In 2004, a 16 year old runaway named Cyntoia Brown was picked up in Nashville, Tennessee, by a forty-three year old man who planned to have sex with her in exchange for money. At the time, Cyntoia was living in a motel room with an adult male pimp, Cut-throat, who had been prostituting her and violently abusing her sexually, mentally, and physically, while also providing her with drugs. Late that night, as Cyntoia was lying naked in the bed with the man who had picked her up for sex, her paranoia growing from the drugs and abuse she had suffered, Cyntoia became convinced that the man intended to cause her bodily harm. She fired one bullet at the man, killing him. She then picked up some items to bring back to her pimp so she would not be beaten. She drove the man's car to a Wal-Mart parking lot and walked back to her pimp's motel room. Cyntoia was quickly arrested, charged as an adult, and convicted of first degree murder. She was sentenced to a life sentence (60 years in prison), and will be required to serve 51 calendar years before she can be considered for parole. Since 2004, Cyntoia has been working diligently to make amends for her crime. Today, Cyntoia is an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, and resilient young woman. She recently graduated with an Associates of Arts degree with a GPA of 4.0 from Lipscomb University's LIFE Program (Lipscomb Initiative For Education), and she will soon earn her Bachelor's degree from Lipscomb. As she has progressed in her rehabilitation, Cyntoia has served as a beacon of light in the prison environment. She has helped other inmates earn their GEDs, worked in various meaningful jobs, and encouraged those around her to be their best selves. She has maintained meaningful relationships with positive mentors in the community, many of whom feel that they have become better people through their friendship with Cyntoia. Watch this video clip: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/sentencing-children-cyntoias-story/

Knowledge and Truth = WISDOM

David Koch may give PBS a lot of money, but he needs to know that he cannot buy YOUR integrity. The Koch brothers are important people, and documentaries are made about important people all the time ... and aired. If the brothers are embarrassed by the content, perhaps they should change their ways. Knowledge is power. Public Television endangers its charter when it changes programming and the distribution of knowledge based on donor power.

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast for fear of upsetting David Koch, a major donor to public television. But public television stations should answer to the public, not billionaires like the Koch brothers -- and I want to see this important documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens?

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast because of fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. But public television stations should answer to viewers like me, not to billionaires like the Koch brothers -- and I want to see this important documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens?

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast because of fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. But public television stations should answer to viewers like me, not to billionaires like the Koch brothers-and I want to see this important documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on PBS Hawai'i?

This is very important for Americans to see and know. "Citizen Koch" is a powerful documentary that tells the story of the outsized role of money in politics. Please let us watch it, Thank You.

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast because of fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. But public television stations should answer to viewers like me, not to billionaires like the Koch brothers -- and I want to see this important documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens?

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broad cast for fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. But, public television stations should answer to viewers like me, not to billionaires like the Koch brothers. I want to see the documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens?

The sources of information people are exposed to are able to tell the story in their own way so it is imperative that the sources and funding of the information be made transparent in order to preserve the honesty of the news. More information about anyone involved in this process and their motivations only improves the value of the news.

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast because of fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. Public television stations answer to viewers and donors like me, and we deserve to know what our neighbors the Koch Brothers have been up to. Please join me in the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens!

The Brachs factory is facing demolition the 32 acres the land sits on should be used for a new Austin community school and performing arts center. The city is offering $10.6 million in TIF money to demolish it but that very money can help fund the Root2Fruit development campus which includes a new area school and a performing arts center both are critically needed in the community.