Our Summer Reads: ‘The Holly’ Shows the Other Side of a Gang Violence Story
What happens when an anti-gang activist shoots someone at his own peace rally? For Terrance Roberts of Northeast Park Hill, that question came to define his life following that very incident on September 20, 2013. Award-winning journalist Julian Rubinstein spent seven years reporting Roberts’ story. The resulting book, “The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun, and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood,” came out in May 2021. It won a Colorado Book Award for best general nonfiction, and has been made into a documentary film that premiered at this year’s Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. And recently, Roberts announced a run for Denver mayor. Roberts and Rubinstein joined host Bree Davies last May to talk about the book, the nature of gang violence in Denver, and police reform.
NOTE: This interview originally aired in May 2021, and is back as part of our special summer book series.
Learn more about the documentary film "The Holly," which Julian Rubinstein directed, at TheHollyFilm.com
Connect with us on Twitter: @citycastdenver
And sign up for our morning newsletter!
Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:
- Denver Film presents Film on the Rocks: Summer of Soul
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Breaking Down the Public Health Fight Over Aurora's ICE Facility. Plus, Crocs' New Tax Haven and Chipotle in Mexico
The state’s public health department is ordering the GEO Group to provide information about tuberculosis at an Aurora immigration detenti...
Are These The Most Influential Denverites of the 21st Century?
Denver might not boast the same star-studded celebrity lists like LA or NYC, but the Mile High has its own group of movers and shakers th...
Who's to Blame for Scooters on the Sidewalk? Plus, Pay What You Can Art and Another Dry Reservoir
Veo scooters,bikes, and trikes are ready to ride on nearly every corner in Denver, but whose job is it to enforce their rules of the road...
Egg Salad But Make it Chic, Summer Coffee Picks, and a New Social App for the Wealthy?
Denver is officially entering the “sando” chat. Multiple restaurants around the Mile High are now serving these Japanese milk-bread sandw...
Is Waymo Watching You? Plus, Doing Boring Things in Public and a Bear Attack!
The robotaxi company Waymo has been testing cars around Denver. Last Thursday, one of the autonomous vehicles got itself stuck in the mid...
Debating Data Centers and Tipped Wages, Boosting EVs, and More Reflections on a Denver Lawmaker's Time in Office
Rep. Alex Valdez is coming up on the term limit for his stint as the House District 5 representative, and he’s looking back on some of th...
What to Do With an Empty Stadium? Plus, First Fridays and Homie the Clown
The Broncos have released updated renderings of what the new development around new stadium could look like at Burnham Yard. Now, that’s...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Denver
As much as you love Denver, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have compla...
Does Denver Need a ‘Slavery Acknowledgement’? Plus, Wildfire Smoke and Women’s World Cup Hopes
Why did City Council backtrack on letting bars and nightclubs stay open to 4 a.m.? And who exactly was in favor of later let-out times in...
Why Does Gov. Polis Hate Socialism? Plus, Is Our Corn in Danger?
Gov. Jared Polis has been raising some eyebrows lately, and not just for his loud outfit at Colorado’s 150th birthday party. The outgoing...