When democracy is tested, can rights on paper hold?

A note from Laura & Vivien: "We set out to create a timely piece that reflects the political moment we’re living in, and the red card — a small, wallet-size card that outlines constitutional rights intended to be read by immigrants during encounters with law enforcement — felt like a tangible object that speaks volumes about the current climate.

Reporting this story took us across New York City:

In Crown Heights, Brooklyn, we spoke with two printers who produce the card.

At the Union Square Market in Manhattan, we searched for people who distribute or have used the card. In Jackson Heights, Queens, we asked people to read the constitutional rights in different languages. And at CUNY in Manhattan, we interviewed a professor about the power—and the limitations—of the card.

Together, the voices in this piece raise two larger questions: Do rights on paper hold when democracy is being tested? And on a more personal level, what role can artists play in politically tense times?"

Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Ives Schachtschabel

This piece was produced by Laura Rojas Aponte and Vivien Schütz for Audio Flux Circuit 06: Creative Tension. Each submission was required to:

• Run exactly three minutes
• Take inspiration from the theme: “CREATIVE TENSION”
• Include audible REPETITION (nodding to the rhythm of knitting)
• And… tell us, what COLOR is your fluxwork?

(Their color was red.)

Learn more about Audio Flux at audioflux.org.

Vivien Schütz is an independent audio creative from Germany, living in Brooklyn. She produces audio documentaries and audio dramas and has a faible for non-narrated storytelling. A documentary especially close to her heart, that she created with Stefanie Heim, explores how female nocturnal flaneuses claim space at night. You can find her work on https://vivienschutz.com. 

Since launching her first show in 2014, Laura Rojas Aponte has led and shaped the growth of top-charting podcasts serving Latino audiences in the U.S. and internationally. She’s currently the Lead Producer of The Moment,  from Radio Ambulante Studios and iHeart's MyCultura Podcast Network. https://www.laurarojasaponte.com/ 

Vivien and Laura are both part of Audio Spice, a collective hosting free, sound-focused events for NYC creatives.