

IT HAS NOT GONE UP SINCE 2009.

THAT IS THE LONGEST THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS GONE UNCHANGED SINCE IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED.

>> THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 STATES WHERE IT IS $7.25.

>> THIS PROFESSOR IS THE CHAIR OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT BRYANT UNIVERSITY.

HE SPECIALIZES IN LABOR ECONOMICS.

IN RHODE ISLAND, THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS GONE UP SEVEN TIMES SINCE 2013.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT 2015 WHEN THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS SEVEN DOLLARS PER HOUR TO 2015, AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THAT BECOMES HARD FOR A BUSINESS OWNER TO ABSORB.

CHRISTOPHER CARLO Z IS THE RHODE ISLAND DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS.

HE SPENT YEARS LOBBYING AT THE STATEHOUSE AGAINST RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> WENT SOMETHING LIKE A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE HAPPENS, YOU DO SEE THE WAGE SCALE CHANGE, AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE MAKING MORE, THEY WILL SEE LESS HOURS.

THEY MAY >> END UP WITH LESS TIME AND LESS MONEY IN THE PAYCHECK.

ABOUT 28,000 PEOPLE MAKE MINIMUM WAGE.

BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL EARN MORE MONEY IN THE COMING YEARS AS IT KEEPS CLIMBING.

>> PEOPLE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE WILL GET A RAISE IMMEDIATELY.

PEOPLE WILL GET A RAISE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN $15 GET A RAISE, AS WELL.

>> NEARLY ONE IN FIVE EMPLOYEE RHODE ISLAND RESIDENTS EARN LESS THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR.

WITH PRICES RISING, EVEN AN INCREASE TO 15 MILES PER HOUR WOULD BE A WASH. >> YOU CAN'T GIVE US MORE MONEY AND EXPECT US TO SPEND MORE.

>> PROFESSOR KIM SAYS THERE IS CONFLICTING RESEARCH ABOUT HOW RAISING WAGES FOR LOW-PAID WORKERS AFFECTS THE ECONOMY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, DOES IT RESULT IN JOB CREATION OR JOB LOSS?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

THIS ISSUE MAKES IT CONTROVERSIAL.

>> THERE IS NO CLEAR ANSWER.

>> NO.

>> BECAUSE THE ECHO WE CAN'T PREDICT.

>> IN CERTAIN CASES IT CAN RESULT IN JOBS BEING CREATED, AND ANOTHER CASES, JOB LOSS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> A STUDY FOUND A $15 FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO JOB LOSS IN LOW WAGE STATES.

MEANWHILE, A REPORT BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATED THAT INCREASING WAGES TO $15 PER HOUR BY 2025 WOULD CAUSE 1.4 MILLION AMERICANS TO LOSE THEIR JOBS WHILE LIFTING 900,000 AMERICANS OUT OF POVERTY.

>> SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC LIKE RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES THAT OFTEN HAVE MINIMUM-WAGE JOBS.

WILL IT IMPACT THEM MORE AS PEOPLE START TO SHOP MORE AND DYING MORE -- DINE MORE?

WILL YOU SEE THOSE NEW JOBS CREATED?

>> HISTORICALLY, WHICH PEOPLE TEND TO WORK THESE MINIMUM-WAGE JOBS?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 160 MILLION WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

1% OF THOSE WORKERS ARE EARNING MINIMUM WAGE.

THE CHARACTERISTIC, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE YOUNG.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE FEMALE, WOMEN, AND ALSO THOSE WORKERS WHO DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND NONWHITE WORKERS.

>> CRITICS SAY IT LEADS TO HIGHER PRICES, BUT OTHERS SAY THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>> WE HAVE LOTS OF DATA WHERE THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS GONE UP TO $15 PER HOUR.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD DATA ON THIS.

IN GENERAL, PEOPLE DON'T LOSE JOBS.

I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS A GOOD RESULT OF INCREASING THE WAGES OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU ARE MAKING $15 PER HOUR INSTEAD OF $11.50 IS YOU MIGHT NOT WORK THREE JOBS.

YOU MIGHT WORK TWO OR ONE AND A FEW HOURS ON THE WEEKEND.

>> IT IS NOT A REALITY BABBITT CAN IMAGINE ANYTIME SOON.

HE HAS TWO ADULT CHILDREN HE HELPS FINANCIALLY, ALONG WITH OTHER RELATIVES, PLUS AN ASSORTMENT OF BILLS.

>> YOU GO FROM CHECK TO CHECK.

>> WORKING LONG HOURS, HE SAYS, HAS REQUIRED SACRIFICES.

>> I DIDN'T SEE MY KIDS GROWING UP.

>> WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?

>> I SLEEP HERE OR THERE, MAYBE A TWO HOUR NAP.

IT FEELS LIKE ALL NIGHT.

I'M USE TO IT.

IF I AM STUCK IN A RUT, I AM GOING TO KEEP DOING IT.

>> THEY SAY $15 IS NOT ENOUGH, BUT IT IS A STEP CLOSER.

>> IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WORKING PEOPLE NEED, AND BY THE TIME WE GET THERE, WE WILL HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT INCREASES FOR THE COST OF LIVING.

>> THE GUILD WAS INITIALLY LAUNCHED AS A HIGH-END FACILITY TO PRODUCE BEER FOR MICROBREWERIES.

IT HAS EXPANDED TO THREE LOCATIONS IN THE STATE AND EMERGED AS A NATIONAL SUCCESS STORY.

IT HAS BEEN CITED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE VALUE OF MICRO BUSINESS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE ROAD HAD SOME HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY.

WHEN HE SAT DOWN WITH THE BREWERY'S OWNERS, THEY NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY WANTED TO SERVE.

>> WE UNDERSTOOD MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT AUTHENTIC PERFORMANCE.

WE SEE THAT FROM FOOD TO FARM TO TABLE.

>> ABOUT FOUR YEARS LATER, WE WERE TALKING OVER A BEER ABOUT THE MARKETPLACE AND CRAFT BEER IN GENERAL AND THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH WE WERE SEEING.

THIS WAS ABOUT 2012, AND WE RECOGNIZED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WITH ALL OF THIS GROWTH, PEOPLE WERE RUNNING INTO CAPACITY ISSUES.

THEY WERE ALSO HAVING CAPITAL ISSUES.

>> THOSE ISSUES PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KELLY AND DUFFY TO DEVELOP A FACILITY THAT COULD PROVIDE LARGE-SCALE MANUFACTURING FOR CRAFT PRODUCTS DESIGNED BY SMALLER BREWERS.

THEY PUT TOGETHER A BUSINESS PLAN, OBTAINED INVESTORS, AND BEGAN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING A PROPERTY THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HUMONGOUS TANKS, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND, BUT IN 2015, THE BUILDING IN PROVIDENCE WENT UP IN FLAMES.

WITH FINANCIAL INVESTORS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD, THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET CAME FORWARD WITH AN OFFER THEY COULDN'T REFUSE.

>> THE CITY SAID, WE THINK WE HAVE A LOCATION FOR YOU.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ROOM FOR TANKS AND GROWTH.

IT HAD THE CAMPUS THAT ALLOWED US TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND SAID, THIS COULD WORK.

WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY.

WE STARTED DOWN THAT PATH.

>> BY 2017, THE GUILD WAS BREWING IN PAWTUCKET WHERE TODAY THEY ARE A NATIONAL POWERHOUSE IN THE BREWERY INDUSTRY, PRODUCING MORE BEER THAN THE NEXT 30 LARGEST RHODE ISLAND BREWERIES COMBINED.

>> ON A DAILY BASIS, WE MAKE UPWARDS OF 100,000 CANS OF BEER.

ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, $60,000.

>> FROM A PRODUCTION STANDPOINT, WE GOT SHOT OUT OF A CANNON.

IN 2020, THE TOP 2050 -- 250 IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT IS OUT OF 8700.

>> THEIR PRODUCTION INCLUDES AWARD-WINNING BEERS.

BEYOND THEIR MANUFACTURING BUSINESS MODEL, THE GUILD HAS EMERGED AS A POPULAR DESTINATION, A PLACE TO DRINK, EAT, LISTEN TO MUSIC, AND ENJOY COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE NOT EGOTISTICAL AND SAYING THEY ARE JUST COMING HERE FOR THE BEER.

CRACKS IN 2020, AS PART OF GOVERNOR RAIMONDO'S TAKE IT OUTSIDE INITIATIVE, THE GUILD WON A BID TO OPEN A BEER GARDEN IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE.

THE POP UP GARDEN WAS SUCH A SUCCESS THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO RETURN FOR THE WARMER MONTHS OF 2021.

THEN AFTER A SETBACK BECAUSE OF COVID-19, THE GUILD OPENED A BRAND-NEW LOCATION IN WARREN, RHODE ISLAND.

>> WARREN IS THIS INCREDIBLE UP-AND-COMING TOWN, INCREDIBLE FOOD CULTURE.

THIS, BETWEEN THE FOOD CULTURE AND THE WATER AND THIS AMAZING BUILDING THAT FEELS MORE LIKE OUR BEER HALL IN PAWTUCKET.

>> THEY SEE THEIR OPERATION AS PART OF A WAVE OF MICRO ECONOMIES THAT ARE COMBINING TO FORM THE BEDROCK OF RHODE ISLAND'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOU GO FOR THE HOME RUN.

THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS MOVES IN.

THE BACKBONE OF THE RHODE ISLAND ECONOMY AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS THE SMALL BUSINESS.

IF YOU ADD TO THE ECONOMIC INPUT , FROM A HIRING PRACTICE TO PRODUCTION TO ACTUALLY VISITORS, IT HAS BECOME A POWERFUL THING.

>> THOUGH THEY ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING NATIONAL BUZZWORTHY -- NATIONALLY BUZZWORTHY, THEY CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON RHODE ISLANDERS.

>> IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

THE MORE WE CAN BRING PEOPLE ACROSS BORDERS, RHODE ISLAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DESTINATION.

IF WE CAN HAVE ANY SMALL PART IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN, WE WILL BE HAPPY.

>> FINALLY, WE LIKE TO NOTE A MILESTONE FOR RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH OUR BROADCAST PREMIERED IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

AS COVID-19 BECAME THE STORY OF OUR LIFETIMES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER ITS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

FROM EDUCATION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FACING CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL INEQUITIES, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH US AND WITH YOU.

HERE ON OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET AND THE STORIES WE TOLD.

>> IT IS A WAY TO HELP ME HERE.

IT CAN ALSO HELP MAKE OTHERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

>> I'M AFRAID MY DECOMPOSING BODY WILL FIND ITSELF BACK IN THE GROUND FOR ALL THE HORRORS OF MY BODY SENDING CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE, FEAST UNDER THE MOONLIGHT, WAIT UNTIL THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT, AND I AM LEFT IN BANDAGES LIFELESS AGAIN.

I AM BUT A WALKING CORPSE MASQUERADING AS THE LIVING.

>> YOUR SCHOOL WAS BEHIND YOUR HOUSE.

>> WE JUST JUMPED OVER THE FENCE.

>> YOU ARE NEVER LATE TO SCHOOL?

>> I WAS LATE TO SCHOOL.

[LAUGHTER] >> HOW WERE YOU LATE TO SCHOOL?

>> WE CAME AS REFUGEES, AND REFUGEES HAVE NEVER STOPPED COMING TO AMERICA.

THE LAWS WERE THEM KEEPING BACK.

I FEEL STRONGLY TODAY, WHETHER IT IS IN SYRIA OR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, WHEREVER IT IS, WE NEED TO BE A PLACE THAT WELCOMES REFUGEES.

>> BY MARCH, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC FORCED GREENE TO MAKE ANOTHER DIFFICULT DECISION.

>> MARCH 16, 2020, AND WE MADE A DECISION TO SHOW -- CLOSE DOWN SCHOOLS.

WE MOVED THE APRIL BREAK.

>> MIAO IN THE DAYS OF COVID, THE WHOLE THING HAS BEEN BLOWN UP.

ARE YOU NOT IN A BETTER POSITION TO MAKE CHANGES THEN YOU WERE BEFORE?

>> OUR FIRST STORY IS ONE THAT ALL OF US AT RHODE ISLAND PBS HOPED WE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO REPORT.

OUR FRIEND BILL RAPLEY DIED ON JANUARY 7 AFTER BATTLING CANCER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> ♪ MAGGOTS IN THE BAG ♪ 3, 2, 1.

>> YOU'VE BEEN WORKING 10 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

>> THESE FAMILIES.

I CAN'T SLEEP AND STAY-AT-HOME AND HAVE A DAY OF RELAXATION KNOWING THAT MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP AND THESE FAMILIES ARE DESPERATE.

>> THIS CRAZY EXISTENTIAL MADNESS, THE WAY WE GET THROUGH IT IS IDENTIFICATION.

THE WAY IS TO COMMUNICATE AND TRIED TO CONNECT AND DECONSTRUCT AND TRY TO UNRAVEL AND TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF SOMETHING THAT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

>> FOR ARTISTS, FINDING THAT CLARITY AND MAKING SENSE OF IT IS A LIFELONG PURSUIT.

>> I AM AN EMOTIONAL PERSON.

I CAN CRY AT A BAD TV SHOW WITHOUT HESITATION.

>> FOR A LOT OF RHODE ISLANDERS, ESPECIALLY LONGTIME FANS OF THE PAWSOX, THE IDEA OF THE WOOSOX IS A JOKE, A BETRAYAL.

THIS IS ALSO A CLASSIC BASEBALL STORY.

>> FOR WORCESTER FANS, IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

>> IF YOU SAW WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE AND WHAT IS HERE NOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT IS IN WORCESTER.

IT IS ALMOST BETTER THAN FENWAY PARK.

>> IT IS GOING TO BRING SOME GOOD MONEY INTO THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY LEFT PAWTUCKET, BUT PROBABLY LIKE YOU SAID, THE NEW STADIUM.

>> RHODE ISLAND'S LOSS IS WORCESTER'S GAME.

>> MORA DECIDED TO STOP -- SWITCH TO RUNNING ON BIODIESEL PLEADED SHE DRIVES A VOLKSWAGEN WITH A DIESEL ENGINE.

>> THE CONVERSION OF THAT FUEL IS DONE FOR YOU.

INSTEAD OF ME PUTTING IN VEGETABLE OIL, IT IS CONVERTED TO FUEL.

>> AND IT IS LEGAL.

>> IT IS LEGAL.

IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU ARE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING GOOD THINGS.

>> IN THE FOURTH GRADE, MY TEACHER WAS HISPANIC.

HE ASKED EVERYONE TO TELL THEIR ETHNICITY, SO I JUST SAID BLACK BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS CALLING ME BLACK ALL THE TIME.

HE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I SAID, I KNOW I'M INDIAN, BUT NOBODY WILL BELIEVE ME.

HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT ACTUALLY VALIDATED WHO I WAS.

>> I LEARNED FROM A VERY EARLY STAGE THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND.

NOT EVERYONE IS LIKE ME.

THAT IS NOT A BAD THING.

WHY SHOULD I BE PROUD OF BEING A RHODE ISLANDER?

WHEN I GO TO SCHOOL, EVERYTHING IS GREAT ABOUT RHODE ISLAND.

YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY IN THIS SPACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO DEAL WITH SOCIETY AROUND YOU.

>> IT WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE WASN'T WORKING, BUT THE SENATOR WHO HELD AT THE HEARING WAS TRYING TO USE IT AS A WAY TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

>> DID YOU GET DEATH THREATS?

>> THERE WERE DEATH THREATS, THINGS LIKE PEOPLE SAYING, HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

HE'S A MURDERER FOR DENYING THAT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE IS USEFUL.

>> SHE BELIEVES IT IS HER MISSION TO GET THE TRUTH OUT, AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE UNSPEAKABLE, MADE MORE IMPORTANT BY THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO DENY THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SOME PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A HOLOCAUST.

I WANTED TO TELL IT WAS TRUE.

HOWEVER, I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

IF YOU DON'T TELL AND EDUCATE PEOPLE, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> MY PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BE ENERGETIC AND LET THE MUSIC SPEAK THROUGH ME.

>> I DON'T MAKE A SOUND.

I AM MORE LIKE -- LESS LIKE A TRAFFIC COP AND MORE LIKE, HOPEFULLY, A MUSICAL AND SPIRITUAL GURU WHERE WE ARE LEADING PEOPLE TO THE END RESULT AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE COME ON BOARD WITH THAT.

>> THAT MIGHT KILL ME IN THE SUBWAY OF MY MIND OR FROM ACROSS THE SIX FOOT DIVIDE, AND FOR WINTERGREEN TOSSED IN MY BASKET AT THE LAST SECOND, THEIR HOSPITALS SENT SUDDENLY SYNONYMOUS WITH THE DEATH AND PANDEMIC.

IT IS MY HEART.

I AM A RELENTLESS RESIDENT OF LOVE THAT GROWS TO A TOWERING PROPORTION IN THE ABSENCE OF THOSE WHO ARE STOLEN OR WHO SLIPPED AWAY.

IT IS MY HEART WHICH COUNTS YOU AND ME AMONG THOSE WHO GET TO STAY.

PAMELA: THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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