WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:04.320 You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from 2 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.960 KFI AM six forty. 3 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:08.800 Back in the late nineteen eighties, Michael Harris, known to 4 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:11.679 many as Harry O, was arrested not only for drug 5 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:14.519 trafficking but for attempted murder, a crime he says he 6 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:17.079 did not commit. But that's only part of the story. 7 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.039 He's also known as co founder and co founder of 8 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:23.359 Death Row Records, one of the most prolific music hip 9 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:26.879 hop labels in history. That's only part of the story. 10 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:30.519 Still later, the victim in harry Oh's case werecanted and 11 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:33.560 the attempted murder charges were dropped, but Harris continued to 12 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.320 spend time behind bars for the drug charge, to the 13 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:40.079 tune of thirty three years. It wasn't until twenty twenty one, 14 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:44.039 when then President Donald Trump commuted harry O's sentence that 15 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:47.280 he again saw freedom that has inspired him to delve 16 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.280 into politics with even a mission to help voters like 17 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:54.280 you and me understand what policies and programs impact people 18 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:57.799 the most rite where they are. Harry O joins me, 19 00:00:57.840 --> 00:00:59.960 now on the show, how are you this evening? 20 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.399 Thanks for having me on your show. How you doing? 21 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:04.719 I'm doing well, I know a little something about you. 22 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.920 You were an East LA kid, and back then, just 23 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:10.640 the neighborhood where your family buys a house can be 24 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.599 a problem growing up. What do you remember about life 25 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:15.840 at forty six in Central and what did it mean 26 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:17.439 when you moved like to Avalon. 27 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:20.799 Oh, well, you know you said a problem. I mean 28 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:24.799 it was we had to navigate it. So, you know, 29 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:28.799 growing up, that was just about the time that gangs 30 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:33.400 became an issue. And so when we moved from Avalon 31 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.840 to forty sixth Street, you know, you moved from a 32 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.560 crypt neighborhood to a blood neighborhood. And me and my brother, 33 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:42.200 we just had to navigate it. Brother, And in a way, 34 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:44.519 I think it worked out because we came from two 35 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.799 different neighborhoods, we lived in two different neighborhoods. 36 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:48.239 It allowed us not. 37 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:53.519 To take sides and become never after actually became gang members, 38 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:57.280 because we pretty much had friends over here. We had 39 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.680 friends over here, and we swore that we would never 40 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.280 do that, and so we didn't, and so we just 41 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:05.519 kind of had our own way of moving through our community. 42 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:08.560 I'm quite sure growing up you saw a lot of 43 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.879 people go to prison and you was never your intention 44 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:15.800 to go to prison. But what were you considering growing 45 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:18.280 up if it wasn't gangs, What did you want to do? 46 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:19.719 What did you aspire to do? 47 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:25.159 I mean, you understand, back in those times, our neighborhoods 48 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.199 were pretty vibrant to me. You know, you had you know, 49 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:31.479 black owned businesses, and so you had examples of what 50 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:36.080 business looked like and so and we had mentors in 51 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:39.960 those communities that ran those businesses, that was always trying 52 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.319 to share some of that wisdom. So I wanted to 53 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:47.039 be a business owner as a young man, just watching 54 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:51.199 how different people ran their business and the pride they 55 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:52.960 had in doing so. 56 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:54.319 So at a young age. 57 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.719 My mother also had her own business, so I was 58 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.759 able to watch her conduct her business and how she 59 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:01.840 was able to deal with her customers, and how she 60 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.919 able to take care of business and take care of books. 61 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.680 And I learned a lot from just watching her do 62 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:08.319 what she did. 63 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.319 None of us can foresee what the future may hold, 64 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:14.800 but we all make decisions, and our decisions have either 65 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.680 consequences or they have results. Some could say, and I 66 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:21.520 know from the people that I know who've gone to 67 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:26.039 prison right wrong, and different prison changes people. How did 68 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:30.840 you manage to retain your humanity despite those thirty three years. 69 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:32.879 Well, first of all, you got to have God in 70 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:36.039 your life at some point, or are you just you 71 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:39.400 will just disintegrate in that type of environment. You have 72 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:41.800 to have something that's real. And the only thing I 73 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:46.120 found that was real when prison was God. I mean 74 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:48.319 that as real as you could be. I think people 75 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:51.280 toss that around a lot. But unless you were in 76 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:55.360 a pit like that where prison can be considered, you 77 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.560 don't really know what being connected to God. I mean, 78 00:03:58.560 --> 00:03:59.879 I wouldn't say you have to go to prison to 79 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:02.280 be connect to God. Don't get that confused. What I'm 80 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:07.199 saying is that there's nothing between you and God when 81 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.560 you're in a situation like that, and if you don't 82 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.919 connect to that. I have seen people destroy themselves in 83 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:17.680 those sets, in those settings because they didn't have nothing 84 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:18.519 to rely on. 85 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:19.600 That was real. 86 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.319 Coming to the end of your prison term, you probably 87 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:26.879 knew or were in contact with Snoop Dogg, who was 88 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:30.920 advocating on your behalf for a pardon or a commutation 89 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:35.839 from then President Trump. How aware were you of President 90 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:38.240 Trump at that time or politics in general. 91 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.399 I mean, like I got thirty three years, I got 92 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.040 a lot of time on my hand, so I read 93 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:46.959 a lot, and I used to watch all the news channels, 94 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.759 and so I was always concerned about why, you know, 95 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:53.720 every four years or whatever the cycle is for local 96 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:57.199 that we keep having the same issues. And it was 97 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.720 like when it comes to our communities, not they were 98 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:05.800 not growing, Actually they was being depleted. And so you 99 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:09.839 can't help to become I won't say in politics, I'm 100 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:13.839 just in social awareness. Watching people come in and out 101 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.199 of prison for the type of crimes they come in 102 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.519 a state and federal, I was able to really see 103 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.120 a Michael cosm of society and it's like, what's this 104 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:26.040 cycle about, and what is it that we lack some 105 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:28.240 of us that allows us to come in and out 106 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.439 of these situations, and what can we do with those 107 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:35.639 who are inside to go back home and become productive citizens. So, 108 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:39.680 coming from my background, coming from the mistakes I have made, 109 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:42.399 I had a lot to work with. It's one thing 110 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:44.480 to know that you did something that you weren't supposed 111 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.879 to do and then take responsibility for it and then 112 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:50.079 try to figure out what you could do on the 113 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:53.680 other side of that responsible taking responsibility, And I was 114 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:56.800 blessing enough to be able to connect with different organizations 115 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:01.439 in San Quentin after doing over tail fifteen almost twenty years, 116 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:06.040 and I was able to connect to these organizations and 117 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:09.839 dive into them my own personal growth. But then at 118 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.360 the same time I was able to also flip that 119 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.839 and help create other programs that was digestible to people 120 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:20.199 like myself who needed to see the world different from 121 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.319 how they had been seeing it. 122 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:22.920 And so when it comes. 123 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.480 To politics, your question, it's like, what can we do 124 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:31.199 as a community in terms of bringing real policies to 125 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.720 the forefront, Because I noticed in the last few months 126 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.000 there's been a lot of smoking mirrors, have been a 127 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:41.240 lot of banter about things that don't really relate to 128 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:44.720 peoples who are out here struggling, you know, for jobs, 129 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:50.639 for career change, opportunities, for capital to invest, or just 130 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.639 to maintain. And so I just set down with a 131 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:55.720 group and we try to figure out not speak for 132 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.040 the community, but try to try to sum up some 133 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:01.879 of the things that we know that could apply the 134 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:04.560 more than less and then just try to put that 135 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.480 out there, just put that out in the community and say, no, look, 136 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:09.680 this is what we really need to be focused on. 137 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:14.279 And who is supporting that and that's who we want 138 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:14.839 to support. 139 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:17.240 That's the voice of Harry O as we talk about 140 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.279 his time in prison and how it is enlightened him 141 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:24.240 to do something different after his commutation of his sentence 142 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.079 by then President Trump, as we talk about this election cycle. 143 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.600 It's Later with Mo Kelly. We're live everywhere on the 144 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.759 iHeartRadio app. 145 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:36.000 You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from 146 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.720 KFI AM six forty. 147 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:42.639 I'm speaking with Michael Harry O Harris, who was commuted 148 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:45.800 by then President Trump back in twenty twenty one after 149 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:49.480 serving thirty three years in prison, and he has dedicated 150 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.439 his life since then to helping people like you and 151 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:57.720 me better understand the policies the proposals of political candidates 152 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.879 and how they really do help or hurt us in 153 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.480 this world in which we live. And harry Oh, let 154 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.160 me come back to you. I was compelled by your story. 155 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.800 It was it was touching me because not only did 156 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.000 you say that God was realer than anything else while 157 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:17.720 you were in prison, it inspired, if I have you correct, 158 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.519 it inspired you to do something after this commutation to 159 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:25.040 make sure that all of us are not only invested 160 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:30.079 but involved and understand what's at stake. How do you start, 161 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:33.399 How did you start after your sentence was commuted? And 162 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:36.559 did you have any conversation with President Trump himself? 163 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.919 Of course I had a conversation with him, mainly about 164 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.639 the fact that he gave me a commutation. 165 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.480 I wanted to thank him for it. 166 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:48.200 And it was strange that when we had our conversation, 167 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:50.200 one of the things he said to me is, you 168 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:52.559 don't owe me nothing. You know, I'm just like you. 169 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:56.279 I appreciate that, but anyway I could help me, he says, Look, 170 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:58.600 you don't owe me nothing. Now what you owe me 171 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:01.480 as long as you become a productive citizen out here. 172 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:04.080 I did the right thing, and that was that was 173 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.799 essentially our conversation when I was able to meet him 174 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.200 after I got out, and then what I needed to 175 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.279 do was get my life together, which I what I 176 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:16.279 did and started to move around in different communities and 177 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.360 just start saying a continuation of the same thing that 178 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.639 our community was was bleeding out, and so I just 179 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:27.879 wanted to put together an organization. It's like three years later, 180 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:30.080 you know, three and a half years later, I want 181 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:34.799 to put together an organization that could emplify the issues 182 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:38.639 and put both candidates on front street and if you, 183 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.200 if you will, in terms of a challenge, what is 184 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:44.559 it that we're trying to get done in our community 185 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:45.960 that either one of. 186 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:47.480 You guys can support. 187 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:52.919 And frankly, the only person has responded is President Trump 188 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:54.879 on a tweet and said that he liked what I 189 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.480 was doing and that you know, if he get back 190 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.000 in the White House, you know he wants to continue 191 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:02.519 what he started in terms of some of the things 192 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:05.159 that he had done before he left to help support 193 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:08.039 community first. So I think that's a blessing. Like I said, 194 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.039 I put it out to both candidates. This is not 195 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:13.919 the first time I've been in this kind of situation 196 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.240 where you know, you put out something that means something 197 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.720 to the community and then you hit crickets. But the 198 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:22.960 respond it is a bright moment for me. You know 199 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.559 that if somebody's taking what I'm saying sill. 200 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:31.120 You can't control how a candidate or candidates will respond, 201 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.840 how they'll respond, if they'll respond, But if they don't respond, 202 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:37.240 how do you proceed? 203 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:37.559 How? 204 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.919 In other words, what what do you take from that? 205 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.279 What do you say to other people who may be 206 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.080 listening to you? 207 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.399 And me? 208 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:45.039 In this conversation right now. 209 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:46.919 And I mean that means you didn't hear from the 210 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:50.279 Harris campaign the Trump campaign at least acknowledge you. 211 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:52.200 But what would then be the next step. 212 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.759 That's the bottom line. 213 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:56.480 It's not about me, it's not about you, but your 214 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:02.080 platform is powerful. It's about the community saying, first of all, 215 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:05.080 not just for the presidency, but up and down the ballot, 216 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:09.639 here's some policies that we need, here's some policies that 217 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:12.399 we need to enact. And if you're going to keep 218 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:16.120 running for these offices, we need you to hear us. 219 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:19.559 And so rather it be the president of the United 220 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:25.720 States and more sin sikri, governors, local officials that can 221 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:29.200 help start the ball or rolling that helps in our 222 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.440 decision making. If we can't get any not just me, 223 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:35.440 but all of us, if we can't get any feedback 224 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:38.879 or support for the things that matter, then why should 225 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.879 we keep voting you into office? And people need to 226 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.039 understand the power of their vote in that sense that 227 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.960 if you continue to keep voting people in with no 228 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:54.360 benefit to you or your community, that's just pure sanity. 229 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:58.960 They need you to become who they become in terms 230 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.200 of those seats that they want the city in but 231 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:05.080 you don't ask for nothing in return. Yeah, you know, 232 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.799 and I know I'm not the only one that feel 233 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.559 like this. I would like to hear what you got 234 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.279 to say about it. But I've been out there and 235 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.200 I've been talking to different people that I've been doing 236 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:16.320 these concert series in different cities just to start the conversation. 237 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.960 You know, in terms, every time I pull up into 238 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.399 a city with a concert, a lot of people get 239 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:23.519 the benefit from it. So I'm just trying to show 240 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:27.279 how when we come together we can move economics. We 241 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.600 can do it before any election, we can do it 242 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:32.679 on our own, but I like to use those times 243 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.279 though that says what are we doing and how we 244 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:39.440 going to do it? Where we don't allow the same 245 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:41.399 thing to keep being on reality. 246 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:44.799 How do you go about changing that reality which means 247 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.919 like we're not going to vote in the same people. 248 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.840 That could mean the same party or the same person. 249 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.679 Like for example, just because you change foods, it doesn't 250 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:57.399 mean that your diet improves. You could be trading a 251 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.639 hamburger for a piece of pizza that doesn't help cholesterol 252 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.159 or blood pressure. I know that's a clunky analogy, but 253 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:05.840 you understand what I mean. So how is it we 254 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:10.440 can hold these politicians accountable. 255 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.799 Well, the same way you can vote them in, you 256 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:14.559 can vote them out. Is what I'm saying. 257 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:17.600 Is when you tell, when you show that you, when 258 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.919 you show people that you have a problem with them 259 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:25.639 not representing your issues and your policies, it affects them. 260 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:28.399 It affects them in terms of them being able to 261 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:32.240 get into office. And so I don't know if what 262 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.919 we're trying to do now is going to have a 263 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.159 major imprint on the election, but it's a start. My 264 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.919 thing is what do we do do we just sit 265 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:45.240 here and just not do anything when our voice and 266 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.879 our vote will make the difference who becomes the next 267 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:50.720 president of the United States. So it's important for them 268 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:53.600 to tell us exactly what they're going to do for us. 269 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:57.120 My guess right now is Michael Harry oh Harris as 270 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:00.639 we talk about the election and also his life since 271 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:05.159 being commuted by then President Trump, and how he's using 272 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.799 this time and his talents to make sure that we 273 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:12.399 are fully invested and involved in this upcoming presidential election 274 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:16.840 and also down ballot races. It's later with mo Kelly Harry. 275 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.720 Can I get you to hang around for one more segment. 276 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:21.879 I would love to hear more about what you're doing 277 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.840 and who you're reaching. 278 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:27.159 Yes, sir, you're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on 279 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.039 demand from KFI AM six forty. 280 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.399 And I've been speaking with Michael harry O Harris. I've 281 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:37.080 long known of Harry Oh because he is an original 282 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:41.039 co founder and co founder of Death Row Records, one 283 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:45.200 of the most prolific hip hop music labels in history. 284 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.360 I know him from his time in music and that's 285 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.120 not done. But more importantly and more presently, he was 286 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.120 commuted by then President Trump after serving thirty three years 287 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.919 in prison for Tipton murder that he says he did 288 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:03.320 not commit. But he's dedicated his life and his talents 289 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.039 since that time in twenty twenty one to make sure 290 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:11.120 communities are more involved and more informed about these politicians 291 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.759 and issues. And HARRYO, let me come back to you. 292 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:17.000 You're talking to me. I'm a little bit older than 293 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:20.519 other folks who maybe need to hear this message. I 294 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.279 know that a lot of folks in their twenties and 295 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:27.039 thirties who desperately need to hear your message. How successful 296 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:29.759 have you been with connecting with the younger generation. 297 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.679 Well, I mean it's going to come out in a watch, 298 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.320 but you know, just the fact that I've been having 299 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.600 these meetings with these young people at these different events 300 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.360 and hearing them talk back about what they what they like. 301 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.720 The movement is what it is, that's what they say. 302 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:48.120 They said, we feel we hear you, and we feel 303 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.399 like we want to be a part of what you're doing. 304 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:53.039 And they want to know more. They want to know 305 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.279 how is it going to make a difference. And so 306 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.679 it's not just for me, it's for other people who 307 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:01.639 feel like I do, to come together and help inform 308 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.200 them in these ways because they are open to it, 309 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:08.200 because a lot of them haven't never been, never approached politics, 310 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:12.480 because they just feels like it doesn't mean whoever's there 311 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.440 is not going to change their life. But that's not 312 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:17.639 true if we don't push whoever that is. It's not 313 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.200 about individual it's about the policies that those individuals will 314 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:25.080 fight for. And it's one thing for somebody who says, well, 315 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.600 if I'm in office, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna 316 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.240 do this, but do they have the ability to get 317 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.399 it done? Because you know, this got to go through Congress. 318 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.720 It's got to go through a lot of steps, you know. 319 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.080 That's why I say it's not about one individual. It's 320 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:40.039 about a group of individuals who collectively believe in these 321 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.000 policies and help push them through. I can tell you 322 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.960 all day. I like that, I'm gonna do that. But 323 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.840 what's the incentive. What's the incentive? The incentive is if 324 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:54.360 your party does not get behind these policies, your party 325 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.840 will be affected up and down the ballot. 326 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.480 I completely agree with that. 327 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:01.879 What do you think from where you set are some 328 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:06.000 of the most important issues that need to be addressed 329 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:10.559 by a future President Trump or a future President Harris? 330 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.480 For instance? 331 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:13.440 Like I said, I travel around the country a lot, 332 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:17.079 and I see a lot of communities that just seems 333 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:21.319 like deserts. I've been studying a lot about opportunity zones, 334 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:23.720 for example, and a lot of people say, well, that's 335 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.920 just for the rich, and so I dibbed into that, Well, 336 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:30.599 it gives a rich an advantage in terms of taxation, 337 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.920 but it takes rich people to participate in opportunity zones, 338 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:39.559 but they have to be in put in overlook communities. 339 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:44.240 So it's just connecting the dots between a system that's 340 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:47.759 in place to build up a community and make sure 341 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:51.759 that the community benefits from these opportunity zones. So we 342 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:55.839 need to be educated on how these different policies around 343 00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:01.119 opportunity zones can enrich our community. People gonna get they 344 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:03.440 tax break, they're gonna do what they're gonna do. But 345 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:08.319 can we benefit by building companies and and uh and 346 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.799 and and and property and rebuilding our properties in our 347 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.319 community in conjunction with that. So that's one thing you 348 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.480 want to see happen. And then you want you want 349 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.599 to make sure our schools are top nuts. I mean, 350 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.880 other countries are just running over us when it comes 351 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.640 to education, and especially in our communities. 352 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.359 And so school choice. 353 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.480 I think things like, even in our community having the 354 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:34.160 best schools, we cannot just send our kids to schools 355 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:38.680 and not make sure that they're getting the best opportunity 356 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.359 to be able to compete in this technological world that 357 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:45.000 we live in now and so and even some people 358 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.640 who don't want to go to college, there's programs pell 359 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:51.279 grants that could be utilized to help trades where people 360 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:55.079 can learn technical skills and have meaningful employment. 361 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.319 So these are the kind of things. 362 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:00.359 That you know and bringing capital, having access to capital 363 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:03.200 in these communities to be able to build on these 364 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:06.839 different projects that we have. We have so many different opportunities, 365 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:10.759 but no access to capital. So these are the kind 366 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.519 of things that I think that are important for the 367 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.960 outside community and for the inside community. 368 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.160 I'm really really. 369 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:21.119 Connected to what needs to happen when you have a 370 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:24.359 captive audience, if you will, while you in prison. So 371 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.680 that's the second part of an agenda where you want 372 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.279 to give the reform reform agenda you want you want 373 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:33.920 to make sure that while people are incarcerated, that they're 374 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:38.079 learning and have access as skills while they're there, training 375 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:41.279 skills so that when they come home, the Second Chance 376 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.960 Act should be also available to them. People should be 377 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:50.920 open to giving these people a new opportunity to change 378 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:53.279 their life, especially if they done did the work while 379 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.799 they're behind the walls, to come out and be able 380 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:59.519 to take care of their family and being meaningful. 381 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:02.599 And functional in the visuals and society. I don't seen 382 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.720 it happen. I've seen people. 383 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:07.480 Go through these different programs, get skills and come home 384 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:10.000 and do miraculous things. 385 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:12.680 Michael Harri Harris, I could speak to you all night, 386 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:15.119 but I don't have that luxury, but I know someone 387 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:19.000 was informed and influenced by this conversation and wants to 388 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:21.680 know more about what you do and how they may 389 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.480 connect with you. 390 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:24.119 How can people go about doing that? 391 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:28.759 Well, Two, we can go to at Community First Action 392 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:33.759 or also Community First Action dot org and read up 393 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.000 on some of the stuff that we're doing and also 394 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.680 tie into us and see how we could work together 395 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:42.920 to make these agendas and policies real. 396 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.599 Michael Harrio Harris, I've known of you, as I said before, 397 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.599 for many many years from a music industry standpoint, but 398 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.839 I'm pleased to see what you're doing in and outside 399 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.839 the community, which is trying to make this place a 400 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.240 little bit better than how we all found it. So 401 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:02.319