You’re listening to the Brooklyn, USA podcast, an occasional audio love letter from Brooklyn to Black people -- and our non-Black allies only. Each episode of our show is lurking a different corner of life in Brooklyn, collecting stories, sounds and scenery of the people and places that make it home. And until we get exactly what we want, we’ll be pumping our fists at the intersection of stand up and fight back on a corner we’ve been calling 19,20. This week we’re comin' straight from the underground:

“It Just All Feels Wrong”
by Sachar Mathias, Shirin Barghi and Ross Tuttle
[00:01]

In the weeks following George Floyd’s killing, protesters across the US have taken to the streets to demand an end to systemic racism and police brutality, which saw hundreds arrested, beaten, pepper sprayed and violently tackled in a span of a few days in New York and beyond.
In this episode, we hear from a protestor arrested in Brooklyn, we talk to three experts about the proposed solutions to reform policing, and we speak to a politician fighting to cut the budget of NYPD.

“Different Parts of Life”
by Khyriel Palmer
[29:27]

Nigel Findlay was exposed to police brutality at six years old when he saw his father get slammed down in front of him and handcuffed because he looked like a suspect. Now he is a young Black security guard for Con Edison, and as the movement for Black Lives continues to sweep the nation, he shares what’s on his mind.

“A Dot On A Map”
by Emily Boghossian
[44:24]

 ShotSpotter is the largest gunshot detection system in the world. Installed in more than 90 cities across the United States, the technology alerts police dispatchers to suspected gunfire. In March of 2015, the NYPD installed 300 audio sensors in precincts in Brooklyn and the Bronx as part of a pilot program. As the mass uprising continues to sweep the nation today, we talk to some experts keeping a wary eye on the policing tech company.

“Very Old, Very Large, Complex”
by Sriyanka Ray
[61:01]

Lauren Katzman is a staff attorney in the criminal defense practice of the Legal Aid Society. In this episode, she talks about pandemic life behind bars. 

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“Weekend Weather with Junior Meteorologist Giff City” was produced by Emily Boghossian, Taylor Cook, and Lauren Germain. Brooklyn USA’s “Messages From Over Here” are produced by Voltron.

If you have something to say and want us to share it, all you have to do is...

1. Call (917) 719-0021 to reach our Voicemail Box
2. Tell us your name, neighborhood, email (we’ll edit this out – just want to know how to reach you!)
3. Tell us any and all of the things that you need or want to say.

• It can be a story, a joke, a secret, or a fact.
• It can be something that you overheard from six feet away, or have been thinking about, worrying about, or a thing that made you smile.
• It can be a way that you're coping with, processing, and navigating this moment, and what you’re hoping that the next one holds.
• It can be a movie recommendation, a book you love, a self care tip or breathing technique that you’re finding very useful...
• or anything else that you want to share with the world!

 
And if you’d rather just record yourself and send it in, just...

1. Open up your phone’s Voice Memos / Voice Recorder app and hit RECORD.
2.  Follow Steps 2 & 3 (from before).
3. Email the audio file to brooklynusapodcast@gmail.com.

 
We’re here when you need us, and we can’t wait to hear from you.
 
See you on the other side, in Brooklyn, USA.

Brooklyn, USA is produced by Sachar Mathias, Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Khyriel Palmer, Mayumi Sato and Charlie Hoxie.

For more information on this and all BRIC Radio podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio.