Floodlines is a firsthand account of community, culture, and resistance in New Orleans in the years before and after Katrina, by Jordan Flaherty. Instead of a traditional book tour, Jordan has helped organize The Community and Resistance Tour, which  seeks to communicate about current struggles for justice and liberation. The tour also seeks to connect communities of liberation, and to build relationships between grassroots activists and independent media.
On this show, we speak with Jordan Flaherty, we’ll listen to other audio supporting the The Community and Resistance tour, from Jesse Muhammad, Sunni Patterson, and Mic Crenshaw.

The guest is award winning writer and activist Rebecca Solnit, the author of numerous books. Her most recent book is "A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster." She has made ten trips to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

Rebecca Solnit will deliver the first Sewell Lecture on Thursday, October 28th at 7pm at the First Unitarian Church Sanctuary at 1211 SW Main Street in Portland. The topic is "Altruism in the Face of Disaster."

Tickets are $10, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Host Theresa Mitchell speaks with activist Jordan Flaherty about his book Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six. The book has an introduction by Democracy Now host Amy Goodman and a preface by civil rights attorney Tracie Washington.  Floodlines is a firsthand account of community, culture, and resistance in New Orleans in the years before and after Katrina. The book weaves the interconnected stories of Mardi Gras Indians, Arab and Latino immigrants, public housing residents, gay rappers, spoken word poets, victims of police brutality, out of town volunteers, and grassroots activists.

Should the Portland Police be subject to random drug testing?

Jo Ann and Dave discuss the City of Portland's proposal to require random drug-testing of Portland police officers.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.


Jo Ann and Dave talk with Nancie Koerber of Good Grief America about the foreclosure crisis.