audio by artist kat aaron

• produced by Kat Aaron
• in

The 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, stepped into office and began his rather controversial presidency. During Pierce's 4-year term, his administration passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which ultimately reopened the possibility of slavery in West and sparked a series of events that lead to the ear of pro-slavery violence known as Bleeding Kansas. Pierce also emerged as a strong advocate of American expansionist policies and in a secret document known as the Otsend Manifesto, Pierce attempted to acquire Cuba from Spain for $120 million US dollars. Further, if Spain didn't cooperate, the Manifesto suggested that the U.S. seize Cuba by force.

• produced by Kat Aaron
• in

Myles Yutaka Fukunaga, a young man of Japanese decent, was hung in Oahu Prison for murdering the 10-year-old son of a wealthy White businessman. At the time Myles Fukunaga was only 19 years old and working 80 hours a week to support his family. After being evicted for late rent, Fukunaga made a desperate attempt at a $10,000 ransom by kidnapping the son of the Hawaiian Trust Company's vice president; this was the same company to whom the rent was owed. The anti-Japanese sentiment in Hawaii was exemplified during the rushed trial in which Fukunaga's court-appointed attorney called no witnesses and left out many useful points of evidence.

• produced by Kat Aaron
• in 2007

PPH Co-Director Kat Aaron reports on the New York City Broadband Advisory Committee's first public hearing, March 30, 2007.