Episode 6: Ali T. Muhammad During The Black Lives Matter Movement
Ali T. Muhammad was born and raised in Beacon, NY, walking every day down a literal pathway between prison and public school, as his home was on the grounds. He walked the “school to prison pipeline” (and tells us about what that is on this podcast). His father was incarcerated for 12 years, and upon getting released, became the Chaplin for Fishkill Correctional Facility. Ali’s mother was a teacher at Rombout Middle School (and was Brandon’s teacher!).
Ali lived the life of a Black youth in Beacon, and continues to as a Black man in America. As a way to keep himself occupied and on a straight path, he began getting involved with local politics, getting elected as a Council Member for Ward 4 at an early age. After serving and challenging the Council and City on numerous issues, Ali participated in a series of political career challenges, including bucking the system of the Democratic Party of which he belonged to, trying to run on his own party, Stand With Ali, working with county level politicians including County Executive Marcus Molinaro, moving to Newburgh, running for Mayor there, and now fully immersing himself in connecting community groups who have come together throughout the Hudson Valley region to keep the Black Lives Matter Movement alive and working for action.
Brandon and Katie sit down with Ali to catch up with him, get his perspective on the unpleasant Pleasant Valley Blue Lives Matter counter protest that occurred during the Black Lives Matter March in that community, as well as his experience during Beacon’s Back the Beacon PD’s rally, when supporters for Black Lives Matter arrived to counter rally. Ali tells us about his true feelings about counter-protests, what “defund” means to him, and why he knows that Beacon needs community centers in Beacon for kids of all ages, who have idle time between 2pm-8pm. Maybe a Wee Play playground for an affordable housing community like Davies Terrace? And why are the public restrooms in the public parks where little kids play all run down and closed? Let’s talk about it…