Coalition for a democratic Pacifica 499 Alabama Street, #221, San Francisco, CA 94110 510-594-4000 ext. 202 Contact: Nick Alexander, 510-601-9544 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mary Berg, 510-428-0949 Jeffrey Blankfort, 415-255-9182 July 14, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE All Out July 14 Against Pacifica's Occupation of KPFA! Join what will likely be a massive 1000+ rally in front of KPFA, 1929 Martin Luther King JR Way, Wednesday, July 14, at 5:00 PM against Pacifica's shocking take over of the station and in support of arrested protesters who occupied the building! (Rally schedule for Wednesday, July 14 also includes: 8AM to 10AM, 12 PM to 1PM at KPFA. Those who can attend the 8AM and/or NOON rallies are encouraged to do so. We need to maintain the largest presence in front of the station that we possibly can!) At around 6:10 PM, July 13, the KPFA News began reporting a disturbance inside the station as armed guards attempted to remove Flashpoints co-host Dennis Bernstein. Earlier, Bernstein played a tape of Mumia Abu Jamal in support of KPFA staff and on the Pacifica crisis. He also aired a press conference held that same afternoon in which fired programmer Robbie Osman, attorney Dan Seigel, and Media Alliance Executive Director Andrea Buffa reported on developments in the struggle against Pacifica, including the announcement of a lawsuit to force accountability and a controversial email detailing the possible closure of KPFA. ( See below.) The microphone went silent as anchor Mark Mericle started to explain that Garland Gantner from Pacifica's Houston station had been installed as KPFA acting manager and was carrying out the take over. Then, eerily, the sound went to a taped speech from the Pacifica archives on corporate power and control in the US. A crowd of over 300 people soon gathered in front of the station in support of staff and listeners who occupied the ground and second floors inside. Protesters booed and chanted as riot cops jostled demonstrators around and set up barricades so activists inside the building could be escorted to waiting paddy wagons. Arrested activists include Marianne Torres of Take Back KPFA. By 10:30 PM or so, the crowd still blocked the street and some 30 to 40 people were still inside, including Dennis Bernstein, programmers Pratap Chatterjee, Mary Berg, and Robbie Osman, news anchors Mark Mericle and Aileen Alfandary, Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance, and Van Jones, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. The stage for the take over seemed to be set at a Bay Area press conference Monday in which Pacifica Board Chair Mary Frances Berry drew a "line in the sand" on alleged violations by KPFA staff of the socalled gag rule. In addition, there is also an ominous email, apparently sent by Pacifica Board member and real estate broker Michael Palmer to Berry. That message reveals a plan to destroy grassroots opposition and to put canned programming on KPFA. The memo begins with: "I salute your fortitude in scheduling a news conference opportunity in the beloved Bay Area regarding one of the most pressing issues of our time. But seriously, I was under the impression there was support in the proper quarters, and a definite majority, for shutting down that unit and re-programming immediately. Has that changed?" [For more information go to http://www.counterpunch.com and http://www.radio4all.org/freepacifica.] - This message comes via the freepacifica list. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a single word email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
