Women’s Spaces Radio Show with host Elaine B. Holtz and guests Susan Lamont on the Memorial Gathering for the Birthday of Andy Lopez (2000-2013) and Monique Alcala on the National Organization of Women (NOW) – 50 Years of the Feminist Voice. has been uploaded to the web archive. The show was broadcast in the North Bay and streamed worldwide over Radio KBBF 89.1 FM on Monday 5/31/2021 at 11 AM, repeats at 11 PM on KBBF, and then repeat broadcasts in Petaluma and streamed worldwide over Radio KPCA 103.3 FM on the following Wednesday 6/2/2021 at 11 AM.
Read description of the show and bios of the guests, see links referenced on the show and the playlist, on its archive page at:
http://www.womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSA21/WSA210531.html
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Memorial Gathering on Andy Lopez’s (2000-2013) Birthday June 2nd
National Organization for Women (NOW) – 50 Years of the Feminist Voice
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Featuring
Click the Name to access the Segment below
1. Susan Lamont, local activist on police accountability
2. Monique Alcala, Chief of Staff at the national office for the National Organization for Women (NOW)
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1. Our first guest, Susan Lamont, reminds us that this Wednesday, June 2nd, Andy Lopez, whose life was taken by bullets fired by Sonoma County Sheriff Deputy Eric Gelhaus at the age of 13 while walking with a plastic toy gun, would have turned 21. A Memorial Gathering will assemble at Andy’s Unity Park in southwest Santa Rosa with Potluck beginning at 4pm. Susan explains how Andy’s death prompted the community to get serious about oversight of police after years of ignoring the California Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission report in 2000 on Sonoma County’s need for law enforcement oversight. The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) was formed by the County Supervisors in response to Andy’s killing. IOLERO was given more subpoena powers with Measure P that passed with a sizeable majority after the George Floyd killing by police in Minneapolis in 2020. It matters when citizen activists take to the streets and show up at County Supervisor and City Council meetings to voice their concerns.
About our Guest: Susan Lamont is a longtime peace and social justice activist, who is currently affiliated with Sonoma County’s Green Party, Police Brutality Coalition and Veterans for Peace. She is also a writer, poet, and photographer. I have to say she is an amazing writer and photographer. Susan I am happy to say is a regular guest and was my first guest on my television show in 2004.
Guest Links:
Susan Lamont fb: https://www.facebook.com/susan.lamont.12
Andy Lopez Community fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1463022127256745
Andy’s Unity Park: https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Andys-Unity-Park/
Women’s Spaces Shows about Andy Lopez are listed on the Home Page, scrolled down to its section: http://www.womensspaces.com/#AndyLopez
Community Concerns About Law Enforcement in Sonoma County by California Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission report in 2000: https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/sac/ca0500/ch1.htm
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2. Our second guest, Monique Alcala, shares her path to the National Organization for Women (NOW), beginning with awareness of the need for Women’s Rights and then progressing to engagement as a volunteer. She talks of the Core Issues of NOW, as stated on its website: “NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights. Our priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women’s health issues; opposing racism; fighting bigotry against the LGBTQIA community; and ending violence against women.” Monique addresses the problem of women trashing other women, citing an article by Jo Freeman, Trashing, The Dark Side of Sisterhood. Monique, and Elaine as President of the Sonoma County Chapter of NOW, encourages young women to get involved with NOW that carries national clout with the activist’s voice.
About our Guest: Monique Alcala is the Chief of Staff at the national office for the National Organization for Women (NOW), the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. Prior to joining NOW, she served as the Coalitions Director for the Biden-Harris campaign in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Monique has been a longtime advocate for diversity in politics and focuses her work to center and uplift diverse constituencies. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive experience in strategic outreach, project management, coalition building – including in rural, urban, and suburban areas – political fundraising, and campaign management.
Monique is currently an advisory member of the Virginia People’s PAC, an initiative which aims to diversify campaign staff in senior level roles. She is a Political Partner at Truman National Security Project. Her area of expertise is on race/ethnicity, inequality, and political participation.
Guest Links:
NOW website: https://now.org/
Sonoma County Chapter of NOW, which meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month: http://nowsonoma.org/
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Herstory
Our history is our strength. Check out important dates to remember in herstory at the National Women’s History Alliance
Herstory Events:
May 31, 1928 – Sonia Pressman Fuentes, NOW co-founder, first woman attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal agency that was established via the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to administer and enforce civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.
Herstory Birthdays:
May 31,1824 (1902) -Jessie Benton Fremont, writer and political activist, as the wife of military officer, explorer and politician John C. Fremont, she aided his explorations, documented their travels, and played an active role in California and national politics.
May 31,1912 (1997) – Chien-Shiung Wu, renowned physicist, first Chinese-American elected to National Academy of Science (1958), first woman elected President of American Physical Society (1975), received National Medal of Science (1975).
May 31,1924 (1985) – Patricia Harris, lawyer and ambassador, first African-American woman to hold a Cabinet position, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (1979-83), serve as an Ambassador (Luxembourg, 1965), and head a law school (Howard University, 1969)
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Announcements
Wednesday, June 2, 2021, begins at 4 pm with Potluck, Memorial Gathering for Andy Lopez (2000-2013) Birthday, who would have turned 21, at Andy’s Unity Park, 3399 Moorland Avenue (at W. Robles), Santa Rosa.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021, Sonoma County Chapter of NOW monthly meeting via Zoom. See website for details. http://nowsonoma.org/Events.html
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Sunday, June 20, 2021 5ist Annual MLK/Juneteenth Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion in Sonoma County, this year by zoom. Before the pandemic it has been held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Santa Rosa. The zoom event is free, family oriented and open to the public. Registration will occur at www.sonomacountyjuneteenth.com
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Music Selections
The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced – Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix on 12/1/2014 and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 11/24/2021.
The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Women’s Wax Works) – www.alixdobkin.com
Blowing in the Wind, sung by Cecilia from the album Cecilia Inedita – En Concertos (Remastered) (Familia Robledo Galanas Rama Lama, S.L. [De Las Presentes], Memasterrizaciones)
Standing on the Shoulders sung by Earth Mama from the album Earth Mama Love Large (1966 Rouse House, LLCC)
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For music purchasing opportunity:
Women's Spaces 