Dorian Warren joins us as the host of Melissa Harris-Perry this weekend.
First, it has been a week of mourning for a university community in North Carolina after three Muslim-American students were shot to death at their apartment complex near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Police say Stephen Hicks, a 46-year-old atheist, killed the 3 students over an ongoing dispute about parking in the complex where both he and the victims lived. Many have urged law enforcement to classify the killings as a hate crime. Our panel will discuss this tragedy, terror against Muslim communities, and what is considered a hate crime. Panelists include:
- Jonathan Metzl, director of the Center for Medicine, Health and Society and professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University
- Raul Reyes, attorney and NBC News contributor
- Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center
- Christina Greer, assistant professor at Fordham University and author of “Black Ethnics”
Then, with the rise of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s unilateral step to dismantle his state’s public sector unions, is the 2016 election cycle going to be all about the fight to end collective bargaining? The Nation’s John Nichols and Yevgeniy Feyman of the Manhattan Institute join Dorian, Christina and Raul in a lively discussion about unions and the 2016 GOP agenda. Check out these reads for more information about the current challenges for unions:
- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner deals blow to state public sector unions
- Public employee unions under fire again
- Illinois Governor Acts to Curb Power of Public Sector Unions
- West Coast Ports Shut Down Amid Labor Dispute
In the second hour, we’re bringing you the prognosis. Sunday is the last day to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare online exchanges this year. And so far, more than 10 million people have signed up for 2015 coverage. The uninsured rate has fallen from 18% before the ACA went into effect to less than 13% today. The change has been highest among people of color and the poor. But the ACA is at risk. Next month, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case King v. Burwell. Akhil Reed Amar and Tara Dowdell join us to discuss what’s at stake.
Then, the film that’s breaking records and sparking plenty of conversation about sexuality and gender roles. Christina Greer will return along with Columbia University assistant professor Hilary Hallett and senior political writer at Cosmopolitan.com Jill Filipovic to talk about the phenomenon that is “Fifty Shades of Grey”!
All that, plus, same-sex marriage in Alabama, Mara Brock Akil, creator of hit shows including BET’s Being Mary Jane joins us for a one-on-one, and this week’s Foot Soldier who explore issues of race and social justice through art.
Be sure to read what we’ve linked above, and watch Melissa Harris-Perry Saturday at 10am ET on msnbc. Join the conversation—share your thoughts about these issues on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #nerdland.
Victoria Asbury