The Rick Smith Show

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 22, 2015

Vaughnette Goode-Walker is the President of the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah, Georgia and she discusses slavery and the early organizing that took place in the South.

Phil LaPorte is the Director of Labor History at the University of Georgia and he discusses labor's involvement in funding the Civil Rights Movement.

Charlie Fleming is the President of the Georgia AFL-CIO and he gives the show some perspective on Georgia's labor history. 

Eric Robertson is the Political Director for Teamsters Local 728 and he talks about the Civil Rights history in Georgia.

Ben Speight is the lead organizer for Teamsters Local 728 and he talks about the history of labor's organizing in the South.

Richard Ray is the Georgia AFL-CIO President Emeritus and he explains how some of the prominent Civil Rights Leaders from Atalanta and the Labor Movement worked together during the Civil Rights movement and up until this day. 

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 21, 2015

Chester Dunham is a Savannah Celebrity from the Dunham Report and he joined the Peoples Tour to talk about his experience in the local labor and civil rights movements.

Gerald Spaulding is a port truck driver in Savannah, Georgia who is tired of getting ripped off at work.  He explains what it is like to be the first member of his family to ever be a part of a union drive. 

Floyd Cohens has been trucking for over 40 years and talks about his prior organizing experience with freight and container drivers and why he joined the Teamsters organizing drive.  

Carol Cauley is a port truck driver and she explains what it is like when employers want employees living off of government assistance.

Jerome Irwin is an organizer with Teamsters Local 728 and he explains the importance of organizing port truck drivers

John Jackson is a 25 year veteran and he explains why he's joining a union movement.

Robert Whittington is a project manager and he explains how port truck drivers have been getting screwed out of wages and why they're finally fighting back.

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 18, 2015

William Saunders was an organizer of the famous 1969 SEIU 1199B Healthcare Workers Strike at the Medical University of South Carolina.  He explains how the organizing process that happened in the two years leading up to the strike. 

Louise Brown was a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina and was one of twelve nurses fired for insubordination that sparked the four month strike.

Jack Bradford was the local SEIU 1199B vice president and he shared his stories about his time working at the Medical University of South Carolina and what it was like participating in the 1969 strike.

Kerry Taylor is a local labor historian from The Citadel and on the fast part of our tour through Charleston, Kerry recalls the city's early history, Denmark Vesey's planned slave rebellion, how Hampton Park was used during the Civil War and the liberation of Beaufort, South Carolina.

In our second segment with Kerry Taylor, a historian from The Citadel, we dive into Charleston's rich labor history.  Besides the 1969 healthcare workers strike at the Medical University of South Carolina, Kerry talks about some of Charleston's other important labor actions, especially the 1944-1945 American Tobacco Cigar Factory Strike, which was the origin for the famous "I Shall Overcome" protest song.

Christine G. Nelson was a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina and she explains how little has changed in the 45 years since the famous strike.  She was fired from her job for insubordination, but luckily she has been able to land work with the International Longshoremen Association.  

Pastor Thomas Dixon, community organizer and co-founder of The Coalition (People United to Take Back Our Community), explains how the Fight For 15, Public Transportation and Black Lives Matter are part of the modern Civil Rights Movement taking place in Charleston, South Carolina

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 17, 2015

James Andrews President of the North Carolina AFL-CIO joins Rick on the People’s Tour for America to discuss his experiences during the Civil Rights Era and what the Labor community has done to help fight for rights for all workers. 

Rebecca Cerese, Director of the documentary February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four joins Rick to discuss the film and share the story of one of history’s most important moments.

Erin Mckee, President of the South Carolina AFL-CIO joins Rick to talk about culture shock associated with moving to South Carolina and what her organization is doing to advance Civil and Worker’s rights. 

Dr. George Hopkins, President of Charleston Chapter of the South Carolina Progressive Network joins Rick to talk about the grassroots progressive movement that is growing in South Carolina.

James Felder, Author and Civil and Voting Rights Activist joins Rick to share his experiences and talk about his book about South Carolina’s history of struggle from the days in the streets to the victories in the courtroom.

Brett Bursey, Executive Director of the South Carolina Progressive Network tells Rick about the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House and the amazing woman who was viewed by many as the matriarch of the civil rights movement in South Carolina.

Civil Right Tour Holiday Encore Full Three Hour Show for December 16, 2015

From the road in North Carolina. We visited the Historical Stagville plantation site in Durham, The Beloved Community Center and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, NC. 

Listen it each individual interview by click on the guests name.

Claude Barnes, Researcher at the Jubilee Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina joins Rick to talk about his being elected to student body president as a write-in candidate and how that event turned into he and his classmates being tear gassed and some arrested.

Stephanie Cobert, Managing Director of Historic Stagville takes time to sit down with Rick to talk about the largest plantation in North Carolina history and their mission to keep the history alive.

Beverly McNeill, President of the Stagville Foundation takes Rick on a walk through the slave quarters being maintained on the Historic Stagville Plantation. 

Joyce Johnson Co-Director of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro NC shares her courageous story as a young girl from Richmond, VA going away to college at Duke University as one of the first African-American women in the school’s history and all of the struggles she has seen.

Lewis Brandon, Grassroots History Coordinator at the Beloved Community Center sits down with Rick to share his story of being a part of history joining four fellow North Carolina A & T sit in of the lunch counter in Greensboro.

Nelson Johnson Executive director Pastor of the Faith Community Church joins Rick to talk about Labor’s involvement in the Greensboro area and the victories workers have had in North Carolina. 

Richard Koritz, Solidarity Representative for APWU and a Board Member at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum joins Rick to talk about the Civil Rights Center and Museum and shares his family’s history of standing up for workers and equality. 

Full Three Hour Show for December 15, 2015

Mark Price, Labor Economist at the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to look back at the year that was in Pennsylvania’s economy and look to 2016 with higher hopes.

Will Bunch, author of The Bern Identity joins Rick to talk about the recent release of his book on Senator Bernie Sander’s, the run for the White House, and work to organize a political movement to change America for the better.

Chelsea Parsons, Vice President of Gun Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss a new report, “Framework for Action” she has co-authored on how states can prevent gun violence and cut down on gun related crimes.

Doug Cunningham, Worker’s Independent News joins Rick to highlight the news that is important to workers across the nation. 

Mark Price Brings the Optimism for the New Year

Mark Price, Labor Economist at the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to look back at the year that was in Pennsylvania’s economy and look to 2016 with higher hopes.

Will Bunch Feeling the Bern, Writes the Book

Will Bunch, author of The Bern Identity joins Rick to talk about the recent release of his book on Senator Bernie Sander’s, the run for the White House, and work to organize a political movement to change America for the better.

Chelsea Parsons on Guns

Chelsea Parsons, Vice President of Gun Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss a new report, “Framework for Action” she has co-authored on how states can prevent gun violence and cut down on gun related crimes.

Doug Cunningham Brings the Labor News

Doug Cunningham, Worker’s Independent News joins Rick to highlight the news that is important to workers across the nation. 

Full Three Hour Show for December 14, 2015

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, a candidate for the US Senate joins Rick to share what his weekend experience in NYC at the Pennsylvania Society Gala and to talk about his campaign.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk budget, budget, budget and what the prolonged impasse is doing to institutions of higher learning across the commonwealth.

Tyler Cherry, Researcher at Media Matters joins Rick to discuss his latest article on many right wing talkers revolting against the GOP leadership over talk of a brokered convention.   

Robin Lowry, PhD, Wister Elementary School teacher joins Rick to talk about Tuesday’s scheduled protest against a proposed charter takeover at John Wister Elementary School in Philadelphia.  Wister parents voted by a 2-to-1 margin to reject the proposed charter conversion and to maintain control of their community based neighborhood school.

Kathleen Jeskey, 6th grade teacher in the Portland, Oregon area joins Rick to talk about the threats of termination she encountered from her school superintendent as she attempted to opt-out of administering her school’s high stakes test and the positive responses she’s received from fellow teachers and parents. 

Beth Dimino, 8th grade science teacher from Long Island, New York joins Rick to share her experience of refusing to administer her school’s high stakes test and found an administration, while not supportive, did not attempt to threaten and intimidation for her stance.

John Fetterman on Pennsylvania Society Gala in NYC

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, a candidate for the US Senate joins Rick to share what his weekend experience in NYC at the Pennsylvania Society Gala and to talk about his campaign.

Kevin Mahoney, It's Raging Chicken Monday

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk budget, budget, budget and what the prolonged impasse is doing to institutions of higher learning across the commonwealth.

Tyler Cherry Talks GOP Panic & Right Wing Lunacy

Tyler Cherry, Researcher at Media Matters joins Rick to discuss his latest article on many right wing talkers revolting against the GOP leadership over talk of a brokered convention.   

Robin Lowry talks Saving Local Public Schools

Robin Lowry, PhD, Wister Elementary School teacher joins Rick to talk about Tuesday’s scheduled protest against a proposed charter takeover at John Wister Elementary School in Philadelphia.  Wister parents voted by a 2-to-1 margin to reject the proposed charter conversion and to maintain control of their community based neighborhood school.

Beth Dimino takes a Stand Against High Stakes Testing

Beth Dimino, 8th grade science teacher from Long Island, New York joins Rick to share her experience of refusing to administer her school’s high stakes test and found an administration, while not supportive, did not attempt to threaten and intimidation for her stance.

Kathleen Jeskey stand up kids in the face of threats

Kathleen Jeskey, 6th grade teacher in the Portland, Oregon area joins Rick to talk about the threats of termination she encountered from her school superintendent as she attempted to opt-out of administering her school’s high stakes test and the positive responses she’s received from fellow teachers and parents. 

John Neurohr talks Why Courts Matter

John Neurohr, co-chair of the Pennsylvania chapter Why Courts Matter joins Rick to discuss the GOP obstructionism that is holding up confirmation of judicial nominees to the nation’s courts and what it is doing to the judicial system.

Full Three Hour Show for December 11, 2015

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to review the economic year that was and examine the prospects for the coming year, not just in the US but globally from Europe to China to Latin America.

John Neurohr, co-chair of the Pennsylvania chapter Why Courts Matter joins Rick to discuss the GOP obstructionism that is holding up confirmation of judicial nominees to the nation’s courts and what it is doing to the judicial system.

Former Congressman, Admiral Joe Sestak joins Rick from the Capital steps in Harrisburg where he is handing out food and clothing to those in need to talk about how the budget impasse is harming workers and communities and what he believes should be done.

Isaiah J. Poole, Online Editor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about what’s happening with a “Buy American Provision” in the latest transportation bill and what that means for workers.

Eric Epstein, Reporter at Rock the Capital joins Rick to talk about the Pennsylvania budget debacle and whether or not the reported coup is taking place.  The Big Pennsylvania Society Ball has begun, who will be at the party?

 

Bethany Khan, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy for UNITE HERE Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas joins Rick to talk about the recent victory by workers at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas who voted to joins a union for better wages, hours, and conditions. 

Joe Sesatk on #PABudget from the Capital steps

Former Congressman, Admiral Joe Sestak joins Rick from the Capital steps in Harrisburg where he is handing out food and clothing to those in need to talk about how the budget impasse is harming workers and communities and what he believes should be done.