DISSENT NOT WELCOME AT PACIFICA FOUNDATION

Pacifica Foundation Board members and employees continue campaign to quash dissent.


Monday, March 26, 2001. On KPFA they replayed Bessie Walsh's message that interrupted Democracy Now this morning. Apparently reacting to information that she had received about a protest outside station KPFT in Houston, she used the opportunity to further the objectives of the unpopular moves of the current board of Pacifica Foundation. Resorting to new tactics for dealing with dissent among the Pacifica ranks, those whose authority is challenged are now using COINTELPRO type tactics. They are attempting to demonize dissenters as terrorists bent on violence while adding the gender card to the deck.

Let's take a look at some key concepts in Ms. Walsh's broadcast.

First of all, she tries to marginalize the dissent by calling them "a small group of individuals."

Next, she plays the gender card by saying that the incident involved a “female” being attacked by a “male” demonstrator.

Eyewitnesses indicate that Mollie O'Brian, development director for KPFT yelled "RAPE!" during the situation.

Then she continues by saying that a “female” was attacked by “male” in WBAI studio, referring to when Eutrice Lied, WBAI station manager tried to silence the broadcast of Congressman Major Owen.

She goes on by referring to the dissenting activities as being racial and sex based attacks, closing by indicating that dissenters have a “wrath” and are encouraged to carry out violence.

What follows is a report by an eyewitness:

"[Edwin} Johnston and three members of the Houston Committee for People's Radio and Pacifica Listeners' Union were handing out fliers from the Pacifica Campaign to Stop the Corporate Takeover, in front of KPFT, during a party in the station's back yard for large donors. Molly O'Brian, Development Director of KPFT and [KPFT Station Manager] Garland Ganter's wife, approached them and accousted [sic] leafletter Sheila Harris, grabbing her fliers and knocking her off balance. Johnston followed Ms. O'Brian, demanding the fliers back, and reached for them. As he reached for the fliers, O'Brian shouted "Rape!" loudly, shocking everyone.

After Ms. O'Brian shouted "Rape!" Mr. Ganter ran to the front yard of the building to push Johnston. The two men were joined by another unidentified man; both men pushed Johnston several times. Ganter called the police from a cell phone and Johnston was arrested for assault."

Note also that Johnston was charged with a Class C Misdemeanor which is the equivalent of a traffic violation. Had there been an actual assault, he would have been charged with at least a Class B, which requires physical contact, or with rape or attempted rape (felonies) had there actually been one
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Is this an indication that the unpopular Pacifica Board is getting desperate for ways to quash dissent; or, is it just a new tactic to demonize the dissenters?

Considering that Pacifica Board member David Acosta interrupted KPFA broadcasting midday to make some general denouncement of violence by dissenters coupled with the biased report about the situation aired at 4 p.m. on KPFA, it is pretty clear what is going on. Dissent is not welcome at Pacifica. If you disagree with what is being carried out by the current Board of Directors, you will be labeled as a “small group of individuals” who are bent on “violence.” Again, tactics of marginalization and demonization that wreak of COINTELPRO methods of quashing dissent are being used to forward what appears to be a very unpopular direction for the Pacifica Foundation.