Clarinetist Anthony McGill #TakesTwoKnees For Social Justice Reform & Inspires Classical Music To Take Notice
Anthony McGill is the first Black principal player in the New York Philharmonic. He performs Sunday, September 20, 2020 for the Denver Friends of Chamber Music, then joins in a conversation about music and social justice with The Spirituals Project at The University of Denver. McGill’s Facebook post performing “American The Beautiful” in a minor key and then kneeling at the end has inspired other artists to #TakeTwoKnees to promote racial and social justice within the classical music and arts community.
By Carl Bilek
Bigger Police Budgets Don’t Necessarily Mean Safer Cities, Denverite Finds
Denverite’s David Sachs reports on the city’s plan to shrink the police budget, and how that relates to public safety.
By Carl Bilek
Democrat Isaac ‘Ike’ McCorkle Hopes To Unseat Republican Incumbent Ken Buck In Colorado’s 4th Congressional District
The veteran and single father from Parker is running in a district that includes communities reliant on oil and gas and farming. It has also been safely red.
Muralist Wins $10,000 For His Project About Indigenous Women
Artist Gregg Deal painted a 77-foot-tall mural in Colorado Springs to share a message about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in this country.
Elijah McClain’s Name Is Now A Rallying Cry For Reform
Investigations of alleged misconduct by Aurora police continue a year after the death of Elijah McClain.
By Carl Bilek
Rep. John Lewis’ Reflections On The Civil Rights Movement At Aspen Ideas Festival
The body of Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon, will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol next week. According to NPR, a public viewing will take place outdoors — because of the pandemic. Representative Lewis died last Friday at age 80. Six years ago, he was at The Aspen Ideas Festival to mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Lewis recounted how his eyes opened to racism at an early age, followed by a call to action. This audio is courtesy of the Aspen Institute.
By Carl Bilek
Dr. Anthony Fauci On COVID-19 Vaccine Development, Contact Tracing, And Frustrations For Doctors
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases. It’s clear in media reports that he and President Trump don’t readily agree on the severity of the pandemic. As that plays out on the national stage, Dr. Fauci recently spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. It was held virtually this year due to the pandemic. CNN’s senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen asked him questions. Today we share an excerpt of that discussion, focusing on the effort to come up with a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the challenges of contact tracing, and why the virus is especially frustrating for doctors. Audio is courtesy of the Aspen Institute.
By Carl Bilek
Madeleine Albright Talks About New Memoir, State Of The World Today
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s new book is “Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir.” She recently spoke about it, and the state of the world today, with her colleague and friend, Ambassador Nicholas Burns, at the Aspen Ideas Festival. This audio is courtesy of the Aspen Ideas Festival, presented by the Aspen Institute.
By Carl Bilek
The Latest On COVID-19 In Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis said Thursday, “this is the summer of no parties.” He also strongly encouraged Coloradans to wear masks in public. His comments underscored why it’s a slow process to reopen the state. Economists say recovery is still a long way off. And among the workers who face uncertain futures are teachers. We want to hear from educators as the fall semester approaches.
By Carl Bilek
Protesters Continue Calls For Justice For Elijah McClain
The weekend brought more demonstrations calling for justice for Elijah McClain while three Aurora police officers were fired.
By Carl Bilek
‘Hecho En Colorado’ Is More Than Just An Art Exhibit
“Hecho en Colorado” is a new exhibition at History Colorado in collaboration with the Latino Cultural Arts Center.
By Carl Bilek
Colorado Springs Moves Forward With Police Accountability Committee
Colorado Springs is the latest city in the state to move forward with police reform in the push for racial social justice. This week, the city council voted to create a commission to oversee police transparency and accountability.
The Scene In Denver Thursday Night As Protesters And Police Clashed
“My face is on fire,” DU professor Apryl Alexander describes her experience at the protests Thursday night in Denver when things turned chaotic. And, Denverite’s Donna Bryson reported from the scene and talks what the days ahead could hold. Read the Denverite team’s reporting on the protests here.
‘Radioactive’ Inspired By Health Workers Who Risk Their Lives During The Pandemic
The winner of Denverite’s flash-fiction short story content says she was inspired by the doctors, nurses, and health care workers who risk their lives to treat COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.
By Carl Bilek