Back Pacifica
Wednesday, October 25
Berkeley, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC
"Democracy Now!" in Danger
On October 16, the Pacifica Radio network threatened to fire "Democracy Now!" host Amy Goodman if she refused to comply with a new set of "rules" which will make it impossible for her to continue to produce the hard-hitting, breaking news stories "Democracy Now" is famous for.
It's clear that Pacifica is trying to force Amy out of her job. "Democracy Now!" is Pacifica's most popular and influential show. Hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, the show is on the cutting edge of American journalism, bringing the public stories and voices shut out of mainstream media and standing out, as the show's motto declares, as "the exception to the rulers."
The crackdown against "Democracy Now" is only the latest action of a board of directors and national management that seems determined to eviscerate the politics of the Pacifica Network-the only progressive radio network in the United States. With radio stations in Berkeley, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York, and affiliates nationwide, Pacifica is in a unique position to bring progressive social, political, and cultural programming to millions of people. But, under its current leadership, Pacifica has abandoned and betrayed its mission. It has censored journalists at several of its stations, used armed guards to close down KPFA in Berkeley, and threatened to sell the Berkeley or New York stations.
FAIR and Media Alliance urge Pacifica listeners to take to the streets in support of "Democracy Now!"
HOUSTON (KPFT 90.1 FM) 5 PM Demonstration KPFT, 419 Lovett Street
BERKELEY (KPFA 94.1 FM) 9 AM Demonstration KPFA, 1929 MLK Jr. Way
LOS ANGELES (KPFK 90.7 FM) 9 AM Demonstration (time tentative) 3729 Cahuenga Blvd. West, North Hollywood
WASHINGTON, DC (WPFW 89.3 FM) 9 AM Demonstration 2390 Champlain Street, NW
NEW YORK (WBAI 99.5 FM) 5 pm Demonstration 120 Wall Street, New York, New York
If you value community radio, it's time to take a stand.
Media Alliance, San Francisco, (415) 546-6334, ma at igc.org FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting), (212) 633-6700 ***************************************************************************** Pacifica National Board
Bessie Wash, Pacifica executive director
phone: (toll free) 888-770-4944 x348,
David Acosta, chair
Phone: (713) 926-4604, FAX: (713) 921-2780,
Ken Ford, vice chair
Phone: (202) 822-0228, FAX: (202) 822-0369,
Lynn Chadwick, former executive director, now "consultant"
Dr. Mary Frances Berry, former chair, now Board member
Phone: (202) 337-0382, FAX: (202) 376-7558,
June Makela, at-large member
Phone: (212) 673-9225 or (212) 768-1831, Fax (212) 673-9225,
Frank Millspaugh, WBAI
Phone: (212) 741-0839, FAX: (212) 924-7409,
Bob Farrell - KPFK
Phone: (323) 299-3800 X 255, FAX: (323) 299-3896,
Lee, Bertram M
Phone: (202)965-6223, 965-6224
John M. Murdock
Phone: 202-861-0900, FAX: 202-296-2882,
Michael Palmer, KPFT
Phone: (713) 840-6646 or (713) 960-8583, FAX: 713-960-8583,
Karolyn Van Putten, at large member
Phone: (415) 771-1160,
Wendell L. Johns, WPFK
Phone: (202) 752-8193,
wendell_i_johns at fanniemae.com
Andrea Cisco, WBAI
Pete Bramson, KPFA
Rabbi Aaron Kriegel, KPFK
Tomas Moran, KPFA
Rob Robinson, WPFW
Leslie Cagan, WBAI
Beth Lyons, WBAI
Valerie Chambers, KPFT