VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 126
AIR DATE 06 12 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
A Policewoman’s View
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
We get to say what legacy George Floyd's death has on us
as a people. As long as people feel like it isn’t going to die
out like all the rest of them, because those four officers will
go to jail for a very long time. But it doesn't mean I feel
super safe about my son driving at night.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Shining a Light
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, people can't be around
each other. And it makes it really hard to mourn the loss and
to mourn the death. It really helps serve a purpose.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Learning from Home
((Nour Roberts, Junior, Cooper Middle School))
Distance learning is quite the buzz kill, if you ask
me. Testing is definitely hard. I had a math test the other
day and I’m almost positive I failed.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) PROTESTS / POLICE DEPUTY
((Banner: Racism, Seen from Inside))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera/Editor: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Additional Camera: Virginia Gunawan))
((Map: Laurel, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
So, here we have me graduating from the police academy.
This is my chief at the time. Quite happy to have a gun and
a badge. I was working on the bus. We used to wear plain
clothes on the bus. And that's me with the general
manager. I had just made sergeant. I remember being the
only African-American female in that group of promotees. I
remember the levels of competitiveness and the gratification
that I was able to compete at that level and excel.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
My name is Tracy Simmons and I am a retired Deputy Chief
of the Metro Transit Police Department. I served there for
over 25 years in various capacities. I came up through the
ranks and I retired at the rank of Deputy Chief and I was the
first African-American woman to reach that rank at my police
agency.
It was very intimidating for a young woman, especially a
young black woman. I was in a highly, you know, Anglo
workplace with majority male and it was challenging. You
had to get in to fit in, to get along and really, you really still
weren't a part of. Be clear. You know, in the police
department, there was rampant sexism, rampant racism.
There were remarks made in roll calls that, you know, I
wouldn't dare repeat. And as I was there, because I was,
because I was there, I got to be a voice for things that
needed to change and be different.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
There'll be a certain segment of racism because we come
from those same communities. Police officers come from
those same communities and they bring along with them
their belief systems, their worldviews and their cultural
experiences. It's, I think it's come to a head. I think there's a
lot of things that we get to see now because of technology
that has occurred for many, many years. And that now it’s
kind of in our face. We all had an opportunity to see George
Floyd, you know, be murdered right on television. I've never
seen anything like it in my life and I don't think most
Americans have.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
I think though, our country is in a break down and I think that
around police brutality and law enforcement, I would tell the
protesters that I support them wholeheartedly. I would tell
them to be thoughtful and be aware that there are other
stories and other spaces.
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
That's just part of the story but it’s not the real story. It
doesn’t tell the story of the ten police officers that got killed
last week. It doesn't tell that story. Or guy down the street
that got shot by other assailants who the police locked up
and now they're in jail. So, there are a lot of stories here to
be told.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
And so, I'm hopeful. I do think that there are definite ways
that we can begin to change the culture and we get to just,
you know, retire out those that want to hold onto the old
ways. It's not like….It's changing. And those that aren't
ready to change need to move on. They need to go.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((NATS:
Because he changed not only this country, not only the
United States. He changed the world. George Floyd
changed the world.
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
We get to say what legacy George Floyd's death has on us
as a people.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
As long as people feel like it isn’t going to die out like all the
rest of them, because those four officers will go to jail for a
very long time. But it doesn't mean I feel super safe about
my son driving at night. It just doesn't.
((PKG)) PROTESTS / TRUCKER
((Banner: Impact))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera/Editor: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Waldorf, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
The thing that we think about the protests in D.C. is that -
where can I start? We need a change in this country, we
do. I mean, we have a lot of friends that are really touched
by what's happening. You know, black and white. I mean,
I’m just being honest. We have a lot of friends that we met,
you know, people that we’ve gotten close to during Andrew's
football years and still, he's still playing. He's still active and
Kailah's high school and all her activities. So, with the racial
divide, it makes it rough and they ask a lot of questions
because this generation, they don't really see color like some
past generations have.
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
So, what do we plan on doing today, you all? What do you
all want to do?
((Andrew Allmond, Michael’s Son))
Going down to D.C. for the protest.
((Kailah Allmond, Michael’s Daughter))
Yeah.
((Tracy Allmond, Michael’s Wife))
I guess we'll make a run to the store and then try to go
downtown just to, you know, to participate. I mean, I think
it's important. You know, you guys, it's important for you
guys. You want to be able to tell your grandchildren that,
you know, how you made it through this time because I
believe we’re going to make it through. We just got to stick
to it, stick to what we believe and what we know is the right
thing, so.
((NATS: Starting truck))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
We thought we’d – it’s 2020. We want to move past this and
let it stay in the past. You know, we only can control the
future.
((NATS: Truck))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
I’m just trying to provide for myself and my family and just
taking one day at a time. People just got to think of others. I
know we’re all upset, trust me. I mean, one night I was up
all night because I just pictured myself, my family, my
friends. It could have been any of us in that situation. And I
thought we’d moved past that. Hopefully, we can move past
it now, not later, because it’s affecting people.
((NATS: Truck))
((PKG)) PROTESTS / GRAFFITI CLEANUP
((Banner: The Message))
((Reporter/Producer: Julia Smith))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Map: Denver, Colorado))
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
My name is Khyyam Cooper. I own a company called Home
Theater Company. I'm a United States Air Force veteran
and I've lived in Colorado about 27 years now.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
What actually brought me out, I saw some people on
Snapchat. They were out here cleaning up on Monday. Girl
and her boyfriend and a five-year-old kid were out here
actually scrubbing by hand. And once I saw them doing that,
I was like, you know what, I can help out. What really
motivated me was seeing them do that. And then I thought
to myself, you know what, this will help the message versus
the destruction. The destruction was taking away from the
message that people were seeing. People were seeing the
violence and the looting and they're forgetting what actually
happened. So, by doing this, this actually gets focus back to
what the message is.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
So, the process to remove the graffiti. When I first started, I
was just using the power-washer. Then I figured out today,
by using the actual thinner, I can get down, scrub it, let it set
for a minute and then use the power-washer to clean it off.
And that process seems to be working the best by far.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
I've got to figure out how to get those up. I don't know.
People are perceiving the graffiti as destruction. People are
trying to convey the message with the graffiti. And I
understand what they're trying to do. But the average
person is looking at it as destruction and they're taking the
message the wrong way. They're saying, 'Oh my gosh,
you're destroying everything.' But they're not understanding
what's happening. These people are, they're out crying.
They say, ‘Hey, listen to me. Pay attention. Look, look
what's on the ground. Not just a bunch of signs.’ But that's
not the right way for the average person to see it. People
don't want to see the destruction. The message is: Stop
police brutality. That's what the message is. When
something bad happens like that, people have to be
accountable for their actions. Police, government, anybody.
No matter who it is. Stop the violence. Be accountable for
what you do.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
This is amazing to see so many different cultures,
backgrounds and different people coming together, unifying
across the globe. So that means, everybody obviously
knows there's a problem, there's an issue. So, it means a lot
to me to see people unifying and standing up for something
that they all believe in, which is amazing. So hopefully one
day, that we won't have this issue anymore. I hope to God
we won't have this issue anymore.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Remember Those Lost
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
I also get a lot of comfort and solace when we create a really
good projection that makes people feel better or that really
shows something. So, I quite enjoy doing what we do.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) COVID / PROJECTION ARTIST
((Banner: Remembrance in Light))
((Reporter/Producer: June Soh))
((Camera: Sora Yamahira, Bell Visuals))
((Map: Washington, DC))
((Main character: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
One of the projects we’re going to continue to work on is the
COVID memorial in looking at ways of how we can create
projection memorials in places. It really helps serve a
purpose. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, people can't
be around each other. And it makes it really hard to mourn
the loss and to mourn the death.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We do this part of these projections with this group that's
doing this COVID MEMORIAL.
So, I've taken the content that they have and I’ve been using
that to project onto buildings. And that’s photographs of
people who’ve died from COVID and words from their loved
ones.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Bell Visuals))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
My name is Robin Bell. I am an artist and filmmaker in
Washington, DC.
My specialty is projection art. So, I do projections on
((Courtesy: Bell Visuals))
buildings, museums, galleries. I do it with music. We also
do projections all around the city, all around the country and
some international projections as well. COVID-19 is
definitely, like most people in this country, it has directly
impacted the work we do.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Every event that we have, you know, set up has been either
cancelled or postponed. The best you can tell now, you
know, it’s going to be a long time before we get that kind of
work back.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
It’s like somewhere between 10 and 30 seconds delay. So, I
just zoomed out a little bit. Let me know if that’s good and I
can go more if you want.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We now do projections in my studio just out the window in
Washington, DC. We do this because we love to do it and
because we know it is an important service for the
community that we live in. We’ve done some projections
that were as simple as WASH YOUR HANDS.
With COVID-19, most of our work now is online. That’s
where most people will see the work we do. We have a
Twitter. We have an Instagram and Facebook.
((Courtesy: Facebook Live))
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Yeah, excited to show you some stuff. So, this is what we
are doing right now at this very moment.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We get comments in real time especially when we're doing
Facebook Live or a live stream. People would give
encouragement or would give some suggestions. It’s pretty
amazing. It’s pretty awesome to be able to share it with
people who are also stuck at home as well.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Yeah, I mean, I guess at some point I can, I can zoom in.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
I think it's really important to continue doing what we do,
even though we can't be on the street the way that we were
used to. I also get a lot of comfort and solace when we
create a really good projection that makes people feel better
or that really shows something. So, I quite enjoy doing what
we do. And if it works well, I get a lot out of that.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Banner: In recent weeks, Robin Bell has also begun
shining a light on racial inequality))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Class of 2020
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
All right. Let me get some disinfectant.
I ask each senior what they're about, what they love. So, it
gives me a sense of how I should photograph them.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) COVID / DISTANCE LEARNING
((Banner: Distance Learning))
((Reporter/Producer: Lisa Vohra))
((Camera: Rajan Agarwal, Dia White, Mohit Gupta, Maryah
Roberts, Priya Agarwal, Bimal Prakash))
((Map: Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Washington, DC))
((Main characters: 1 female; 3 males))
((NATS))
All right, let’s get started.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Hi, I’m Nour Roberts. I’m 14 and I go to Cooper Middle.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
My name is Rajan Agarwal and I’m currently a student at the
University of Maryland.
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
My name is Justin White. I teach 7th grade Social Studies.
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
My name is Mohit Gupta and I’m 28 years old. And I’m an
MBA student at Georgetown University, McDonough School
of Business.
((NATS))
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
I am on class with my Civics teacher and she’s reviewing
last week’s assignments.
((NATS))
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
My distance learning experience so far has been kind of
lame. And that is because we’re doing online school at our
homes by ourselves. And you don’t get to see your friends
and your whole entire social life is missing. And teachers
just assign work for you to do on your computer.
((NATS))
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
I think for the most part, The University of Maryland has
done a good job with getting everything kind of settled in and
getting students to perform the best they can in an online
environment.
((NATS))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
My experience so far has been pretty interesting. It has
made it easier because when you have everything going on
online and you can see your professor’s screen, then
everything becomes crystal clear and it’s easier to learn,
from my perspective.
((NATS))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
In a regular classroom setting, I have four classes, about an
hour and 15 minutes in length for each class. We have
about 25 students per class. So in a normal year, for this
particular setting, you know, it can be a difficult challenge,
meeting the needs of each of those students, but that's
something as a teacher that you’re used to.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
This is Coach White. I was just calling to check on your
student. They’ve got a little bit behind this week on their
assignments and so I was just calling to see if I can be of
any help, maybe, maybe encourage your child or answering
questions you might have?
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Distance learning is quite the buzz kill, if you ask
me. Testing is definitely hard. I had a math test the other
day and I’m almost positive I failed.
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
I think distance learning is a pretty good arrangement where
people can switch over to the online version whenever
possible and whenever it is required.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
Sometimes being at home, it’s not always easy to focus. It’s
easier to get distracted at home because it is so much more
comfortable.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
So as far as communicating with my classmates, it’s not
really like it was and nobody really shows their faces or talks
because it’s just not as easy. It’s more awkward.
((NATS))
You can be in it. You can include your parents or not.
((NATS))
Yeah, she’s on the list for a Chromebook pickup.
((NATS))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
It’s a real struggle for many parents in this era that we’re
dealing with. It’s really trying times for all of us.
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
Homeschooling while teaching is certainly a challenge. I can
understand how some parents are struggling with it.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
This whole quarantine and online learning has made it easier
for me to have a little bit more time because a lot of my time
is spent walking between classes or going different places in
the day whenever I’m at school.
But at home, I don’t really have that. Going to the next class
is just opening a new tab.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Hi, I’m back and at first, distance learning was like, not really
easy, but now it’s kind of got up and rolling. I usually just
have school in the morning and then I work out because my
swim team has Zoom calls on Tuesday and Thursdays but
sometimes I just work out by myself.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Georgetown University))
((Robert M. Groves, Provost, Georgetown University))
Welcome to the 2020 Conferral of Degrees in Course by
Georgetown University.
((Courtesy; Zoom))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
I have my parents and my sister back in India. They were
supposed to come to my graduation ceremony which is now
an e-ceremony. So, I miss them. But it’s okay. It’s a part of
the whole promise that we’re making for a safer society in
general.
((NATS))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
Do the honors of throwing my tassel on the air. So...one,
two, three. Cheers!
((NATS))
((PKG)) COVID / GRADUATION PHOTOGRAPHER
((Banner: Not Forgotten))
((Reporter: Penelope Poulou))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Map: Arlington, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
Just kind of lean on that, lean on that typewriter top like that.
Yeah, like it's more comfortable. There you go. The
typewriter is killer. Beautiful right there.
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
I've been a photographer for 35 years now. This is my
neighborhood high school. And so, I just had this idea that I
would boost their spirits a little by going around and taking
pictures, creating a photo essay of this sort of forgotten class
of 2020 and we called it ‘Not Forgotten: The Yorktown
Seniors of 2020.’
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
There are five hundred seniors in the class. We're up to 200
students that I photographed in three weeks now. And
everybody comes out of their house the same way which is
they put their hand over the heart and they mouth the words,
because we can't get close, they say, ‘Thank you so much
for doing this.’
((NATS))
((Gracen Flores, Yorktown High School Senior))
We've all been very excited to get our pictures taken. Then
someone told me that during graduation, people wear white.
So, I was like, oh, I’ll save this dress for graduation. And
then, unfortunately I wasn't able to. So, I figured this would
be the perfect time to wear it. I am worried about next year
for college. I'm hoping it will start on time. I would love to
teach and I'd love to have a book published one day.
((NATS))
((Joseph Saldana, Yorktown, High School Senior))
I miss my classmates and I miss my teachers. I just really
like to go back but, you know, it's probably for the best that
we all stay home. I'm really passionate about astronomy. I
have been for a long time. Actually, it was our unit on lenses
and focal points that made me want to build my telescope
and
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Joseph Saldana, Yorktown, High School Senior))
why I wanted to put in my picture because I feel it's a big part
of who I am. I was really, really proud of myself and so is my
family when I found out I got into college. It's a really huge
accomplishment for me. I got into George Mason Honors
and I was looking forward to the smaller classes and more
seminar-based form of learning, but it's still a little in the air
how they want to continue on with the next year, if they want
to start off by virtual classrooms or go into the dorms. But I
am disappointed that I won't be able to get the traditional
college experience.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
Now that we have 200 seniors photographed, the project
feels more like a cross-section of aspirations of these
seniors.
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
All right. Let me get some disinfectant.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
I ask each senior what they're about, what they love. So, it
gives me a sense of how I should photograph them.
((NATS))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
I want to study chemistry, but I might change it to
neuroscience or psychology. I realize that I won't have my
last last day of school. I won't have senior experience which
I kind of looked forward to. And I won't have, I guess, like
my last month of fun, if that makes sense. So, it was kind of
devastating because I worked so hard. And like graduation,
it's probably not going to happen in-person for obvious
reasons and I don't think that we should have an in-person
graduation but like everyone kind of dreams of going to
Constitutional Hall and like just walking down the stage. I
don't know. I feel like my memories were kind of robbed
from me.
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
So, we're going to pretend. Ready?
((NATS))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
After some, I guess, texting with other people who already
have their photos taken, I decided that it would probably be a
good opportunity because I'm not going to have many senior
memories.
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
So, this will be like a good memory that I could show my kids
and would be like forever ingrained in my mind.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
People say, ‘It’s just the prom.’ It's not the prom. It’s four
months, the last four months of your senior year. It's sort of
the culmination of 10 years of school. It's just a project that
was meant to boost the spirits of this senior class, who like a
lot of other seniors around America, they're all the same.
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
They're all very smart. They're all very passionate. And
they all had a chunk of their senior year just evaporate. And
so, it started out to be a boost and it's gone crazy. We've
been on the evening news and ‘The Today Show’ and ‘The
Washington Post.’ I now am getting e-mails from people
from Sydney, Australia, saying, ‘Good luck to the seniors of
Yorktown High School. We're thinking about you.’ From
Sydney, Australia! It's gotten crazy.
((MUSIC))
NEXT WEEK ((VO/NAT))
In the coming weeks…..
((PKG)) PROMO: AMERICANS AND GUNS
((MUSIC))
Americans and Guns
Differing Perspectives
((SOTs))
This is a fight for our way of life and our freedoms as
Americans.
The United States constitution says the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
Got to be some regulation, stop somewhere.
Guns take on a different meaning when you have to kind of
recognize that they are not just one thing. Hunting has just
kind of been a part of our lives as long back as I can
remember.
((SOTs))
I was shot eight times.
My older son, he was murdered.
People think it’s only a city problem or it’s only a domestic
problem or it’s a gang problem and that is absolutely not the
truth. It hits families from every walk of life.
It’s an attempt to demonize the tool. It’s not the tool that
kills. It’s the person.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
Easy access to a gun turns an impulse into a tragedy.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
What frustrates lawful gun owners is that we get lumped into
this heap in the media with people who are breaking the law.
So, there’s a lot of ways to be safe with the guns.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
We live in different realities, you know. If you have been
affected by gun violence, what guns are is one thing. And if
you have never been affected, you can kind of blithely go on
with your life never really confronting that.
((MUSIC))
Coming Soon on VOAConnect
((MUSIC/NATS))
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 126
AIR DATE 06 12 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
A Policewoman’s View
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
We get to say what legacy George Floyd's death has on us
as a people. As long as people feel like it isn’t going to die
out like all the rest of them, because those four officers will
go to jail for a very long time. But it doesn't mean I feel
super safe about my son driving at night.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Shining a Light
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, people can't be around
each other. And it makes it really hard to mourn the loss and
to mourn the death. It really helps serve a purpose.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Learning from Home
((Nour Roberts, Junior, Cooper Middle School))
Distance learning is quite the buzz kill, if you ask
me. Testing is definitely hard. I had a math test the other
day and I’m almost positive I failed.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) PROTESTS / POLICE DEPUTY
((Banner: Racism, Seen from Inside))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera/Editor: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Additional Camera: Virginia Gunawan))
((Map: Laurel, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
So, here we have me graduating from the police academy.
This is my chief at the time. Quite happy to have a gun and
a badge. I was working on the bus. We used to wear plain
clothes on the bus. And that's me with the general
manager. I had just made sergeant. I remember being the
only African-American female in that group of promotees. I
remember the levels of competitiveness and the gratification
that I was able to compete at that level and excel.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
My name is Tracy Simmons and I am a retired Deputy Chief
of the Metro Transit Police Department. I served there for
over 25 years in various capacities. I came up through the
ranks and I retired at the rank of Deputy Chief and I was the
first African-American woman to reach that rank at my police
agency.
It was very intimidating for a young woman, especially a
young black woman. I was in a highly, you know, Anglo
workplace with majority male and it was challenging. You
had to get in to fit in, to get along and really, you really still
weren't a part of. Be clear. You know, in the police
department, there was rampant sexism, rampant racism.
There were remarks made in roll calls that, you know, I
wouldn't dare repeat. And as I was there, because I was,
because I was there, I got to be a voice for things that
needed to change and be different.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
There'll be a certain segment of racism because we come
from those same communities. Police officers come from
those same communities and they bring along with them
their belief systems, their worldviews and their cultural
experiences. It's, I think it's come to a head. I think there's a
lot of things that we get to see now because of technology
that has occurred for many, many years. And that now it’s
kind of in our face. We all had an opportunity to see George
Floyd, you know, be murdered right on television. I've never
seen anything like it in my life and I don't think most
Americans have.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
I think though, our country is in a break down and I think that
around police brutality and law enforcement, I would tell the
protesters that I support them wholeheartedly. I would tell
them to be thoughtful and be aware that there are other
stories and other spaces.
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
That's just part of the story but it’s not the real story. It
doesn’t tell the story of the ten police officers that got killed
last week. It doesn't tell that story. Or guy down the street
that got shot by other assailants who the police locked up
and now they're in jail. So, there are a lot of stories here to
be told.
((NATS))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
And so, I'm hopeful. I do think that there are definite ways
that we can begin to change the culture and we get to just,
you know, retire out those that want to hold onto the old
ways. It's not like….It's changing. And those that aren't
ready to change need to move on. They need to go.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((NATS:
Because he changed not only this country, not only the
United States. He changed the world. George Floyd
changed the world.
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
We get to say what legacy George Floyd's death has on us
as a people.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Tracie Simmons, Retired Deputy Chief, Metro Transit
Police Department))
As long as people feel like it isn’t going to die out like all the
rest of them, because those four officers will go to jail for a
very long time. But it doesn't mean I feel super safe about
my son driving at night. It just doesn't.
((PKG)) PROTESTS / TRUCKER
((Banner: Impact))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera/Editor: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Waldorf, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
The thing that we think about the protests in D.C. is that -
where can I start? We need a change in this country, we
do. I mean, we have a lot of friends that are really touched
by what's happening. You know, black and white. I mean,
I’m just being honest. We have a lot of friends that we met,
you know, people that we’ve gotten close to during Andrew's
football years and still, he's still playing. He's still active and
Kailah's high school and all her activities. So, with the racial
divide, it makes it rough and they ask a lot of questions
because this generation, they don't really see color like some
past generations have.
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
So, what do we plan on doing today, you all? What do you
all want to do?
((Andrew Allmond, Michael’s Son))
Going down to D.C. for the protest.
((Kailah Allmond, Michael’s Daughter))
Yeah.
((Tracy Allmond, Michael’s Wife))
I guess we'll make a run to the store and then try to go
downtown just to, you know, to participate. I mean, I think
it's important. You know, you guys, it's important for you
guys. You want to be able to tell your grandchildren that,
you know, how you made it through this time because I
believe we’re going to make it through. We just got to stick
to it, stick to what we believe and what we know is the right
thing, so.
((NATS: Starting truck))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
We thought we’d – it’s 2020. We want to move past this and
let it stay in the past. You know, we only can control the
future.
((NATS: Truck))
((Michael Allmond, Truck Driver))
I’m just trying to provide for myself and my family and just
taking one day at a time. People just got to think of others. I
know we’re all upset, trust me. I mean, one night I was up
all night because I just pictured myself, my family, my
friends. It could have been any of us in that situation. And I
thought we’d moved past that. Hopefully, we can move past
it now, not later, because it’s affecting people.
((NATS: Truck))
((PKG)) PROTESTS / GRAFFITI CLEANUP
((Banner: The Message))
((Reporter/Producer: Julia Smith))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Map: Denver, Colorado))
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
My name is Khyyam Cooper. I own a company called Home
Theater Company. I'm a United States Air Force veteran
and I've lived in Colorado about 27 years now.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
What actually brought me out, I saw some people on
Snapchat. They were out here cleaning up on Monday. Girl
and her boyfriend and a five-year-old kid were out here
actually scrubbing by hand. And once I saw them doing that,
I was like, you know what, I can help out. What really
motivated me was seeing them do that. And then I thought
to myself, you know what, this will help the message versus
the destruction. The destruction was taking away from the
message that people were seeing. People were seeing the
violence and the looting and they're forgetting what actually
happened. So, by doing this, this actually gets focus back to
what the message is.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
So, the process to remove the graffiti. When I first started, I
was just using the power-washer. Then I figured out today,
by using the actual thinner, I can get down, scrub it, let it set
for a minute and then use the power-washer to clean it off.
And that process seems to be working the best by far.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
I've got to figure out how to get those up. I don't know.
People are perceiving the graffiti as destruction. People are
trying to convey the message with the graffiti. And I
understand what they're trying to do. But the average
person is looking at it as destruction and they're taking the
message the wrong way. They're saying, 'Oh my gosh,
you're destroying everything.' But they're not understanding
what's happening. These people are, they're out crying.
They say, ‘Hey, listen to me. Pay attention. Look, look
what's on the ground. Not just a bunch of signs.’ But that's
not the right way for the average person to see it. People
don't want to see the destruction. The message is: Stop
police brutality. That's what the message is. When
something bad happens like that, people have to be
accountable for their actions. Police, government, anybody.
No matter who it is. Stop the violence. Be accountable for
what you do.
((NATS))
((Khyyam Cooper, Owner, Home Theater Company))
This is amazing to see so many different cultures,
backgrounds and different people coming together, unifying
across the globe. So that means, everybody obviously
knows there's a problem, there's an issue. So, it means a lot
to me to see people unifying and standing up for something
that they all believe in, which is amazing. So hopefully one
day, that we won't have this issue anymore. I hope to God
we won't have this issue anymore.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Remember Those Lost
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
I also get a lot of comfort and solace when we create a really
good projection that makes people feel better or that really
shows something. So, I quite enjoy doing what we do.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) COVID / PROJECTION ARTIST
((Banner: Remembrance in Light))
((Reporter/Producer: June Soh))
((Camera: Sora Yamahira, Bell Visuals))
((Map: Washington, DC))
((Main character: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
One of the projects we’re going to continue to work on is the
COVID memorial in looking at ways of how we can create
projection memorials in places. It really helps serve a
purpose. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, people can't
be around each other. And it makes it really hard to mourn
the loss and to mourn the death.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We do this part of these projections with this group that's
doing this COVID MEMORIAL.
So, I've taken the content that they have and I’ve been using
that to project onto buildings. And that’s photographs of
people who’ve died from COVID and words from their loved
ones.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Bell Visuals))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
My name is Robin Bell. I am an artist and filmmaker in
Washington, DC.
My specialty is projection art. So, I do projections on
((Courtesy: Bell Visuals))
buildings, museums, galleries. I do it with music. We also
do projections all around the city, all around the country and
some international projections as well. COVID-19 is
definitely, like most people in this country, it has directly
impacted the work we do.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Every event that we have, you know, set up has been either
cancelled or postponed. The best you can tell now, you
know, it’s going to be a long time before we get that kind of
work back.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
It’s like somewhere between 10 and 30 seconds delay. So, I
just zoomed out a little bit. Let me know if that’s good and I
can go more if you want.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We now do projections in my studio just out the window in
Washington, DC. We do this because we love to do it and
because we know it is an important service for the
community that we live in. We’ve done some projections
that were as simple as WASH YOUR HANDS.
With COVID-19, most of our work now is online. That’s
where most people will see the work we do. We have a
Twitter. We have an Instagram and Facebook.
((Courtesy: Facebook Live))
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Yeah, excited to show you some stuff. So, this is what we
are doing right now at this very moment.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
We get comments in real time especially when we're doing
Facebook Live or a live stream. People would give
encouragement or would give some suggestions. It’s pretty
amazing. It’s pretty awesome to be able to share it with
people who are also stuck at home as well.
((NATS))
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
Yeah, I mean, I guess at some point I can, I can zoom in.
((Robin Bell, Projection Artist))
I think it's really important to continue doing what we do,
even though we can't be on the street the way that we were
used to. I also get a lot of comfort and solace when we
create a really good projection that makes people feel better
or that really shows something. So, I quite enjoy doing what
we do. And if it works well, I get a lot out of that.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Banner: In recent weeks, Robin Bell has also begun
shining a light on racial inequality))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Class of 2020
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
All right. Let me get some disinfectant.
I ask each senior what they're about, what they love. So, it
gives me a sense of how I should photograph them.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) COVID / DISTANCE LEARNING
((Banner: Distance Learning))
((Reporter/Producer: Lisa Vohra))
((Camera: Rajan Agarwal, Dia White, Mohit Gupta, Maryah
Roberts, Priya Agarwal, Bimal Prakash))
((Map: Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Washington, DC))
((Main characters: 1 female; 3 males))
((NATS))
All right, let’s get started.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Hi, I’m Nour Roberts. I’m 14 and I go to Cooper Middle.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
My name is Rajan Agarwal and I’m currently a student at the
University of Maryland.
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
My name is Justin White. I teach 7th grade Social Studies.
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
My name is Mohit Gupta and I’m 28 years old. And I’m an
MBA student at Georgetown University, McDonough School
of Business.
((NATS))
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
I am on class with my Civics teacher and she’s reviewing
last week’s assignments.
((NATS))
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
My distance learning experience so far has been kind of
lame. And that is because we’re doing online school at our
homes by ourselves. And you don’t get to see your friends
and your whole entire social life is missing. And teachers
just assign work for you to do on your computer.
((NATS))
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
I think for the most part, The University of Maryland has
done a good job with getting everything kind of settled in and
getting students to perform the best they can in an online
environment.
((NATS))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
My experience so far has been pretty interesting. It has
made it easier because when you have everything going on
online and you can see your professor’s screen, then
everything becomes crystal clear and it’s easier to learn,
from my perspective.
((NATS))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
In a regular classroom setting, I have four classes, about an
hour and 15 minutes in length for each class. We have
about 25 students per class. So in a normal year, for this
particular setting, you know, it can be a difficult challenge,
meeting the needs of each of those students, but that's
something as a teacher that you’re used to.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
This is Coach White. I was just calling to check on your
student. They’ve got a little bit behind this week on their
assignments and so I was just calling to see if I can be of
any help, maybe, maybe encourage your child or answering
questions you might have?
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Distance learning is quite the buzz kill, if you ask
me. Testing is definitely hard. I had a math test the other
day and I’m almost positive I failed.
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
I think distance learning is a pretty good arrangement where
people can switch over to the online version whenever
possible and whenever it is required.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
Sometimes being at home, it’s not always easy to focus. It’s
easier to get distracted at home because it is so much more
comfortable.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
So as far as communicating with my classmates, it’s not
really like it was and nobody really shows their faces or talks
because it’s just not as easy. It’s more awkward.
((NATS))
You can be in it. You can include your parents or not.
((NATS))
Yeah, she’s on the list for a Chromebook pickup.
((NATS))
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
It’s a real struggle for many parents in this era that we’re
dealing with. It’s really trying times for all of us.
((Justin White, Social Studies Teacher, Rossville Middle
School))
Homeschooling while teaching is certainly a challenge. I can
understand how some parents are struggling with it.
((Rajan Agarwal, Freshman, University of Maryland))
This whole quarantine and online learning has made it easier
for me to have a little bit more time because a lot of my time
is spent walking between classes or going different places in
the day whenever I’m at school.
But at home, I don’t really have that. Going to the next class
is just opening a new tab.
((Nour Roberts, 8th Grader, Cooper Middle School))
Hi, I’m back and at first, distance learning was like, not really
easy, but now it’s kind of got up and rolling. I usually just
have school in the morning and then I work out because my
swim team has Zoom calls on Tuesday and Thursdays but
sometimes I just work out by myself.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Georgetown University))
((Robert M. Groves, Provost, Georgetown University))
Welcome to the 2020 Conferral of Degrees in Course by
Georgetown University.
((Courtesy; Zoom))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
I have my parents and my sister back in India. They were
supposed to come to my graduation ceremony which is now
an e-ceremony. So, I miss them. But it’s okay. It’s a part of
the whole promise that we’re making for a safer society in
general.
((NATS))
((Mohit Gupta, MBA Student, Georgetown University))
Do the honors of throwing my tassel on the air. So...one,
two, three. Cheers!
((NATS))
((PKG)) COVID / GRADUATION PHOTOGRAPHER
((Banner: Not Forgotten))
((Reporter: Penelope Poulou))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Map: Arlington, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 females; 1 male))
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
Just kind of lean on that, lean on that typewriter top like that.
Yeah, like it's more comfortable. There you go. The
typewriter is killer. Beautiful right there.
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
I've been a photographer for 35 years now. This is my
neighborhood high school. And so, I just had this idea that I
would boost their spirits a little by going around and taking
pictures, creating a photo essay of this sort of forgotten class
of 2020 and we called it ‘Not Forgotten: The Yorktown
Seniors of 2020.’
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
There are five hundred seniors in the class. We're up to 200
students that I photographed in three weeks now. And
everybody comes out of their house the same way which is
they put their hand over the heart and they mouth the words,
because we can't get close, they say, ‘Thank you so much
for doing this.’
((NATS))
((Gracen Flores, Yorktown High School Senior))
We've all been very excited to get our pictures taken. Then
someone told me that during graduation, people wear white.
So, I was like, oh, I’ll save this dress for graduation. And
then, unfortunately I wasn't able to. So, I figured this would
be the perfect time to wear it. I am worried about next year
for college. I'm hoping it will start on time. I would love to
teach and I'd love to have a book published one day.
((NATS))
((Joseph Saldana, Yorktown, High School Senior))
I miss my classmates and I miss my teachers. I just really
like to go back but, you know, it's probably for the best that
we all stay home. I'm really passionate about astronomy. I
have been for a long time. Actually, it was our unit on lenses
and focal points that made me want to build my telescope
and
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Joseph Saldana, Yorktown, High School Senior))
why I wanted to put in my picture because I feel it's a big part
of who I am. I was really, really proud of myself and so is my
family when I found out I got into college. It's a really huge
accomplishment for me. I got into George Mason Honors
and I was looking forward to the smaller classes and more
seminar-based form of learning, but it's still a little in the air
how they want to continue on with the next year, if they want
to start off by virtual classrooms or go into the dorms. But I
am disappointed that I won't be able to get the traditional
college experience.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
Now that we have 200 seniors photographed, the project
feels more like a cross-section of aspirations of these
seniors.
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
All right. Let me get some disinfectant.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
I ask each senior what they're about, what they love. So, it
gives me a sense of how I should photograph them.
((NATS))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
I want to study chemistry, but I might change it to
neuroscience or psychology. I realize that I won't have my
last last day of school. I won't have senior experience which
I kind of looked forward to. And I won't have, I guess, like
my last month of fun, if that makes sense. So, it was kind of
devastating because I worked so hard. And like graduation,
it's probably not going to happen in-person for obvious
reasons and I don't think that we should have an in-person
graduation but like everyone kind of dreams of going to
Constitutional Hall and like just walking down the stage. I
don't know. I feel like my memories were kind of robbed
from me.
((NATS: Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
So, we're going to pretend. Ready?
((NATS))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
After some, I guess, texting with other people who already
have their photos taken, I decided that it would probably be a
good opportunity because I'm not going to have many senior
memories.
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Senior))
So, this will be like a good memory that I could show my kids
and would be like forever ingrained in my mind.
((NATS))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
People say, ‘It’s just the prom.’ It's not the prom. It’s four
months, the last four months of your senior year. It's sort of
the culmination of 10 years of school. It's just a project that
was meant to boost the spirits of this senior class, who like a
lot of other seniors around America, they're all the same.
((Photos Courtesy: Matt Mendelsohn))
((Matt Mendelsohn, Photographer))
They're all very smart. They're all very passionate. And
they all had a chunk of their senior year just evaporate. And
so, it started out to be a boost and it's gone crazy. We've
been on the evening news and ‘The Today Show’ and ‘The
Washington Post.’ I now am getting e-mails from people
from Sydney, Australia, saying, ‘Good luck to the seniors of
Yorktown High School. We're thinking about you.’ From
Sydney, Australia! It's gotten crazy.
((MUSIC))
NEXT WEEK ((VO/NAT))
In the coming weeks…..
((PKG)) PROMO: AMERICANS AND GUNS
((MUSIC))
Americans and Guns
Differing Perspectives
((SOTs))
This is a fight for our way of life and our freedoms as
Americans.
The United States constitution says the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
Got to be some regulation, stop somewhere.
Guns take on a different meaning when you have to kind of
recognize that they are not just one thing. Hunting has just
kind of been a part of our lives as long back as I can
remember.
((SOTs))
I was shot eight times.
My older son, he was murdered.
People think it’s only a city problem or it’s only a domestic
problem or it’s a gang problem and that is absolutely not the
truth. It hits families from every walk of life.
It’s an attempt to demonize the tool. It’s not the tool that
kills. It’s the person.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
Easy access to a gun turns an impulse into a tragedy.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
What frustrates lawful gun owners is that we get lumped into
this heap in the media with people who are breaking the law.
So, there’s a lot of ways to be safe with the guns.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((SOTs))
We live in different realities, you know. If you have been
affected by gun violence, what guns are is one thing. And if
you have never been affected, you can kind of blithely go on
with your life never really confronting that.
((MUSIC))
Coming Soon on VOAConnect
((MUSIC/NATS))
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
