Shirley Cavanaugh

Shirley Cavanaugh, a down on her luck sex worker, blew the lid off a corrupt police department in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. By chance she was falsely accused of shooting a cop, but instead of backing down, she fought back. What happened to her triggered a major investigation that ended in the disbandment of the Pittsburgh Vice Squad. In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey explores Shirley's story, her entanglement with an Officer and the remarkable coalition that rallied around her. Featuring interviews with Shirley's grandson Jason Kirin and Pittsburgh columnist Jessie Sage, this is a forgotten story of bravery, abuse, and resistance.

You can buy Jason Kirin's book From the Furnace With Love; The Multigenerational Tapestry of Shirley Cavanaugh, documenting his grandmother's incredible story.

Read Jessie Sage's article about Shirley Cavanaugh.

We'd like to thank our Season sponsors M e g a P e r s o n a l s, Assembly Four, Tryst, A Great Idea, and the New Moon Network.

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