© 2024 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Black Iowans React To Chauvin Guilty Verdicts

Justyn Lewis founded the group Des Moines Selma to bring unity, education, and justice mobilization to the anti-racism movement in Des Moines.
Courtesy of Matt Barrick
Justyn Lewis founded the group Des Moines Selma to bring unity, education, and justice mobilization to the anti-racism movement in Des Moines.

Yesterday’s guilty verdicts of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin brought some relief to those calling for racial justice. But is it a moment of real change?

On this edition of River to River, host Ben Kieffer speaks with Black Iowans and activists.

Listeners from around Iowa also called or emailed their thoughts about what these guilty verdicts mean for the state and country moving forward.

Turé Morrow, founder of We Are CR.
Courtsey of Tanaka Johnson
Turé Morrow, founder of We Are CR.

Guests:

  • Justyn Lewis, president and founder of Des Moines Selma, a non-profit focused on social justice and government accountability for Black Lives
  • Turé Morrow, founder, We Are CR, father and community activist based in Cedar Rapids
  • Keli Gosch, community organizer, small-business owner based in Cresco
  • Athena Gilbraith, midwest organizer for Swing Left, secretary of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus, community organizer, activist based in Davenport
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Rick Brewer was a producer for IPR's Talk of Iowa and River to River