This is an interview with Rev. Craig B. Mousin, an Adjunct Faculty member of the DePaul University College of Law and the Grace School of Applied Diplomacy. This podcast links the loss of homes felt by many of the freed slaves after the Civil War, including George Floyd’s great-great grandfather, with the loss of home many refugees face when forced to flee their nations due to state sanctioned violence and the consequences of the breakdown of the rule of law. We face challenges both at our borders, but also when we contribute to the conditions that force families to flee their homes. We need to address ways to provide the rule of law and justice for all. The story of George Floyd’s family history and the loss of his great-great grandfather’s 500 acres comes from Toluse Olorunnipa and Griff Witte, “Born with two strikes, How systemic racism shaped Floyd’s life and hobbled his ambition,” https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/george-floyd-america/systemic-racism/
Senn High School, located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, is one of the most diverse high schools in the nation. Its students and their families speak over 80 languages and claim over 60 nations as their birth homes. Congratulate its graduates and learn more about our neighborhood high school at: https://www.sennhs.org
Frederick Douglass’ call for simple justice comes from David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass Prophet of Freedom, (N.Y., 2018), 558-59.
Rev. Garrison Frazier and the black leaders’ activism in Savannah, Georgia comes from Eric Foner, Reconstruction, America’s Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877, (N.Y., 1988), 70.
Action Steps:
Information about the Community Renewal Society’s Juneteenth film screening of “Crawford: The Man the South Forgot,” can be found at: https://www.communityrenewalsociety.org/events/juneteenth-film-amp-discussion You can find some of the current programs CRS sponsors to seek simple justice toda at: https://www.communityrenewalsociety.org/platform?sectionscroll=just-economy
Information on the National Immigrant Justice center and the “We Are Home” campaign, can be found at: https://immigrantjustice.org/press-releases/civil-rights-groups-send-letter-dhs-secretary-calling-meaningful-opportunity-return
Information of the proposed Berta Caceres Human Rights Act of 2021can be found at: