Episode 28 - Police Repression in Chicago and Transphobia in Philly

DJ Ev Daddy and Matt Graber are back together on Radio Against Apartheid, amplifying voices for justice and equality in the Middle East on West Philly's community radio station, WPEB 88.1 FM.

On this week's show, we first have several news items:

- An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the House was voted down last week, 113-303. The amendment would have called for an immediate end of military operations in Afghanistan, and funds to be committed only to ensure a safe and swift withdrawal from the country.

- Last week, The United States sold weaponized predator drones to the government of Iraq to patrol their oil fields.

- Amidst a shadow war being waged by the United States and the government of Yemen, a blast on Monday, May 21 killed close to 100 people and wounded over 300. Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack.

- In the occupied territories, on Saturday, May 19th, settlers from the Itzhar settlement attacked the Palestinian village of Asira al-Qabliya. First, settlers set fire to the Palestinians' fields. Then, one settler shot a Palestinian in the head as Israeli soldiers stood idly by.

- On Sunday, May 20th, over 30,000 Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to mark Jerusalem Day, or the March of Flags. The holiday marks the 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem, and the unification of the city, for Israelis. The annexation has never been recognized by international law, and East Jerusalem remains occupied territory.

Then, we speak about the NATO summit this past weekend in Chicago. Thousands took to the streets to confront military leaders of NATO, and demand an end to the US war machine. The demonstration was met with brutal police violence and repression, with protesters being clubbed over the head and hit in the faces with billy clubs by the Chicago police department. We speak with two people who were there over the weekend, Ajaye Hill and Taylor Gunsauley.

Finally, we speak with Chairwomyn Ahuviya Harel ahead of next week's Trans Health Conference in Philadelphia. During the Equality Forum protests here in Philadelphia, Ahuviya was met with transphobic threats of violence. Nurit Shein, the Executive Director of the Mazzoni Center - Philadelphia's leading provider of health services to the LGBTQ community - voiced support for these threats, and belittled Ahuviya on May 3, 2012. We speak with Ahuviya about the incident, and why she supports Palestinian rights, as well as cis-gender privilege.