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Jaws of Justice Radio
It is the intention of Jaws of Justice Radio to investigate how to achieve justice in America, this includes issues of economic injustice, political injustice and the criminal justice system. We want to put a human face on those caught in the grasp of injustice and those that are part of an unjust system. We strive to dispel the misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system.
For our show on September 18th, host Bev Livingston begins the hour speaking with Johnny Waller, Jr., CEO of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Clear My Record Expungement Program.
Criminal records are part of justice for victims of crime and hardship confronted by ex-cons is seen as part of their choice in committing acts of violence, theft or fraud. On the other hand, forgiveness can be a powerful thing. So now, at a time of historic and deadly crime, the Kansas City Mayor and Council are working to clear criminal records for those who have served their sentence and completed probation.
On September 14th, Kansas City Missouri government passed a Resolution Recognizing National Expungement Week in Kansas City for September 17 – 24, 2023, so that awareness can be raised about the importance of expungement.
The Resolution clearly states that approximately 1.8 million people in Missouri have a criminal record; and that Kansas City is committed to creating a fair and equitable justice system; and that many residents of Kansas City with a criminal record continually face significant barriers in employment, housing, and societal participation due to lingering criminal or municipal ordinance convictions. The Resolution upholds the process of expungement, which involves the sealing of criminal and ordinance violation conviction records, in order to provide a fresh start for individuals, allowing them to fully participate in our community and contribute to our local economy.
Now, the first Friday of every June will be observed as “Kansas City Expungement Day,” recognizing the importance of providing second chances to individuals with criminal records through the process of expungement. The Resolution states that our guest, Johnny Waller, Jr., CEO of UMKC’s Clear My Record Expungement Program, is a recognized leader in assisting residents navigate the expungement process is a recognized leader in assisting residents navigate the expungement process on Kansas City Expungement Day and every day throughout the year.
https://clearmyrecordmo.org/index.php/get-started
After our calendar, in the second part of our hour, I will speak with Jeff Stack, a self-employed public educator from Columbia MO who helps coordinate the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation and Halo Benson, an advocate for Julien Assange and Wikileaks. All over the world, activists and volunteers have been hard at work to bring awareness to Assange’s prosecution and the continued threat to free press. Halo Benson, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who created these amazing seed kits!
https://assangedefense.org/press-release/assange-activist-sends-support-kits-across-the-u-s/
On Jaws of Justice, we examine how to find justice in our society. Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
Calendar for the week of September 18th:
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri provides free civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable people in Jackson CTY Missouri. Interested individuals can call 816-474-6750 to apply.
- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a very active group of Mothers and others. You can learn where their virtual meetings this week will occur at https://momsdemandaction.org/events/
- TUES, Sept. 19th, 11 AM, Writing Group at the DARE Center for the Homeless, 944 Kentucky, Lawrence KS. “poets, rappers, songwriters and dreamers” If you have questions about the writing group, contact Brian at DARE.
- TUES, Sept. 19th, 5 – 8 PM, Culture Night at the Southeast Community Center, 4201 E 65th Street, KCMO, Heart of America Indian Center / KC Indian Center *Free *Taco Bar *Door Prizes *Youth & Cultural Activities *Voter Registration *Indigenous Foods *Activities for the whole family
- THURS, Sept. 21st, 10 – 11 AM, Empower Missouri’s Community Justice Coalition is a multi-sector team of dedicated advocates who envision a future without mass incarceration. They invite you to join their virtual meeting. For the access link, go to https://empowermissouri.org/events/september-21st-community-justice-coalition-meeting/
- THURS, Sept. 21st, 5 – 7 PM, Hope and Healing for Survivors of Homicide will meet at 3200 Wayne AVE, KCMO. Contact 816)912- 2601 for information. Follow social media for KC Mothers in Charge for updates.
- THURS, Sept. 21st, 6 PM on Zoom, Reexamining Justice: How Restorative Principles Can End the Death Penalty in Kansas. Hosted by KS Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Free event Panelists Todd Lehman and Celeste Dixon will explore the question of justice in regards to homicide and what insights can be learned from reexamining justice in light of restorative principles. How does the death penalty compound the loss experienced by the family of the murder victim? Could restorative principles along with public safety through incarceration be a better alternative to our current system which ends in another death? Mr. Lehman is the Executive Director of Offender Victim Ministries. Ms. Dixon’s mother, Marguerite, was murdered in Texas. The offender was sentenced to death and ultimately executed. Both bring their significant experiences to this important topic. This is an excellent opportunity to explore other more life-giving responses to homicide than our current “eye for an eye” approach. To register, send your name and address to [email protected] For further information, email your question to [email protected] or call 785-235-2237.
- SAT, Sept. 23rd, 9:30 AM – 4 PM, Community Remembrance Projects across the state are documenting and memorializing the eras of enslavement, racial terror lynching, and segregation and fostering meaningful dialogue around repair. We look forward to being together for a day of remembrance and repair focusing on the many ways our nation’s current era of mass incarceration is deeply rooted in America’s history of racial terror. Please join us for the 1st Annual Conference of the Community Remembrance Project of Missouri: Reckoning, Remembrance, and Repair: Racial Terror from Slavery to Mass Incarceration at the Black Archives of Mid-America, 1722 East 17th, KCMO. Register at https://crp-mo.org/calendar
- A list of services, meals, and hot lines specific to sheltering are available at https://lawrenceprogressivecalendar.blogspot.com/ It is updated daily.
Stay safe. Thanks to all our listeners, stay close to your dial and stay well! We will now return to our show …
