The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights

In this episode commemorating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, we delve into the pivotal 1964 campaign that aimed to register African American voters in Mississippi and the Deep South and challenge systemic racial barriers. We will explore the courageous efforts of activists, the profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing struggle for voting rights in America. Through conversation with advocates and activists, as well as historians and academics, we will reflect on the legacy of Freedom Summer and its relevance today in the fight for a more equitable democracy. This episode will honor the past and address the continuing quest for justice and equality through the ballot.

S07 E08: Freedom Summer at 60: The Fight for Voting Rights Continues

With the historic and high stakes 2024 presidential election upon us, Americans must be vigilant in protecting their right to vote. Modern day voter suppression takes on various forms. It can look like voter roll purges, which often disenfranchise people of color and other marginalized groups. It can be the dangerous spread of misinformation and disinformation, which aims to confuse or deter voters from participating. This episode explores how these tactics have been used in recent elections and equips listeners with education and resources to recognize voter suppression campaigns. We sit down with voting rights and democracy experts one-on-one to get the latest. By staying informed and engaged, Americans will ensure that their vote counts in this critical election and that our democracy is preserved.

S07 E10: Protecting the Vote, Preserving Democracy

This episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reflecting on its profound impact in dismantling legalized segregation, securing voting rights, and expanding protections against discrimination. It explores the victories it represented for marginalized communities and how it catalyzed further reforms in education, housing, and employment. As we celebrate this anniversary, however, we also dive into the ongoing challenges to civil rights. We examine new threats to a fair and equitable democracy from initiatives like Project 2025—an extremist agenda and wish list for a conservative administration that seeks to roll back vital civil rights protections. With attacks on affirmative action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and reproductive justice on the rise, we highlight the persistent inequalities and barriers to justice that remain. We discuss the history, the setbacks, and the continued urgency to defend and expand civil rights in today’s politically polarized landscape.

S07 E09: Civil Rights Act at 60 and Project 2025

June has been designated a month of awareness for several civil rights causes and constituencies. From LGBTQ Pride and Stonewall to Caribbean American Heritage and Juneteenth, the month reminds us of our ongoing efforts to achieve an America as good as its ideals. And as June is also designated Black Music Appreciation Month, we know that whatever the civil rights fight, music has been the soundtrack and a catalyst for change. Gospel’s freedom songs like "We Shall Overcome" gave voice to the struggle for racial equality in the 1950s and 60s, accompanying marches, rallies, and sit-ins. Today, hip hop music has become a powerful medium for championing the underserved and holding the powerful accountable on issues like police violence. This episode will explore music as a tool for resilience, solidarity, and activism as we advance all movements for justice and equality.

S07 E07: Music and the Movement

In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, this podcast episode delves into the sobering reality that, sixty years later, American schools remain starkly separate and profoundly unequal. Despite the Supreme Court's historic declaration against racial segregation in 1954, data reveals a troubling trend: over half of the nation’s students find themselves in racially concentrated districts, where segregation persists, and educational resources vary widely along racial and socioeconomic lines. Data also shows that as our Black and Brown students are denied educational opportunities, they are disproportionately represented within the criminal legal system, demonstrating a school to prison pipeline. As such, upon the anniversary of Brown, we must reckon with our separate and unequal history that continues to plague us today and determine how we reach the promise of educational equality. This episode serves as a critical reminder that the fight for equal education is far from over and urgent action is needed to address the ongoing legacy of segregation in our schools.

S07 E06: Brown v. Board at 70: Still Separate, Still Unequal

For our courts to work for all of us, our judges should reflect and represent the diversity of our society. Federal courts have been slow to include judges of color, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and judges from varied legal backgrounds, including those with civil rights experience. However, recent judicial appointments are changing that. Newly confirmed judges have broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings by desegregating courts that have never had a judge of color or a judge from their background serve before. And nearly half of the lifetime confirmations during this administration have been former public defenders, civil rights lawyers, and others who have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to protecting civil and human rights. We must build upon this success. For example, we need more federal judges who are Latino/a, judges with known disabilities, judges who are LGBTQ+, judges who are Native American, and judges with experience in civil and human rights. This episode will consider how we achieve meaningful demographic and professional diversity among our nation’s judges. It will explore how diversity on the bench leads to fairer decisions, increased confidence in our legal system, and a stronger democracy.

S07 E05: Building a Diverse Judiciary

February is Black History Month and an opportunity to consider the state of the Movement for Black Lives. Last year, we observed the 10-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, which compelled three Black women to turn a Black Lives Matter hashtag into a social movement. And this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, which renewed demands for police accountability and reform across the country. In the decade since, we have come to “say their names” and many more, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This episode will discuss the progress and evolution of the Movement For Black Lives, which is not only taking on police violence, but other inequities impacting Black lives, such as health disparities and economic insecurity.

S07 E04: The State of Black Lives

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The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights launched “Pod for the Cause” podcast to expand the conversation on critical civil and human rights challenges of our day: census, justice reform, policing, education, fighting hate & bias, judicial nominations, fair courts, voting rights, media & tech, economic security, immigration, and human rights. Through this expanded dialogue, we want to spur activism that drives change in our communities and country. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the show on your favorite podcast app and leave a 5-star review.

S07 E08: Freedom Summer at 60: The Fight for Voting Rights Continues

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Kanya Bennett

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