Smart Talk Tuesday: Lancaster protests; Philadelphia reporter arrested at protest; Poll shows public supports COVID-19 response; Counties want mental health funding

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 John Minchillo / AP Photo

Demonstrators join hands on Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.

Protests continued across the country last night against police brutality and racial injustice in the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis last week.

In Lancaster, several members of the police department marched with the protesters Monday. Sunday’s demonstration in Lancaster was more heated as protesters screamed at police and several were arrested. Police used pepper spray to subdue a few protesters.

Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace says “outside agitators” may have been behind Sunday’s testy standoff.

Lancaster City Council President Ismail Smith-Wade-El, who has been involved in the Lancaster community for years, appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to discuss the protests and the issues raised by the Floyd incident.

Also on Tuesday’s program, WHYY radio reporter Avi Wolfman-Arent was arrested during a demonstration in Philadelphia on Sunday, even after clearly stating he was a journalist. He’s one of a growing number of media members who have been injured or arrested during the protests. Wolfman-Arent describes what happened on Tuesday’s show.

Smart Talk‘s coronavirus coverage on Tuesday includes results from the Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos nationwide poll that finds more Americans’ priorities are shifting towards the economy and away from health — compared to a poll in March — even though almost two-thirds of those polled say government’s priority should be preventing the virus from spreading. David Schleifer, Ph.D, Director of Research for Public Agenda, is on Smart Talk with details.

Finally, Pennsylvania counties say the need for more funding from the state for mental health treatment and support is even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinton County Commissioner Jeff Snyder, President of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania joins us on Smart Talk.