this was the decatur trials in 1933. >> why did they move it from scottsboro? >> i think it was more a question of simply the most available and convenient venue. there were no legal reasons behind that. but the judge in that particular case was a very, very few reminded judge. that judge after hearing the testimony and the witnesses in effect declared a mistrial he ordered a retrial. that was in 1933. that provided the foundation for yet another set of appeals, which, again, went to the supreme court. the supreme court ruled on behalf of the defendants. between 1933 and 1935 there was a time of waiting. >> and during that time were they held in jail. >> yes. >> what were there ages? >> ranging in age from 13 to early twenties, to two or 23. collectively all my and served over 100 years in prison. the first four were finally released after a series of legal maneuvers. behind the doors conversations and bargaining ten deals in 1937. others were held until the early 1940's and beyond. >> they all ended up with convictions. >> they all ended up with convictions. i

these are the families in los angeles, san antonio, and miami, but they are also in decatur and des moinesaid last year, the problems and latino communities are problems for the entire american community. our future is tied. it to how well latin community does. the reverse is also true, what our country is hurting, everybody feels the pain. right now, most americans -- black, white, latino, asian american -- they aren't working hard to meet their responsibilities. all they want -- they are working hard to meet their responsibilities. all they want in return is for those to pay off. they want us to do our part to make their lives easier, to create opportunities. that is why last week i asked congress a simple question. in the face of a national emergency, can we finally put a stop to the political circus actually do something to help the economy? [applause] can we restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our founders? i believe we can and must. that is why on monday i sent the american jobs act to congress and ask them to pass it right away. [applause] th

it was, in fact, ruby bates' we can't think of the charges act of 1933 decatur trial which led to judge horton basically saying that we mustn't bring this circus to an end. >> where the prostitutes? >> they were prostitutes is a loaded term, particularly in the context of the socioeconomic circumstances that they live in and the socioeconomic circumstances that they inhabited. they were known in their communities for exchanging sexual favors. sometimes for money, sometimes for pleasure. but they were also factory workers. and as factory workers they're also looking for work. one of the note about ruby bates. after ruby bates recanted, she was immediately embraced by the ild and the communist party and went on to her. speaking tour on behalf of gaining freedom for the scottsboro boys. >> the importance of the racial issue in 1931 when this happened? >> absolutely central. absolutely inflammatory if you go back and look at some of the newspaper reports in early alabama newspapers, montgomery, look at the headlines. every single stereotype thing that you can imagine about black men, white

involved in in a security role in iraq for some time to come i believe thank you helen of the men decatur there that are that are both of us professor of international relations at boston university author of the book washington rolls and certainly something we appreciate having on the show thanks very much. now despite record breaking inequality and poverty in this country that i was talking about earlier in the show you wouldn't know it exists when you look at the free flow of cash and glitz pouring into politics take a look at the donors going to a fundraiser for president obama in l.a. last night now despite the tough economy supporters still shelled out for recent obama events from seattle to san diego over two days up words of five million dollars so quarter's pay up to the legal limit of close to thirty six grand to hear obama speak or have dinner or whatever now it's on that many americans right at that fundraiser could never envision affording take a listen to a protester outside you see the restaurant he's charging thirty five thousand dollars for people who can be part of the d

kill people in terms of if you don't and we'll talk about good decatur's and bad dictators in a second but. if you are going to go now but i mean by yes by implication you have to say that you're in when i listen to you i think there are ok and then there is that's how it's practiced in the west there are good dictators and if i was you so what you think about this whole discussion i don't know spokesman over the way i do is really to take my record on there you do all you need to we need to just step back a little bit and consider to scale that we actually adopted in talking about the world again i insist what is happening with regular human beings highest highs. significance to how we talk about in abstract terms international relations international law whether or not states intervene in other people other states affairs whether or not these regime interferes in local local politics the main guys are elsewhere and so this is where we are now at a time where libyans are going to find out very quickly that the people who are representing me and speaking on their behalf in new york are

it was in fact ruby bates recounting of the charges that the 1933 decatur trial which led to the judge basically saying we mustn't bring this circus to man and. >> were the prostitutes? >> prostitutes is a loaded term particularly in the context of the social economic circumstances the lived in and the social and economic circumstances that they inhabited. she was embraced by the communist party and went on tour speaking on behalf of the freedom for the scottsboro boys. >> the importance of the racial issue in 1931 when this happened. >> absolutely central and absolutely inflammatory if you go back and look at some of the reports of the alabama newspapers the montgomery advertising and we look at the headlines anything you can imagine about black men, white women, the presumption of sexually predatory behavior, the presumption of rape and blatant racism is at work in the headlines. >> how widespread was the coverage of this trial? >> is very widespread for several reasons. not only was it lightly covered in the south and in alabama, but also eternal that as part of their own work, the

so you a firm and a decatur, call the first number. if you are a parent, the second number. and the third number if you came up under no child left behind or you are currently still in school. chose to use's today's radio address which he submits the video version of well, offering states a waiver. here is what he had disappeared >> that goal was admirable but experience taught us that the law had some serious flaws hurting our children instead of helping them. teachers are being forced to teach to the test all subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. in order to abide -- avoid being labeled failures, states lowered their standards and erased a the bottom. -- in a race to the bottom. but for years congress has failed to take action. now what will. our kids only get one shot at a decent education and they cannot afford to wait any longer. yesterday announced we will give states more flexibility for high standards in teaching and learning. it will let states and schools and teachers to come up with innovative ways to compete for the jobs of the future. >> if n