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DEMOCRACY NOW! CENSORED-Juan Gonzalez Resigns-Urges Fight Pacifica's Theft

by Listener
Gonzalez Resigns On-Air. Urges Listeners to Take Pacifica Back From Thieves. WPFW Blacks-Out Show.
FROM MAIL-LIST:
"Juan Gonzalez resigns on Democracy Now live 6:AM PDT (repreat at 9 AM, PDT, if Pacifica does not invtervene

Gonzales breaks gag order announces

212-871-9322 and
pacificacampaign [at] yahoo.com

for continued activity to "save Pacifica" urges listeners and supporters to contact to take back Pacifica Radio from "small clique" who is trying to take over Pacifica Radio, he says....

he wishes well to Amy Goodman, who continues Democracy Now! Radio from WBAI, New York, on fifth year anniversary...pointing to unprecedented attacks on Goodman"

Pacifica's Bessie Walsh Treats DC Listeners to What Democracy Sounds Like To People Of HER ILK--->

"Democracy Now! was censored over Pacifica station WPFW today about a minute into Juan's resignation, which was about 10-15 minutes into the program. The rest of the show was kept off the air."

SITE FOR WBAI INFORMATION:
http://www.savewbai.tao.ca/


Pacifica Information:
http://www.radio4all.org/freepacifica
by Listener
Juan Gonzalez Resignation Letter

SOURCE: http://savewbai.tao.ca

Following is the resignation letter Juan Gonzalez sent to Pacifica management today, portions of which he read on the air this morning during the Democracy Now! broadcast.

To: Steve Yasko, Pacifica Director of National Programing CC: Pacifica Board of Directors From: Juan Gonzalez Date: 1/31/01

Re: Resignation

This is to notify you that I am resigning as co-host of Democracy Now! effective immediately.

I take this action with much regret since, as you know, I have worked alongside host Amy Goodman from the show's inception nearly five years ago and am proud of the groundbreaking work we have done to establish a national radical news magazine. Even more important, I have listened to Pacifica programs for more than 30 years and understand the critical role the network has played in reporting important stories the corporate media ignored, thus helping to shape progressive thought and popular movements throughout the country.

But the current management situation at Pacifica has become intolerable, and despite my hope that the majority of the Pacifica Foundation board of directors would come to its senses, the situation has only gotten worse. The last straw was the Christmas coup at WBAI last month.

Quite simply, the Pacifica board has been hijacked by a small clique that has more in common with corporate vultures than with working-class Americans. That clique has illegally changed the Foundation's by-laws, and during the past two years it has methodically sought to squash dissent throughout the network -- first at KPFA, then at PNN news, then at Democracy Now!, and now at WBAI. This group does not respect free speech. It does not respect labor or civil rights. It does not even practice due process for its own managers. And it is now seeking to radically alter Pacifica's by-laws to pave the way for the selling of one or more stations.

Furthermore, this clique insults Pacifica's loyal and sophisticated listeners by asking them to finance its shenanigans with their donations.

Starting today, I will be joining other Pacifica listeners in a national corporate campaign that will not rest until every board member who has orchestrated this hijacking resigns and a new board is in place -- one that is democratically accountable to the network's listeners, community and staff.

Our campaign will call for listeners across the country to withhold donations to Pacifica in a mass referendum against your policies. Instead, we will urge them to contribute their money to a variety of groups around the country that are battling the Pacifica board -- including the legal fund for court suits which are currently challenging the board's legitimacy.

Mr. Murdock, Mr. Acosta, Mr. Palmer, you will soon find out that Pacifica is listener-sponsored radio.

***********************
Link to Audio of Blacked-Out Show:
http://www.columbia.edu/~mlc67/

Juan said to contact him @ 212-871-9322 and
pacificacampaign [at] yahoo.com
by Listener
A rough transcript of Juan's Statement is at:

http://www.savewbai.tao.ca/savewbai00114.html

Included are his remarks concerning the treatment of Amy Goodman by the rougue Pacifica Board members and thier pupputs and minions at Pacifica and at WBAI.

An excerpt follows:

"Amy, I've got to tell you that the consistent attacks on you, the most important public face at Pacifica, have so poisoned the atmosphere at the network that it's becoming increasingly difficult for many people of conscience to continue working here.

And, Amy, you're a wonderful and committed journalist, you've been subjected to slanderous personal accusations and constant undermining of your efforts. And the board of Pacifica has tolerated, and I think even encouraged this, and it's hypocritical of the board to claim in its taped statements that it fully supports Amy Goodman when key managers routinely make your life miserable.."

************************


PLEASE LETS DO WHAT IT TAKES TO THROW THESE BUMS OUT ON THEIR COLLECTIVE ASSES! THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER BOARDS FOR THEM TO "SIT ON" AND SCREW UP!


UPDATES-
http://www.savewbai.tao.ca/

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