This is How...

In November 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched Operation Charlotte's Web, a mass immigration enforcement action that spread across Charlotte, Watauga County, Wake County, and beyond. What followed was a defining moment for North Carolina communities. In this episode, host Olivia Neal speaks with Sammy Salkin, Senior Policy Strategist at the ACLU of North Carolina, about the coalitio...

In this episode of This is How , host Olivia Neal sits down with UNC student organizers Netra Parikh (she/her) and Lucia Paulsen (they/them) to explore what it means to lead activism on a college campus in today’s political climate. As co-presidents of the Campus Y at UNC–Chapel Hill, Netra and Lucia are on the front lines of student-led movements for reproductive justice, racial equity, and free...

What happens when young people are given the space and support to express themselves through art? In this episode, Olivia Neal talks with Genna Marshall, senior communications strategist at the ACLU of North Carolina, about The Future Echoes zine project. This youth-led anthology invites young creators to share their thoughts, experiences, and visions for the future through visual art and writing....

What happens when families of detainees with mental illness are left to navigate a broken system on their own? In this episode, Ms. Jama Hinson shares her personal story as a mother fighting for her son’s rights within the legal system, shedding light on the urgent need for improved communication and emergency treatment for Incompetent to Proceed (ITP) detainees. ACLU of NC Attorney Michele Delgad...

How does the criminalization of unhoused people infringe upon the rights of everyone? Join host Ashia Skye for a conversation with Muneeba Talukder, a dedicated staff attorney at the ACLU of North Carolina, Sarah Norris, an advocate and organizer with a background in education justice and mutual aid, and Pip Flickinger, a passionate community advocate with personal experience of housing insecurity...

Welcome back. Last time, we explored reproductive justice and challenges in accessing abortion care, especially in North Carolina. Today, we're zooming in on the recent storm caused by Senate Bill 20, the 'monster abortion ban,' exacerbating existing struggles for abortion access. Joining us is Dr. Beverly Gray, an OBGYN and advocate deeply entrenched in the fight for reproductive rights in North...

How can we ensure reproductive rights for all? Join host Olivia Neal (she/her) and guests Maya Hart (all pronouns) from Sister Song and Camille Adair (all pronouns) from Carolina Abortion Fund on today's episode of "This Is How ACLU-NC" as they explore the history of reproductive justice and its impact on marginalized communities, particularly women of color. Discover the challenges individuals en...

Welcome back to This is How We Protect Black Students and Students with Disabilities from Disproportionate School Discipline in which host Kalvin Benfield discusses School Resource Officers (SRO) and the ACLU NC Disorderly Conduct Report with Carlton Powell and Michele Delgado. In Part 1, we examined an incident between Amerie, the school administration, and an aggressive SRO. We outlined what occ...

Picture this: Amerie, a young Black middle-school girl gets in trouble and is held against her will in the principal's office, with a School Resource Officer, denied access to calling her mom. Today, we share her story. Sadly, this isn't uncommon, as North Carolina's "disorderly conduct in schools" law grants broad discretion to school resource officers - ultimately contributing to biased punishme...

In this episode, King Sage (he/him) and Kalvin Benfield (he/him) discuss the question, How can listeners continue to learn and advocate for the rights of Black transgender and nonbinary people? Tune in to learn how to get involved, research candidates, attend local meetings, and advocate for trans rights. The fight for trans rights continues—be part of the change! About our Guests: King Sage , a m...

Today, ACLU attorney Liz Barber (she/her) and Trans Advocate Johnny McLean (he/him) join host Kalvin Benfield (he/him) to discuss the challenges faced by the transgender community in North Carolina. In this episode, we'll go over: 1. How do discriminatory laws affect healthcare, education, and sports for trans individuals?  2. Why do lawmakers push transphobic legislation while claiming to have no...

Welcome to This is How, an ACLU of North Carolina podcast that unlocks the untold stories of justice, freedom, and activism from right here in North Carolina. We will explore how we can make change happen one voice at a time. This is How is edited and produced by Earfluence .