This week on WURD: Philly police violence, continued Sixers arena conflict, Black male educators

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel appeared on Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to discuss critical topics, including the use of deadly force by Philadelphia police, the role and authority of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) and tips for staying safe during the holiday season.

Linn Washington, Jr., a professor of journalism at Temple University, joined Wake Up With WURD to talk about the Sixers arena controversy, the history of protests in Philadelphia and their outcomes, patterns of neglect and inequality in failed development projects and the lasting impact of these projects on the Black community.

Ernest Crim III, an anti-racist educator and hate crime survivor, joined Tonya Pendleton on Reality Check to highlight his visit to Philadelphia, where he attended the Black Male and Education Convening which addressed the underrepresentation of Black male educators. He also voiced concerns about the possible dismantling of the Department of Education.

Congresswoman Summer Lee represents Pennsylvania’s 12th district. Lee spoke with Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs about challenges in politics, the Democratic Party’s failure to engage marginalized communities effectively and the ongoing efforts to push for reparations for Black Americans.

Della Clark, president of The Enterprise Center, appeared on Evening WURDs to discuss entrepreneurship and the systemic challenges faced by Black business owners. Clark highlighted the importance of helping minority businesses grow by providing access to capital and stressed the critical need for business owners to understand their financial statements.