Author: Abby Martin

Empire Files: The Sacrifice Zones of Hurricane Harvey

Empire Files: The Sacrifice Zones of Hurricane Harvey

Posted by | Oct 19, 2017 | , , , |

In this second installment of special coverage Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath, Abby Martin explores how the petrochemical industry dominates the city and why its low-income, Black and Latino areas are in the highest-risk areas for flooding and pollution, earning them the name “sacrifice zones.” Abby explores Houston’s unique lack of zoning and regulations that maximized the impact of the storm, the “fence-line communities” deliberately put in harm’s way, inhumane treatment of incarcerated people in the disaster, and how the ownership of the city by Big Oil puts thousands of lives in peril. Featuring interviews with Dr. Robert Bullard, professor of...

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Empire Files: After Hurricane Harvey, Abandoned Community Takes Charge

Empire Files: After Hurricane Harvey, Abandoned Community Takes Charge

Posted by | Oct 16, 2017 | , , , , , |

After a flurry of media attention, the devastation in Houston, Texas from Hurricane Harvey faded from public view. But after unprecedented floods and widespread destruction, the story is far from over. In Part 1 of her investigation, Abby Martin travels to Houston one month later, and visits one of the most devastated neighborhoods. Victims there give harrowing testimony about nearly drowning and having zero assistance to this day from local or state officials. This first installment reveals the untold stories of how, while abandoned by the state, the community banded together to save lives and rebuild their...

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Empire Files: Rosa Clemente & Abby Martin – No Savior in 2020

Empire Files: Rosa Clemente & Abby Martin – No Savior in 2020

Posted by | Oct 13, 2017 | , , , |

Renowned Afro-Latinx activist and scholar Rosa Clemente sits down with Abby Martin to discuss her experiences running for Vice President, organizing under Obama versus under Trump, advice for new activists, identity politics and more. In the face of a resurgent far-right movement, backed by unleashed reactionary state forces, Clemente gives valuable insight into the challenges, strategies and tactics for a new era of...

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Israelis Speak Candidly to Abby Martin About Palestinians – Empire Files

Israelis Speak Candidly to Abby Martin About Palestinians – Empire Files

Posted by | Oct 2, 2017 | , , |

On the streets of occupied Jerusalem, Abby Martin interviews Jewish Israeli citizens from all walks of life. In several candid interviews, disturbing comments reveal commonly-held views about Palestinians and their future in the region. Israeli-born human rights activist Ronnie Barkan explains why these attitudes dominate Israeli...

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Voices From The Anti-Trump Resistance – Empire Files

Voices From The Anti-Trump Resistance – Empire Files

Posted by | Sep 25, 2017 | , |

On September 16-17 a major national gathering was held in Washington, D.C. called the People’s Congress of Resistance, a broad and diverse coalition of organizers and community leaders formed to build the class-struggle wing of the anti-Trump movement. Abby Martin was there to share the voices that are silenced by both the Democratic Party and the mass media, and to ask participants about fear and resistance in the Trump...

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