Juneteenth, Iran, and Our Collective Struggle for Freedom

Our theme this week is freedom: the struggle for it, the forces holding us back from achieving it, and the contradictions that groups inevitably negotiate on their path to self-determination, sovereignty, independence, and autonomy.

Last weekend, Naptown was filled with Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations. Despite attempts to “co-opt” Freedom Day, our Naptown Breakdown argues it represents a starting point to educate ourselves and others about the reality of the Civil War and the present state of Black people in the U.S. Locally, the state of Black oppression was recently on display in the IMPD’s recent and brutal assault on Devin Hunt. The cops had the audacity to respond to the assault, which was captured on several cameras, with a series of outright lies. We review some of those lies uncovered in an analysis (see show notes).

Lindsey Holtgrave, a lead organizer with ANSWER Indiana, joins the show for an interview about two emergency protests her group organized against war with Iran last week. In addition to discussing the role of the U.S. anti-war movement, we debunk some myths circulating about Iran and explain why we refuse to participate in Iran’s demonization. Along the way, we outline some points of unity between Iran’s struggle against U.S. imperialism and our own, including Iran’s support for the Black movement in the U.S.

Shaka A. Shakur joins the episode for his segment, “Dispatches from Behind the Wire.” In this segment, Shaka calls for prisoner solidarity, explaining why unity between prisoners and between our people on the outside and the inside is needed now more than ever.

Finally, Dani previews upcoming actions before giving our second Circle City Shout Out to Michael Torres, AFSCME Local 3395 Union President and longtime library worker.

 

Show Notes

Video Evidence Captures IMPD Assault on Devin Hunt: https://indyliberationcenter.org/impd-assault-devin-hunt

ANSWER Coalition - Indiana: https://www.AnswerIndiana.org

Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign: https://www.shakashakur.org

Demonstrators Gather in Broad Ripple, Downtown Indianapolis after U.S. Executes Airstrikes in Iran: https://fox59.com/news/demonstrators-gather-in-broad-ripple-downtown-indianapolis-after-u-s-executes-airstrikes-in-iran

Trump is Failing at Everything. We Must Hope he Succeeds against Iran: https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/06/19/trump-iran-war-strike/84265811007

Shaka A. Shakur: Seizing on the Contradictions of Juneteenth: https://indyliberationcenter.org/juneteenth-contradictions

A People’s Victory: Racist CEO Jackie Nytes Resigns! https://indyliberationcenter.org/a-peoples-victory-racist-ceo-jackie-nytes-resigns

Public Forum Brings Shared Experiences and Support Together: https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2021/07/22/indianapolis-public-library-systemic-racism-discussed-public-forum/7908151002

To learn more, stay updated, and get plugged into the socialist struggle visit PSLIndianapolis.org. If you're interested in joining the PSL visit PSLweb.org/join. To get involved in the movement, visit the Indianapolis Liberation Center (online at IndyLiberationCenter.org), a home we share with other progressive organizations in the city, including the Indiana Black Librarians Network, Arte Mexicano en Indiana, Cultivate Indy, the Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign, and others!