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Podcasts Take Two
LAUSD School Police, African American Mental Health and Suicide Rates, Police Reform
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Jun 24, 2020
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LAUSD School Police, African American Mental Health and Suicide Rates, Police Reform

Defunding the school district police, why suicide amongst Black youth is on the rise, police reform according to someone with decades of experience.

LAUSD police car at Mark Twain Middle School on Monday, the first day of a policy to have a police officer visit every school in the district at least once a day.
LAUSD police car at Mark Twain Middle School on Monday, the first day of a policy to have a police officer visit every school in the district at least once a day.
(
Brian Watt/KPCC
)

LAUSD School Police

The Los Angeles Unified School Board met Tuesday to talk about proposals that would defund the school police or cut the department's budget. It was a long meeting with emotional testimony from both sides but board members could not get behind a single proposal to move forward with.

Guest:

  • Carla Javier, KPCC reporter

African American Suicide And Mental Health

When Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch were found hanged, some expressed disbelief that a Black man would hang himself from a tree. Now Harsch's family says he did take his own life. KPCC's Robert Garrova looked into the suicide rate among African Americans and find the suicide rate is rising among Black youth.

Police Reform: Connie Rice

Los Angeles continues to struggle with what to do with law enforcement in response to the many protests about police violence against people of color. Some, like Black Lives Matter L.A. co-founder Melina Abdullah told us that she supports abolishing the police and reallocating its budget towards social programs in the community. Meanwhile, others have told us about their ideas for reform that could get people trusting the LAPD and others. Today, we continue our series on how to remake policing with someone who's had decades of experience already getting the LAPD to reform.

Guest:

  • Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and former member of President Obama's task force on 21st Century policing. She's also a life trustee of Southern California Public Radio's board

On the Lot

Over 300 Black artists and executives sign a letter calling for sweeping changes in Hollywood. Plus, welcome to the future! An A.I. robot has been cast as the lead in a $70 million. Sci-Fi Film. Let's go On The Lot.

Guest:

  • Rebecca Keegan., Senior Editor of Film for The Hollywood Reporter