Editor’s Note: Building on the success of its  MORAL MONDAY LABOR RADIO HOUR WITH REV. DR. WILLIAM BARBER & BOB HENNELLY, the Pacifica Radio Network is launching real time coverage of the seminal live events from the 2024 election cycle starting with the June 29th “Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington, D.C. and the polls.”

The live coverage of June 29th will be hosted by Jenna Flanagan, award winning news anchor and investigative journalist, as well as the former host of PBS WNET's MetroFocus. The live coverage starts at 9 a.m. and runs until the end of the march at 2 p.m. There will be call-in segments at 212-209-2877.

This summer, the Pacifica Radio Network will also cover the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 15-18 and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Aug. 19-22. Live coverage runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST each night of both conventions. PRN will also provide live election night coverage on Nov. 5.

With the support of the Poor People’s Campaign, Columbia University researcher Robert Paul Hartley conducted a study of the 2016 electorate that zeroed in on the performance of the low wage voter cohort and found a majority of them did not vote. When they were surveyed they explained they didn’t turn out because they didn’t hear candidates discuss issues that had any relevance to their lives.

“They’re saying that they’re not voting because people are not speaking to their issues and that they’re just not interested in those candidates,” Hartley, told the New York Times. “But it’s not that they couldn’t be.”

Pacifica’s Network extends into states like New Mexico, where 40.36 percent of the electorate are low-wealth and low-wage voters, as well as Florida where voters in this cohort make up over 43 percent of the enfranchised population.

“Pacifica is honored to be working with Rev. Barber and the Poor People's Campaign to increase the engagement of the nation’s low wealth and low wage households who for too long have been marginalized from the nation’s civic life,” said Stephanie Wells, Pacifica’s executive director when announcing the launch of The Moral Monday Labor Radio Hour. 

“We are looking forward to working with Pacifica to help ensure these authentic voices are heard as we engage in a robust debate about the future of our nation in the face of challenges posed by rampant militarism and an accelerating climate crisis that hits these communities hardest,” said Rev. Dr. Barber. 

Pacifica is also receiving significant support from some of the nation's largest labor unions including the American Federation of Government Employees, led by Dr. Everett Kelley. AFGE represents 750,000 workers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

"AFGE is proud to support the Pacifica Radio Network’s We Decide-America At The Crossroads 2024. No one knows better than our 750,000 members in all 50 states that voter education, engagement and empowerment is the foundation of a thriving democracy,”

“1199 SEIU is proud to support this collaboration, which we expect will encourage local social justice and labor activists to play a vital role in this pivotal election upon which our future hinges,” said George Gresham, president of 1199 SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare union with a half million members. 

“32 BJ SEIU was the first sustaining contributor to support The Moral Monday Radio Labor Hour and we are excited by this national launch,” said Manny Pastreich, president of 32 BJ SEIU, America’s largest building services union with 175,000 members in 11 states and  Washington D.C.

Other sustaining sponsors include the Transport Workers Union of America, led by John Samuelsen, representing 155,000 workers in airline, rail, and transit  industries, along with universities, utilities and tourism.

"We judge politicians not by their party affiliation, but by their level of support for working men and women," Samulesen said.  "That means creating good union jobs and supporting the right to union representation. That’s why the TWU strongly supports this effort to engage working people in the electoral process and to raise their voices so they are heard."

In addition to support for Pacifica national program cycle, several unions have committed to sustaining contributions to support WBAI including United Steelworkers Nurses Local 4-200, CWA-NJ, and  DC 37 Local 3621, representing FDNY's EMS officers.

Bob Hennelly is the executive producer of this series and is currently the interim program director as well as general manager at WBAI, Pacifica Radio in New York City. His email is GM@wbia.org. Keziah Glow will be co-producing out of WBAI, Master Control in New York City. She can be reached at  Keziah@wbai.org

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