FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 6, 2001 TEL: 212-871-9322 E-MAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED FOR A FUNDING BOYCOTT OF PACIFICA RADIO'S FIVE-STATION NETWORK A new organization is calling for listeners of Pacifica radio stations around the country to show their opposition to the current corporate takeover of the network by refusing to donate any money to Pacifica until its current board of directors resigns and is replaced by a new board that is democratically accountable to listeners, staff and the communities the stations serve. The Pacifica Campaign, the group spearheading the boycott, was hastily founded this weekend following last week's dramatic on-air resignation by Juan Gonzalez, longtime co-host of Pacifica's national flagship news show, Democracy Now!. In his resignation, Gonzalez criticized a "clique" on the board that has "hijacked" the network. That clique, Gonzalez said, has routinely squashed free speech on the Pacifica stations, has violated the civil and labor rights of listeners and staff, and has illegally changed the non-profit network's by-laws in preparation for a possible sale of one or more of the stations. Gonzalez, who joined with some 35 New York city activists to found the new group this past weekend, is serving as interim coordinator of the campaign. As part of the campaign, the group will seek to pressure individual board members to resign by utilizing non-violent, direct action and by launching an educational campaign to the public that exposes the roles of the individual board members in the current crisis. Starting today, the Pacifica Campaign will have five full-time volunteer organizers and scores of part-time volunteers working on the effort. We have also retained the services of Ray Roger's Corporate Campaign Inc., a group that specializes in mounting nationwide boycotts against anti-labor and anti-community organizations. In the few days since Juan Gonzalez's resignation, the campaign has been flooded by thousands of e-mails and phone calls of support from Pacifica listeners who want to help. Organizers will be contacting those listeners directly during the next few days. Meanwhile, we urge all listeners to do the following: 1) DO NOT PLEDGE ANY MONEY TO ANY PACIFICA STATION 2) IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED MONEY, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHECK IN 3) CONTRIBUTE MONEY INSTEAD TO THE PACIFICA CAMPAIGN, OR TO THE THREE LEGAL SUITS CURRENTLY CHALLENGING THE BOARD'S LEGITIMACY, OR TO A LOCAL LISTENER GROUP IN YOUR AREA -- IN SHORT, TO THOSE FIGHTING TO REFORM PACIFICA. TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PACIFICA CAMPAIGN CAN BE MADE PAYABLE TO: THE INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA ANALYSIS/PACIFICA CAMPAIGN. THE MAILING ADDRESS IS: THE PACIFICA CAMPAIGN 51 MACDOUGAL STREET, #80 NEW YORK, NY 10012 4) CALL YOUR LOCAL PACIFICA STATION AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL NOT GIVE ANY MONEY UNTIL THE CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESIGNS 5) DO NOT COOPERATE WITH PACIFICA'S FUND DRIVE BY OFFERING AS PREMIUMS ANY BOOKS OR TAPES YOU HAVE AUTHORED OR PRODUCED. Also, do not be confused if you hear the host of your favorite show urging you on-the-air to pledge money. Many producers and hosts are opposed to the policies of the current board of directors, but they are prevented by gag rules from voicing their displeasure and they must ask for pledges from listeners or they can be fired. It is important to keep shows like Democracy Now! on the air. For now, we are urging producers who oppose the board to keep soliciting pledges but to "work to rule," i.e., do the minimal amount of fundraising work and with as little enthusiasm as possible. As we reduce the money coming into Pacifica we will reduce the board's ability to continue its anti-listener policies. At the same time, we will be increasing the pressure on individual board members, until they have no recourse but to resign. We will oust the hijackers and return Pacifica to its original mission. For more information, go to the campaign website: http://pacificacampaign.org. Or call 212-871-9322 ********************************************** Mailing Address: The Pacifica Campaign 51 MacDougal St., #80 NY, NY 10012 www.pacificacampaign.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************* [Donations can be made directly to the 3 lawsuits' umbrella fund at: The Vanguard Public Foundation 383 Rhode Island Street, Suite 301 San Francisco, CA 94103 Checks to: Free Pacifica Legal Action Fund/Vanguard Foundation] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~> eGroups is now Yahoo! 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