Coming up next on The Exchange, we take a look back at an historical event that still shapes our lives today.
We talk to a Morningside alumnus who took part in the civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery Alabama more than 50 years ago.
Also we catch up with some of news from the Iowa legislature. That and more after this news.
You’re listening to The Exchange on Siouxland Public Media. I’m Mary Hartnett. Today will take a look back at the Selma civil rights march. We’ll also have some music. But first, the details of two controversial bills the Iowa legislature passed last week.
On Wednesday, the Iowa House gave final approval to a measure that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The other bill passed late last week greatly expands second amendment rights in Iowa.
The bill would allow children to use handguns under adult supervision, enhance existing "stand your ground" laws, create an avenue for Iowans to sue cities or counties that enact gun-free zones, legalize short-barreled rifles and shotguns and allow permit-holders to carry handguns in the Capitol. Speaking at his weekly news conference in Des Moines today, the governor didn’t go as far as saying he would sign the bill.
John Wills Republican Representative from Spirit Lake says the bill was meant to make Iowa safer.
John Wills
That was Republican State Representative John Wills from Spirit Lake in Dickinson County.
You’re listening to the Exchange on Siouxland Public Media. I’m Mary Hartnett. The march on Selma took place more than 50 years ago. Gordon Watson was a student at Morningside College at the time. He and some other Morningside students took part in the march.
The retired minister from spencer, says he and his fellow students drove from Sioux City on a Sunday to join the march, and there were fire hoses and dogs attacking the marchers. But the Northern marchers were out for yet more violence.
Selma Marcher
That was Gordon Watson, a retired minister from Spencer, Iowa. As undergraduate at Morningside College, he took part in the Selma civil rights marches 52 years ago.
You’re listening to the exchange, I’m Mary Hartnett. Tonight the Sanford Center will hold an event at the Orpheum Theater featuring Mitch and Emily Martin, Play it Forward, Kevin Keane, and more. The Center itself has served the Siouxland community since the 1930s, beginning as a settlement house for African Americans migrating north. Over time, its role in community has expanded; setting up affordable, educational daycare; going into schools to help students and diminish gang presence; feeding families. Much of this growth happened under the leadership of George Boykin. Shelby Pierce and Ike Rayford of We Are Not A Monolith sat down with Boykin and later, his successor, Fitzgerald Grant to talk about the Center, its past, present and future.
Sanford CenterAnd here’s some music from Julie Hlass of Play It Forward, who will be performing tonight at the Sanford Center event at the Orpheum Theater.
Julie Hlass
You’re listening The Exchange on Siouxland Public Media. I’m Mary Hartnett. Globetrotting wasn’t the goal. Suzanne Hendrix-Case pursued a travel-intensive opera career to gain credibility as a vocal coach. She always wanted to teach. By a fortuitous turn of events, that desire led the classically-trained singer to perform with the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Oper Frankfurt in Germany, one of the leading opera houses in Europe. After several years as a self-employed opera singer, Hendrix-Case has finally settled in at her first full-time, college-level teaching job, as an assistant professor of voice at Morningside College. She is Siouxland Public Media’s Artist of the Month. Ally Karsyn has more.
Opera Singer
That’s it for this week’s edition of The Exchange. Thanks to Mark Munger, Ally Karsyn, Rick Turner and Steve Smith. I’m Mary Hartnett. We hope to see you next Wednesday at noon.
