Cinder Patel and Sym Cloyd, two library workers and AFSCME 3395 union members, talk about the daily environment of working in our libraries for our communities, how the union fights for the workers and patrons, and more.
Naptown breakdown
This week’s Naptown Breakdown begins with two lawsuits the ACLU filed against Miami “Correctional” Facility, specifically Indiana’s for-profit medical provider, Centurion Health, and several unnamed Correctional Officers. Centurion Health failed to provide ICE detainee Andranik Grigoryan his seizure medication. As a result, he had a seizure, hit his head, and was found in a pool of his blood. After he returned to his cell, several COs told him to pack up and leave. As he asked questions behind his locked cell, the COs drenched him in pepper spray.
This is not a bug but a feature built into the system. This April, the ACLU won 31 lawsuits and $2.1 million settlement for the barbaric treatment of their clients. They lived in total darkness, couldn’t clean the floors that were covered in sewage, had to wait days to shower for a total of 15 minutes, all with administrative approval. We can and have fought back, however. On an earlier episode this year we spoke with Danny Ortiz and organized the community to call Miami CF to demand they install a new Hoyer lift, which they eventually did.
Co-hosts Dani Abdullah and Derek Ford also discuss the 300,000 Haitians who lost their Temporary Protective Status overnight. Indiana is one of the states with the largest Haitian communities, and 11,000 of our Haitian brothers and sisters now have no legal recourse. This calls for a real fight-back movement and the rekindling of the energy we saw in Minnesota, LA, and here in Indianapolis.
Library workers, union power, and community support
The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees is yet again in the spotlight after they gave a $60,000 raise to CEO Greg Hill (who never applied or interviewed for the job) after an entire public comment period consisted of patrons and workers asking questions and opposing the absurd (and undeserved) raise. Meanwhile, there are librarians who have worked in the system for decades and take home less than $60,000 yearly. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
We’re honored to be joined by Cinder Patel and Sym Cloyd, two librarians who speak about what it’s like working in the library, what they would do with the 30% raise the CEO just received, and how the union has fought, and continues to fight for, the best interests of our entire community, unlike the Board that, with one or two exceptions, only have their personal favors to pay back and individual ambitions to achieve. The highlights of this segment are hearing about the identity composition of library workers and the very concrete and tangible ways the union’s intervened whenever it’s called upon.
Circle City shout out
This week,our Circle City Shout out goes to Indy Gay Market. We’ve shouted them out before but as one of their community partners for such a community based organization, I don’t think we can shout them out enough. We just participated in their “Big Gay Summers’ End” event and it was, like their others, exciting. Indy Gay Market works to intersect art and activism to build a stronger, more inclusive future. They work tirelessly to expand opportunities for queer entrepreneurs while remaining transparent, adaptive, and responsive to the needs of our ever-growing community. Indy Gay Market is imagining a future where LGBTQ+ artists don’t just survive—they thrive, and they’re making significant progress if you look at how quickly and intentionally its grown in just five years. Shout out, Indy Gay Market!
Events
Workshop: Prepare to Drive ICE Out!
Queer Writers Workshop
Circle City Sangha Mindfulness Meetup
Drive ICE Out! Car caravan from Indy to Fishers
Reading with Comrades: “Disability and Empire” (pt. 2)
Emancipatory Motions: Liberation Sunday Yoga
Show notes
Indy Liberation Store
Support Naptown People’s Radio
Indianapolis Liberation Center
Party for Socialism and Liberation – Indianapolis
Featured image: Library workers, union leaders, and community supporters read and deliver a petition with thousands of signatures to the Board of Trustees in December 2023 in support of Nichelle M. Hayes. Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center.