Occupy the Airwaves— Valley Free Radio

5.31.26 Juneteenth in Northampton with Kendal Magnum & Amelia Durban

Occupy the Airwaves welcomes Kendal Magnum and Amelia Durban, Northampton High School Seniors and members of the Northampton Youth Commission. Amelia and Kendal discuss the planning for Northampton's first annual Juneteenth Festival. This event, held from 11 am - 6 pm on June 6, 2026 at the E.J. Gare Plaza (2 Brewster Court) will honor Black liberation and freedom. It will be a celebration of the creativity, resilience, and artistic traditions that are rooted in Black culture.

5.10.2026 Resisting Militarism with Nick Mottern & Jennifer Scarlott

Nick Mottern from Demilitarize Western Massachusetts and Jennifer Scarlott of River Valley for Palestine join Occupy the Airwaves hosts Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, Emikan Sudan, and Bob Gardner to discuss Northampton military contractor L3 Harris and the movement to block these weapons of war. In a memorial action on April 29, 2026 for peace activist Paki Wieland, members blocked the driveway of L3 Harris and many were arrested.

4.30.2026 Cuba with Merri Ansara

Merri Ansara joins hosts Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, Emikan Sudan, and Bob Gardner to discuss the situation in Cuba, including the present blockage of aid and fuel, war threats from the U.S., solar initiatives, solidarity from organizations and countries and conditions on the ground. Merri has a long history of solidarity herself, with her early involvement with the Veneceremos brigade, Radio Havana and Granma News and created her own Cuba travel organization (Common Ground Education & Travel). She is now a parttime resident of Havana. In the U.S. she works with Massachusetts Peace Action, CodePink, the Raging Grannies and the Easthampton for Palestine Group. Merri also discusses the upcoming film screening of @btnewsroom [https://www.instagram.com/btnewsroom/]’s “Cuba After Castro” at the Easthampton Library Annex on Monday, May 5th at 5:45pm. Discussion to follow. All are welcome.

4.23.26 Easthampton Film Festival with Chris Ferry

Chris Ferry, Director of the Easthampton Film Festival, joins Occupy the Airwaves host Stephen Linsky to discuss the history and schedule of events for 5th Annual Easthampton Film Festival running from April 23rd-April 26th, 2026. This season included a total of 57 films, more than half of which were made by Massachusetts-based filmmakers. In addition to the screenings, this year’s festival includes two receptions, two local narrative feature films, four feature-length documentaries, ten screening blocks of various short films and docs, an awards ceremony, and more. Learn more here [https://www.easthamptonfilmfestival.com/].

4.19.2026 Make Polluters Pay with Rachael Boyce

Make Polluters Pay co-leader Rachael Boyce joins Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Miranda Groux, Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky to discuss the campaign to pass legislation establishing a superfund funded by the fossil fuel industry to offset the array of infrastructure needs required to address climate change-related conditions brought about by carbon emissions. Rachael also discusses important upcoming events for the campaign:  The Make Polluters Pay campaign is hosting their next strategy session on Saturday, April 25th at 1:30 PM and you're invited! To ensure folx from all over the state can attend, this event will have an online and in-person component. North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) [https://www.betterfutureproject.org/r?u=pk1NHhQA2W1GW8pgQVrYCVpVXtOJv_udIVtSevoZ5lk&e=9c61a06d0d3218241e7f6cfdec7ddc30&utm_source=betterfutureproject&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpp_campaign_huddle&n=2&test_email=1] is graciously hosting the in-person component at: 105 South Huntington Avenue in Jamaica Plain, MA. Activists of all experience levels welcome! This is a great time to learn how to get involved or reengage with a crucial campaign that targets the very corporations responsible for the climate crisis and who are bankrolling Trump's evisceration of our democracy. Come learn how to get involved in the growing movement to Make Polluters Pay! RSVP through the campaign website HERE [https://www.polluterspayma.org/hybrid_campaign_huddle?e=9c61a06d0d3218241e7f6cfdec7ddc30&utm_source=betterfutureproject&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpp_campaign_huddle&n=3&test_email=1] and indicate how you'll be joining the meeting on THIS Google form [https://www.betterfutureproject.org/r?u=_L9AN4aVdrNJi7cab7vAu4VXP9uhLTFfKuhy-jPCcY2_vXiDNgWkoO2kB9JEIC8-ajvcExtjmHmRkkOAPK4hzNu_zrRR5H7O8afDkITEaZA0Qf-lwZa4kPqmY0WGgsxgXWSzrtY9-9xt66LoiYTIEA&e=9c61a06d0d3218241e7f6cfdec7ddc30&utm_source=betterfutureproject&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpp_campaign_huddle&n=4&test_email=1]. Lunch is provided!