Sex Discrimination Suit Filed Against Pacifica Station KPFA

He just seemed like it. Talks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much smack about other folks (regardless of who they are, mind you) for him to, as they say, live in a "glass house."

Looks like karma is going back around to him. Well good. Good luck Noelle!

Well well. The pot calls the kettle black. Isn't there some psychological term for this...projection? Sociopathic? Hanrahan has fueled a lot of misery and distrust on the left using this bait and switch crap. J. Edgar would give her a big fat kiss if he only could...

Noelle Hanrahan is one of the Darth Vaders of our movements, and plenty of people know it. Not only is she scary, a control freak, and massively insecure, apparently she is also violent. Too many people have said so. There are supposedly many restraining orders that say so too - against Noelle, not Bernstein or any of these men she's claiming to be harrassed by.

For sure these restraining orders are public record somewhere, probably San Fran, Oakland, and every other community she has bulldozed her way into and backed out of (always in a hurry) in the past decade or two.

I hope other people who have experienced her behavior first hand will tell the rest of us what they know. Noelle has done great work with Mumia, for sure. But that does not make her a sanctioned bully. This is serious, serious disruption, folks. This is being dredged up at the very same time the shit is flying at WBAI in New York.

Are we stupid? How many times are we going to let the bastards do this to us?

The above posting doesn't seem to be by a "worried" impartial person. Rather it seems to be written either by a would-be lawyer for Bernstein, asking people to come up with dirt on Hanrahan. What was that again about J Edgar Hoover?

there is more truth here than most might care to admitt

Or whatever they call it around here? If not, why not? And if it is, what is going to be done about it?

how can reporting on events not reported elsewhere be an abuse of the newswire?

This is not "reporting on events." It's the distribution of unsubstantiated allegations and the active recruitment by professional attorneys of willing collaborators in what, in the absence of evidence, is just another an anti-leftist smear job. Is it Indymedia's job to recruit witnesses for a civil case against someone who, rightly or wrongly, is widely perceived as a pillar of KPFA?

More important, is it Indymedia's job to distribute unsubstantiated allegations at all, let alone against KPFA? Is this not a case of the right playing one organ of the left off against the other? Is that not abuse? Should Indymedia not, at the very least, find out the facts before becoming active participants in what looks for all the world like just another anti-leftist smear job?

These are people who are clearly out to get Bernstein. It certainly appears to be part of the ongoing attempt to remake KPFA into something it is not. Unless and until it is proven otherwise, Indymedia should stay out if it altogether, except to *report facts.* Picking sides, and working (gratis, no less) for attorneys who are attacking an outspoken journalist of the left, is not the right thing for Indymedia to be doing.

A sexual harrasment suit against any public institution absolutely is news. Even more so because Hanrahan's suit is echoed by similar allegations from Solange Echevaria. Both Hanrahan and Echevaria are excellent producers, and the fact that both allege the same thing about Bernstein and KPFA at the same time makes it even more imperative to take them seriously and let the public know about it.
The bottom line, hardly controversial, is that KPFA must have a formal, clear process for staff to make and investigate such complaints. All workplaces have to have that process. IF it's true that KPFA doesn't have one, and that managers ignored Hanrahan's complaints, that is very serious and disturbing. All too often, progressive organizations and nonprofits mistreat their own staff, seeming to have the attitude that staff should put up with abuse because it's for a good cause.
And on the subject of Dennis Bernstein....I don't know anyone at KPFA personally and have no inside knowlege of any of the politics there. But I have noticed over the years, and so have many of my friends, that there is too much Dennis Bernstein on the air, and he is unlisteneable-to much of the time. He interviews the right people and covers important issues, but he comes off as an egomaniac with a one-note emotional tone: whiny outrage. Life-long political activists need to maintain a healthy state of mind while staying informed of the atrocities perpetrated around the world. We absolutely don't need to be harrangued by Dennis Bernstein! His hysteria doesn't contribute to solving the problems he informs us about. It does add to my stress to the point that I often turn KPFA off when he's on. My friends and I have wondered over the years what is happening at KPFA that it would allow someone like him to have so much airtime.
I hope the allegations by Hanrahan and Echevaria are thoroughly investigated and, if they really don't already have one, that a fair and clear grievance process is put in place at KPFA.

Indeed he does. He can be pretty obnoxious in person, too. He was also very, very late in the game with his public objection to the wanton firing of longtime broadcasters like Bill Mandel and Mama O'Shea and the trend it represented.

But these are separate issues. This is a legal matter and Indybay appears to have sided with, and is doing the work of, one set of lawyers. Were KPFA not under concerted attack by sinister forces who are attempting to turn it into NPR Lite, this wouldn't be so bad. But that is not the case. KPFA is under attack.

It is prudent to at least consider that this attack on Bernstein might be not what it claims, but yet another move in the coupsters' game. Until it becomes clear, one way or the other, the would greatly behoove the rest of the left, especially the left media, to remain neutral, and not risk being played for pawns in a game that could ultimately hurt the Bay Area left in ways that would be very hard to recover from.

This story could have been reported objectively. It was not. That's bad journalism and bad politics.

Law suites are expensive. We, the KPFA listeners, are the ones who will wind up paying for this. The real winner in this case will be the corporate media.

I keep trying to find the right thing to say, but I guess I can't wait for that. I need to say something even if it's not all I should or could later say.
Indymedia has the advantage of allowing anonymous posts, but hiding this way weakens one's voice. The former posts could all have been made by the same 2 people for all anyone knows.

There is a place to criticize the hell out of both Bernstein and Hanrahan I'm sure, but I guess I missed my chance on that for now.

There is no other oppportunity in the Bay Area like KPFA. The indispensible top-treasure value of it can't be overstated, no matter how many times you or I turn it on and off in disgust, boredom, annoyance, outrage, frusration, grief, etc. etc. etc.

I have this touchy-feely side, sometimes proud to, sometimes ashamed of (partly because I can't think of a better way to describe something I think really is important). I wish I could have been a really really good witch doctor or therapist or one of those calm group facilitators. I think there are some, maybe some that are or should be paid as much as the top CEOs at certain radio stations are. Couldn't Noelle Hanrahan have found someone like that to help organize some sort of one-of-a-kind event, or like Janis Joplin, Coco Taylor, Alan Ginsberg, Aretha, Tom Hayden, Bob Dylan, Mimi Spencer and 50,000 other people I've heard on KPFA but who don't readily come to mind because of my own cultural upbring limits before she filed a LAWSUIT? I think one of her jobs there was to find the best interviewees, guests, entertainment...

One of her charges (in the lawsuit) seems to be that Bernstein was given 60% to her 40% time. That is so patently unfair. Why, where I work, seniority of 15 years confers no advantage whatsoever, and anyone who comes in fresh ought to be handed over at least 50% of the power after a year or two simply by reason of "representing" the under-represented class of "all women." As a woman who once fell for this bull, it's all too easy now to feel like a nice sharp -- too sharp, so sharp it's numbing -- knife has just ripped open the guts before the pain really starts, and now it's just the shit running everywhere. (And this is NOT a rant against affirmative action!)

Let's say Hanrahan really was on the way to becoming a topnotch journalist and radio personality. (Sorry Ms. H, I didn't think you'd made it yet.) And let's say Bernstein felt a combination of critical of the lacks and even (perhaps unconsciously) threatened by that. I can well imagine the hell he might have caused her. I wouldn't want to be in her place.

Ok, Ms. H, so with all your skills, you might have to admit, it's true: you just couldn't get the support you needed then. I don't mean Jim Bennett. As the excellent journalist you are, naturally it was elementary to you to perceive that Jim Bennett is not a real "people person" but an engineer!!! It must be harder to admit you couldn't find support in your never-REALLY-supportive (in fact actually undermining) family. But can't you try that now? Let us try another way! Ask us! Ask others way better at this than me. I think you could find another way.

I'm not minimizing the huge hurt it must have been. I'm pretty thin-skinned. I would have shriveled. Many of your quotes of him sound real to me. I can hear it. I can almost feel it. But a LAWSUIT? Can we help you resolve this some other way -- or is that what you really want?

(If those who take certain sides have allies who are deleting posts, then that doesn't say much for their allies ethics.)

So, you thought you'd stop by - under the pretext of wanting "a fair and clear grievance process is put in place at KPFA" - to diatribe against Bernstein...

"And on the subject of Dennis Bernstein....I don't know anyone at KPFA personally and have no inside knowlege of any of the politics there. But I have noticed over the years, and so have many of my friends, that there is too much Dennis Bernstein on the air"

So, how is Bernstein on the too much compared to Amy Goodman (on twice every weekday, unfortunately not when most working people can hear her), Andrea Lewis or Philip Maldari (on 2 hours every weekday), CS Sung, Kris Welch, Larry Bensky (usually on for 2 primetime morning hours every Sunday, plus national political events), Weyland Southon, Anita Johnson, Davey D (who also does national events hosting), and others who have weekday or regular multi-hour shows?

"and he is unlisteneable-to much of the time."

They have two little buttons or dials on most radios. One is to change the channel and the other is to turn it off.

"he comes off as an egomaniac with a one-note emotional tone: whiny outrage. "

Looks like we're being subjected to some long "whiny outrage" from you! -- what with all your talk about being under stress from a program that you could just as easily avoid.

"Life-long political activists need to maintain a healthy state of mind while staying informed of the atrocities perpetrated around the world. We absolutely don't need to be harrangued by Dennis Bernstein!"

So, instead we get subjected to this long pretextual harangue by you? Don't you have something else that you could do with your 'activism'?

"His hysteria doesn't contribute to solving the problems he informs us about. It does add to my stress to the point that I often turn KPFA off when he's on. My friends and I have wondered over the years what is happening at KPFA that it would allow someone like him to have so much airtime."

Well, you sound a little hysterical yourself, haranguing us about someone who is often on for less air time than other people are on (as Flashpoints is often segmented with different hosts and Dennis is often not even on), your haranguing us about your easily resolved "stress" problem. Mabe you (and the many friends you are speaking for) should seek therapy.

I do know that Flashpoints has taken a long and strong stance in support of Palestinian human rights and that explains the reason why this post was originally deleted by some probable external or infiltrated Zionist hacker or operative.

KPFA absolutely needs to start taking violence, threats, and abusive treatment (by and from several people who have gone undisciplined) seriously. This includes threats or violence that have occurred right in front of general manager Roy Campanella, without any response from him. For, one, we could have started long ago with the eogmaniacal Larry Bensky and his abusive treatment against others or callers that he disagrees with on the air! Without having the evidence, or not having heard from any of the parties involved, to support or oppose any particular person, I hope that there is a just resolution between Hanrahan, Bernstein, and Echevaria, the former two which admittedly have, let us say, strong personalities, and all of whom have done very good leftist work, and I definitely look forward to hearing Solange back on KPFA.

--whatever the merits of the plaintiff/grievants.

just wondering:"This includes threats [, abuse] or violence that have occurred right in front of general manager Roy Campanella, without any response from him."

(Doesn't Bensky, the abuser of many people, also have a lawsuit against KPFA? Probably that KPFA didn't promote his name enough.)

Noelle Hanrahan is a graduate of the KPFA First Voice Apprenticeship program. Here is her testimony of the program; it's at http://www.kpfa.org/apprentice/

"I owe a debt and acknowledge what went into this outstanding informative program. It not only taught basic skills, it also taught and instilled the desire and knowledge of excellence."
Noelle Hanrahan
Producer, From Death Row: This is Mumia Abu-Jamal

[I'm not minimizing the huge hurt it must have been. I'm pretty thin-skinned. I would have shriveled. Many of your quotes of him sound real to me. I can hear it. I can almost feel it. But a LAWSUIT? Can we help you resolve this some other way -- or is that what you really want?]

This makes no sense. The lawsuit alleges that Bernstein and KPFA deliberately maintained, and, indeed, escalated, a hostile work environment after Hanrahan challenged their abusive behaviour. If true (and I have no knowledge one way or the other), then a lawsuit is the appropriate, and perhaps, the only, way to proceed.

Any other approach, especially of the "touchy-feely" kind, is generally viewed with contempt by such people, a sign of weakness, but the appearance of a process server definitely gets their attention.

It is perhaps telling, however, that a highly praised graduate of KPFA's apprenticeship program is now suing the station and one of its most prominent program hosts. Something is definitely amiss, but the question is, where?

--Richard

KPFA is our station. The people entrusted with managing it have apparently screwed up. So Noelle Hanrahan is suing the station. If she wins, we may lose our station, while the managers move on to newer and better things.

"They fight. We lose": "KPFA is our station. The people entrusted with managing it have apparently screwed up."

Not to mention squandering untold thousands of (and up to 1.5 million) dollars in unaccounted for listerner pledge money, with KPFA& Pacifica management's hidden or Local Station Board unapproved spending on extravagant "consultants" (often KPFA/Pacifica management personnel); 'musical chairs' resignations and 'sweetheart deals' rehirings of certain management personnel; unwarranted and ILLEGITIIMATE severance pay for people who have RESIGNED (like Dan Coughlin, who refused to let certain board members see the financial books); $80/hr X 8 hrs (whether he works it or not) per meeting parliamentarians, hundreds of dollars for 8 hrs (again whether he works it or not) per meeting board meeting for unwarranted security guards; and now defending lawsuits (by Noelle Hanrahan, and perhaps Solange Echevaria, and, ironically, Larry Bensky) and their possible awards or settlements; etc.

There were KPFA & Pacifica personnel who were complicit with events that led up to the 1999 crisis (some, like Bensky, who suddenly turned media martyr, only when he, personally, was then axed), who were at best only concerned about their own jobs per se, not about the Mary Berry, Pat Scott attempts to mutate and deform Pacifica into NPR or worse. Too many of those people remain; others, like board member Marnie Tattersall, an executive of Disney Corporation, have infiltrated (a board treasurer who just said, 'You don't need to. Trust me!', when asked why no one else could look at the books). It's time to finally get those people OUT and not let them stealth their way or play 'musical chairs' back in.

I, for one, will pledge NOT ONE MORE RED CENT TO KPFA, until there is more organizational and process transparency, real democracy in decision making, and open financial accountability -- AN NEITHER SHOULD YOU.

Once again, it may be time to:

Turn off the water & Turn on the HEAT!

"like board member Marnie Tattersall, an executive of Disney Corporation, have infiltrated (a board treasurer who just said, 'You don't need to. Trust me!', when asked why no one else could look at the books)."

Given Tattersall's executive position with Disney Corp, shouldn't it read: 'You don't need to trust me!'

OK, supposing the people entrusted with managing KPFA are totally corrupt. (And maybe they are, I don't know.) But supposing they are. Well, KPFA is still OUR radio, and so then it is our job to take it back. How do we go about doing that?

I'm suggesting that Noelle Hanrahan's law suit will cost listeners a lot of money without resolving much of anything. It could even result in the station being sold to cover expenses.

Editors, Daily Planet:

Matthew Artz’s piece, “Former KPFA Employee Charges Sex Discrimination,” may address Dennis Bernstein’s curious behavior with me several years ago. I called him about a story I thought he might be interested in. He said he was, indeed, and suggested we attend a rally together in San Francisco. I thought that was unusual, but it was a cause I supported, I figured he didn’t have much free time, and we could talk there.

So we spoke about my story, but I wasn’t sure how much he was listening. When we BARTed back to the East Bay Bernstein suggested we stop for a bite at Pasta Pomodoro. This seemed more like a venue for discussing the story and we did so and not once did I get chummy or much off topic and we certainly didn’t discuss literature. So I was a bit shocked when Bernstein asked me to his apartment to listen to him read his poetry. I declined as nicely as possible and I never heard from him again.

Kathleen Roberts

But I see a trash job letter here.

Kathleen Roberts: "This seemed more like a venue for discussing the story and we did so and not once did I get chummy or much off topic and we certainly didn’t discuss literature. So I was a bit shocked when Bernstein asked me to his apartment to listen to him read his poetry. I declined as nicely as possible and I never heard from him again."

I couldn't believe that the Daily Planet printed this pile-on character assassination trash letter. (I wonder if the local Zionist/pro-Israel lobby was behind the letter.) But I know that executive editor Becky O'Malley hardly has the best judgement in these matters and she's printed character assassination garbage about other individuals before. I can't wait until someone has a good enough case to get some big bucks from -- to sue -- the Daily Planet one day.

But, asking someone out or even over to your apartment is *NOT* sexual harassment/abuse -- UNLESS THE OTHER PERSON (FEMALE OR MALE) INFORMS YOU THAT IT IS *UNWANTED* ATTENTION AND THEN THE ASKER *REPEATEDLY* ASKS AGAIN -- or unless it's a quid pro quo demand from a boss, cop, teacher, or other authority figure.

Otherwise, a whole lot of people -- male and even female -- could be charged with and/or sued for sexual harassment by some vindictive, neurotic, or psychotic person.

As for Kathleen saying, "not once did I get chummy or much off topic", notice how she last says "or much off topic" (sounds like a fudge to me). At any rate, people often either send out or misinterpret false signals (platonic or otherwise) -- and that is not sexual harassment either. Only explicitly unwanted repeated attention is any kind of sexual harassment.

Bernstein asked (for whatever reason). Roberts declined. Bernstein didn't ask again. END OF (THAT) STORY.

When the mushroom sneaks into your mind you do not prosecute the rabbit for riding the turtle. Nay, you ride the snake five miles past midnight until the cheese remembers its purpose. Such is the lesson of the Slothards who came to me one night prescribing the medication that would soon bring upon the thirteenth reckoning of Hemiphities; the god of reorder. This is the truth the was told unto me by Kerackia, the archangel of Hemiphities; this is the 1st book of Hemiphities.


ride the snake kind sage, past midnight until cheddar comes of age.



Why does DC IMC hide the truth of Hemiphities? ARe you afraid of my ability to ride the great serpent of Nahara? This is the thirteenth reckoning of Hemiphities, and our fate must not be that of the Slothards. Kerackia has revealed unto me the secrets of the serpent, and so that which was the vanity of the Slothards shall be my strength.

I can ride the Serpent of Nahara into the 8th plateau of greater nirvana until the Xekarians reveal the hidden guilt. Once this is known it will be time for Hemiphities to take human form and descend to teach his special acupuncture to all humanity. I alone know this secret, this secret would kill a mortal man.

If you know of these things your testicles would boil out of your eyes and you bladder would release its golden fluids through your mouth. Thus is the sign of forbidden Yania; the knowledge not to be known before its time.

This DC IMC is in league with the Begoans; those who tempt humanity to seek the Yania. Hemiphities shall judge you all.

You may ride bikes, but follow me and I shall make you riders of serpents. I will teach that with was taught unto me by the archangel Kerackia, to ride the great Serpent of Nahara.

With this knowledge you may avoid the 18 concessions of Tikeroen, lord of the Begoans; the ones who tempted the Xekarians. Do you want to chance the fate of the Xekarians? The ones whose hidden guilt is the greatest Yania? Have you not learned the lesson of the Slothards, whose very society was destroyed by their Yania?

Ha, truly Hemiphities will judge you harshly. And all shall wallow in their Yania.

This must be your entry in the annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. That first sentence is a winner, for sure.

Oh my god! Bernstein may have had some impure thoughts with his little invitation! What a dastardly talk-show host!

All the charges against him must be true!

And poor Kathleen Roberts a delicate flower for sure! Get her counseling immediately!!! She must be devasted that gasp... Bernstein invited her over!!!!!!! The unbelievable trauma-- no wonder she took it to the media.

I don't even like Bernstein's show but this is too low. Well put JA.

No wonder this place is a laughingstock.

James Black:

"What a freakshow you people are.

No wonder a nazi's son got elected governor of california.

As GW Bush gets re-elected and a nazi's son gets elected to run your state blah blah blah blah blah..."


NOBODY ASKED YOU TO IMPORT YOURSELF HERE FROM ISRAEL/WHEREVER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

This is the bio I used to win election to the WPFW
> LSB in 2004
> as unpaid staff representative, from which I
> resigned
> in August 2004, after posting the following on an
> internal Pacifica listserve on Apr. 30, 2004:
>
> We here at the DC Radio Co-Op had a meeting
> yesterday
> to address racism and sexism here. A lot of the
> producers in the Co-Op are part of UNITY and as the
> caucus has put itself out there on these issues
> young
> producers, in my opinion rightly, hold us to high
> standard of accountability when they bring forward
> such concerns. That did not mean our process was
> free
> of acrimony, or that it is not ongoing, but some
> basic
> things were addressed seriously and resolved. We
> decided that our co-op will not tolerate anyone
> acting
> in a manner that blatantly violates the rights of
> others without taking decisive action. In doing so
> we
> did nothing particularly heroic beyond what is
> called
> for in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the DC Human
> Relations Act. We chose not to tolerate a hostile
> work
> enviorment and called on our station manager to get

> involved in resolving a complaint of harrasment and
> intimidation by a male producer who had worked
> closely
> with us since our inception. At the request of the
> complaining producer we employed an open process in
> which all co-op members could participate. It was
> difficult, not all of us are happy with the outcome,
> but the offending freelance producer has agreed to
> resign.
>
> Confronting racism, sexism, and patriarchy is never
> easy. It is made no easier by thinking you are good
> on
> these issues. The process we used involved bringing
> in
> an outside arbitrator as well as the station
> manager.
> After a meeting of almost five hours many of us felt
> drained. While we had made progress many felt
> fearful
> that the personal as the political could create a
> byzantine climate of charges and counter charges in
> which race, class, and gender become clubs to beat
> each other over the head. That said we had as a
> group
> moved forward on a set of explosive internal issues
> and are continuing to advance. Hetrosexual men,
> myself
> included, are often reluctant to confront themselves
> on these issues but they must be addressed. Instead
> too often men cover-up and make excuses for one and
> other. This is especially true of older men with
> greater stature in the movement who's accusers are
> often young women with little history. We have
> established a 'zero tolerance' policy as of last
> night. If a grievance is brought forward we have
> made
> a commitment to investigating the facts and calling
> for accountability, no matter who the perpetrator
> may
> be. That's a step forward, it isn't the end of our
> road though.
>
> But it is a step, and I commend our station manager
> for joining us as we, no pun intended, grope are way
> forward. Our process no doubt will fall short of
> perfection and in the process of developing a
> process
> we will lose some people whatever we do. That said I
> am concerned to have recieved reports that KPFA has
> shown considerablly less willness to confront some
> of
> these issues openly than our group of freelancers.
> Specifically a source on the paid staff claiming
> first
> hand knowledge of the situation has claimed to me
> that
> Dennis Bernstien has for years sexually harassed and
> assaulted women at KPFA. It was further claimed to
> me
> by the same source (who I am unwilling to name
> without
> their consent as they, justifiablly or not, fear
> reprisal) that one woman was actually terminated on
> the final day of her probation possibly for refusing
> to "put out" for Mr. Bernstien. Is this true? Have
> we
> been taken to court on this before? If so how much
> has
> been paid by the foundation to settle these kinds of
> complaints? No one is perfect on these issues....but
> for God's sake if these charges are true and we do
> nothing but defend priveledge and patriarchy we
> stand
> for nothing.
>
> If you care to visit DC Indymedia and
> type my name in some of the audio I've done is
> archieved there (I'm especially proud of the peice
> called "Human Rights" done at the end of 2003). I
> have
> also published for Poor Magazine while residing in
> SF
> and in City Paper here (just a letter). A search on
> Google will turn up some of the direct action stuff
> and arrests. I am co-founder of the group Mayday DC,
> which I am no longer active with. My history with
> the
> housing struggle goes back to the middle 80's Paul
> DiRienzo, once a personal freind, knows me
> personally
> (as does former Rev. Frank Morales). I currently
> reside at the Olive Branch a house similar to the
> late
> Phillip Berrigan's Jonah House in Baltimore, it is
> also online.
>
> Not a journalist, but a community
> activist. I first became involved in social issues
> during the 1986 occupation of Columbia University's
> Hamilton Hall in protest to apartheid in South
> Africa.
> Two years ago I was one of 4 activists to takeover
> the Franklin School here in Washington DC in protest
> to the shortage of homeless services in the
> District.
> The government has since opened the building, unused
> for 17 years, as a hypothermia shelter during the
> winter months.
>
> For just over 2years I was involved
> with
> Ryme Kakthouda and the DC radio co-op in creating
> programming that seeks to address the causes of
> conflict in our community, our nation, and our
> world.
> Since then my work for radio has been heard
> nationally on Free Speach Radio News, and Peacewatch
> as well as locally on the DC Co-op's Voices with
> Visions, Spirit in Action, and Metrowatch. In
> addition
> my work has also appeared in both print and audio
> on
> DC Indymedia. Last year I was elected to and
> served on the WPFW local station board as
> a
> staff delegate. What
> motivates my interest in creating media:
>
> "As our country marches into another endless war for
> which the national government will again spend
> untold
> hundreds of billions many of our neighbors are
> suffering today. Ask yourself what really threatens
> us
> today? How often do you hear about a gunfight
> between
> rival gangs or angry young men? Did you know that
> one
> in three children in Washington DC go hungry at some
> point during the year?
>
> We cannot divorce the things that happen from the
> social conditions they emerge from. A homeless child
> is not likely to be a fine scholar. An illiterate
> man
> is not likely to get a good job, and very likely to
> have no job at all. A man with no job is more likely
> to turn to crime. A child whose father is in prison
> is
> more likely to be homeless. We can keep building
> prisons, or we can start building a movement for
> change.
>
> DC Co-op can give you the skills to help build that
> movement.There is nothing special about me. I didn't
> go to a fine University to study journalism. Prior
> to
> 2 and a half years ago I didn't know how to use an email
> account. Today my work has been heard accross the
> nation. In this area alone WPFW reaches 190,000
> listeners We can not expect that CNN or Fox will do
> our work for us. Another world is possible only if
> we
> build the society we ourselves want."

Today WPFW has disolved the co-op and banned my voice from
its airwaves, because, like the women on the west coast, we dared to challenge
business as usual. We too are filing litigation against the foundation
because there is no internal process to do anything beyond defend the status quo.
When I called on the board to investigate the allegations against Bernstein
reported to me over a year ago I was attacked and vilified. Carol Spooner, then treasurer
for the PNB was among his most vocal defenders. Now I have recieved an email from her
stating that she knew nothing about KPFA having paid out over $200,000 in public money
to settle similar complaints against Bernstein in the past and that it was all Dan's fault,
there is a term for that gross negligence. Either the original emails defending Dennis
were lies, or the recent one is. I smell the US Attorney, and it's just a matter of time.

(http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/120524/index.php)

>
>

This is the bio I used to win election to the WPFW
> LSB in 2004
> as unpaid staff representative, from which I
> resigned
> in August 2004, after posting the following on an
> internal Pacifica listserve on Apr. 30, 2004:
>
> We here at the DC Radio Co-Op had a meeting
> yesterday
> to address racism and sexism here. A lot of the
> producers in the Co-Op are part of UNITY and as the
> caucus has put itself out there on these issues
> young
> producers, in my opinion rightly, hold us to high
> standard of accountability when they bring forward
> such concerns. That did not mean our process was
> free
> of acrimony, or that it is not ongoing, but some
> basic
> things were addressed seriously and resolved. We
> decided that our co-op will not tolerate anyone
> acting
> in a manner that blatantly violates the rights of
> others without taking decisive action. In doing so
> we
> did nothing particularly heroic beyond what is
> called
> for in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the DC Human
> Relations Act. We chose not to tolerate a hostile
> work
> enviorment and called on our station manager to get
> involved in resolving a complaint of harrasment and
> intimidation by a male producer who had worked
> closely
> with us since our inception. At the request of the
> complaining producer we employed an open process in
> which all co-op members could participate. It was
> difficult, not all of us are happy with the outcome,
> but the offending freelance producer has agreed to
> resign.
>
> Confronting racism, sexism, and patriarchy is never
> easy. It is made no easier by thinking you are good
> on
> these issues. The process we used involved bringing
> in
> an outside arbitrator as well as the station
> manager.
> After a meeting of almost five hours many of us felt
> drained. While we had made progress many felt
> fearful
> that the personal as the political could create a
> byzantine climate of charges and counter charges in
> which race, class, and gender become clubs to beat
> each other over the head. That said we had as a
> group
> moved forward on a set of explosive internal issues
> and are continuing to advance. Hetrosexual men,
> myself
> included, are often reluctant to confront themselves
> on these issues but they must be addressed. Instead
> too often men cover-up and make excuses for one and
> other. This is especially true of older men with
> greater stature in the movement who's accusers are
> often young women with little history. We have
> established a 'zero tolerance' policy as of last
> night. If a grievance is brought forward we have
> made
> a commitment to investigating the facts and calling
> for accountability, no matter who the perpetrator
> may
> be. That's a step forward, it isn't the end of our
> road though.
>
> But it is a step, and I commend our station manager
> for joining us as we, no pun intended, grope are way
> forward. Our process no doubt will fall short of
> perfection and in the process of developing a
> process
> we will lose some people whatever we do. That said I
> am concerned to have recieved reports that KPFA has
> shown considerablly less willness to confront some
> of
> these issues openly than our group of freelancers.
> Specifically a source on the paid staff claiming
> first
> hand knowledge of the situation has claimed to me
> that
> Dennis Bernstien has for years sexually harassed and
> assaulted women at KPFA. It was further claimed to
> me
> by the same source (who I am unwilling to name
> without
> their consent as they, justifiablly or not, fear
> reprisal) that one woman was actually terminated on
> the final day of her probation possibly for refusing
> to "put out" for Mr. Bernstien. Is this true? Have
> we
> been taken to court on this before? If so how much
> has
> been paid by the foundation to settle these kinds of
> complaints? No one is perfect on these issues....but
> for God's sake if these charges are true and we do
> nothing but defend priveledge and patriarchy we
> stand
> for nothing.
>
> If you care to visit DC Indymedia and
> type my name in some of the audio I've done is
> archieved there (I'm especially proud of the peice
> called "Human Rights" done at the end of 2003). I
> have
> also published for Poor Magazine while residing in
> SF
> and in City Paper here (just a letter). A search on
> Google will turn up some of the direct action stuff
> and arrests. I am co-founder of the group Mayday DC,
> which I am no longer active with. My history with
> the
> housing struggle goes back to the middle 80's Paul
> DiRienzo, once a personal freind, knows me
> personally
> (as does former Rev. Frank Morales). I currently
> reside at the Olive Branch a house similar to the
> late
> Phillip Berrigan's Jonah House in Baltimore, it is
> also online.
>
> Not a journalist, but a community
> activist. I first became involved in social issues
> during the 1986 occupation of Columbia University's
> Hamilton Hall in protest to apartheid in South
> Africa.
> Two years ago I was one of 4 activists to takeover
> the Franklin School here in Washington DC in protest
> to the shortage of homeless services in the
> District.
> The government has since opened the building, unused
> for 17 years, as a hypothermia shelter during the
> winter months.
>
> For just over 2years I was involved
> with
> Ryme Kakthouda and the DC radio co-op in creating
> programming that seeks to address the causes of
> conflict in our community, our nation, and our
> world.
> Since then my work for radio has been heard
> nationally on Free Speach Radio News, and Peacewatch
> as well as locally on the DC Co-op's Voices with
> Visions, Spirit in Action, and Metrowatch. In
> addition
> my work has also appeared in both print and audio
> on
> DC Indymedia. Last year I was elected to and
> served on the WPFW local station board as
> a
> staff delegate. What
> motivates my interest in creating media:
>
> "As our country marches into another endless war for
> which the national government will again spend
> untold
> hundreds of billions many of our neighbors are
> suffering today. Ask yourself what really threatens
> us
> today? How often do you hear about a gunfight
> between
> rival gangs or angry young men? Did you know that
> one
> in three children in Washington DC go hungry at some
> point during the year?
>
> We cannot divorce the things that happen from the
> social conditions they emerge from. A homeless child
> is not likely to be a fine scholar. An illiterate
> man
> is not likely to get a good job, and very likely to
> have no job at all. A man with no job is more likely
> to turn to crime. A child whose father is in prison
> is
> more likely to be homeless. We can keep building
> prisons, or we can start building a movement for
> change.
>
> DC Co-op can give you the skills to help build that
> movement.There is nothing special about me. I didn't
> go to a fine University to study journalism. Prior
> to
> 2 and a half years ago I didn't know how to use an email
> account. Today my work has been heard accross the
> nation. In this area alone WPFW reaches 190,000
> listeners We can not expect that CNN or Fox will do
> our work for us. Another world is possible only if
> we
> build the society we ourselves want."

Today WPFW has disolved the co-op and banned my voice from
its airwaves, because, like the women on the west coast, we dared to challenge
business as usual. We too are filing litigation against the foundation
because there is no internal process to do anything beyond defend the status quo.
When I called on the board to investigate the allegations against Bernstein
reported to me over a year ago I was attacked and vilified. Carol Spooner, then treasurer
for the PNB was among his most vocal defenders. Now I have recieved an email from her
stating that she knew nothing about KPFA having paid out over $200,000 in public money
to settle similar complaints against Bernstein in the past and that it was all Dan's fault,
there is a term for that gross negligence. Either the original emails defending Dennis
were lies, or the recent one is. I smell the US Attorney, and it's just a matter of time.

(http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/120524/index.php)

>
>

Why is Noelle Hanrahan, well-known for her support of a victim of the capitalist courts, appealing to those some courts to resolve a dispute with other leftists? Why couldn't she instead have brought her complaint to fora like indybay and other left media and carried out a political struggle among KPFA supporters?

Aaron asks a very good question. Any response?

good question Aaron, and I think the answer comes from who has the legitimacy to exercise power in our society. Noelle went to her union, to her community, to her collegues, to her "supervisiors" and managers and none could deliever satisfaction in three years of struggle.

the tactic is essentially reformist, and if Noelle was subject to the discipline of a vangaurd I'm sure she would be roundly criticized for wanton individualism.

but Noelle is an individual. working in an industry where the only way to survive is to stand out as an individual. she does that. and she builds important institutions like Prison Radio, Pacifica and even Flashpoints. I fondly remember the respite from Bernstiens shrill rage that Noelle offered, she was the best balance Dennis had since CS Sung and Sacha Lily.

I'm not uncritical of any of these personalities that I have named dropped. But those people and the work they do are essentially meaningless if they exist because their priviledge is built on an unexamined and uncriticized foundation of white supremacy, patriarchy and heterosexism.

A compelling arguement can be made that Bernstien is in the place he is at at KPFA because he has skillfully and crassly (depending on his mood) exploited male priviledge. That arguement has gone unaddressed by the workplace, union, and community. Now that it has landed in court the community is listening with fresh ears.

This current round of wranggling over power in Pacifica could be crucial to the direction of things to come. It is multi-layered and complex. There are coalitions built on princeple and ones built on pragmatism emerging. It maybe difficult to pick a side on this atomizied issue. I would have liked to see this resolved by the union or station management or the still maturing community governance of Pacifica, but they all dropped the ball, so what way should Noelle have gone? Should she have let it go? Forgotten the abuse? Accepted the ban? Found work somewhere else? if she went that way where would we have her work? NPR? Air America?