Chronology of Abuses By The Pacifica Management & Board of Directors.[1]

This chronology of censorship, purges and resistance is divided into sections, a national section devoted to the broad brush of events concerning the board and then a breakdown by station in rough order that the “coups” at the stations occurred. WBAI’s chronology is truncated because other articles in this issue will address the course of specific events. This is followed by a chronology of Democracy Now. The web of the story is complicated and I have organized it in this way so that the reader can follow the actions of some of the same players over the course of events at a single station. Some players, like KPFK’s Garland Ganter hop from Houston to LA in the course of their carreers built on carrying out the wishes of the corporatized National Board. This chronology is a hybrid of one on www.savepacifica.net and mine. (John Riley)

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1991-1992 "Strategy for National Programming," a plan to create a NPR-like National Program Service funded with donations from corporate foundations like Pew, Ford and MacArthur, is drafted by Pacifica Management.[2]

May 1992–Pacifica dispatches Barry Forbes to be General Manager of KPFT, Houston’s Pacifica station. Forbes informs staff and volunteers of alteration or cancellation of more than a few of the programs termed “the far left of your radio dial.” (see section on coup at KPFT)

Feb. 1993 - Pacifica Board approves "Strategy for National Programming." KPFA Manager Pat Scott, embroiled in battles with staff at KPFA, is sent by Pacifica Executive Director David Salniker to lobby Congress, which is threatening to de-fund Pacifica.[3]

1994–Pat Scott is made acting Pacifica Executive Director and begins dictating program formats to stations. She participates on Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) "task force" with Lynn Chadwick, Executive Director of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, that recommends new funding guidelines tying stations to Arbitron ratings and higher fundraising goals. Purges begin at WPFW in Washington, D.C. and KPFK in Los Angeles. [4] (See sections on coups at WPFW and KPFK)

Feb. 1995 - Pacifica Program Directors are told by hired consultants to mainstream the programming.[5]

March -April 1995 - A union-busting organization, American Consulting Group, is hired by Pacifica to draft new contracts stripping workers of all say in the organization, eliminating the right to strike, and unpaid staff from the stations' unions.[6]

June 1995 - Pacifica Board closes all future finance committee meetings to the public in violation of federal communications law. Board minutes and board meetings are now "confidential."[7]

July 1995 - Pacifica Board Executive Committee issues a "my way or the highway memo" announcing "vast changes" and advising Local Advisory Board members who disagree with the new direction of Pacifica to resign.[8]

August 1995–Massive purges of KPFA (Berkeley) programmers, particularly leftists, begin. (See KPFA section)

Sept. 1995 - Observers, including Take Back KPFA representative, barred from National Board meeting in Houston.[9]

Nov. 1995 - Brian McConnville, investigator from Inspector General's (IG) office of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), learns of closed board meetings and begins investigation of Pacifica's violation of open meeting rules. He is fired 17 days later before he can release a critical report, after Pacifica's lawyer goes over his head to quash the investigation. Deputy IG Director Mike Donavan, who looks into the Pacifica Board's actions is also fired on eve of making a critical report.[10]

May 1996 - Hiring of American Consulting Group is revealed. Pacifica Management lies repeatedly as criticism mounts. Management files a "clarification of unit" with the National Labor Relations Board to have unpaid staff at WBAI removed from the union.[11]

Nov. 1996 - A Pacifica 5 -Year Strategic Plan is released, after a year and a half of secret meetings. It is a blueprint for remaking Pacifica into a top-down corporate hierarchy. More than $60,000 has been spent on union-busting activities[12]

Feb. 1997 - WBAI workers win at the NLRB. Pacifica appeals the decision, spending tens of thousands of dollars of the subscribers' money.[13]

March 1997 - Under fire from listeners and the media, Scott hires Former Justice Dept. spokesperson Burt Glass as Pacifica's first "communications director". He drafts a "cheat sheet'" full of lies and evasions for use in answering questions from the subscribers. Pacifica releases plan to reduce local representation on the National Board by half, which would give the board the ability to appoint a 2/3 majority. This is tabled in June when community members hire lawyer.[14]

April -May 1997 - A "softer" CPB Inspector General's report is released which, nevertheless, cites Pacifica for violating open meeting laws. Scott and Pacifica Board Chair Jack O'Dell fly to Washington and meet privately with CPB Board and lawyers. CPB disregards it own IG's report, and praises the new Pacifica regime.[15]

June 1997 - Mary Frances Berry made new Pacifica Board Chair.[16]

August 1997 - Pacifica writes a gag clause into the contracts for affiliate stations, many of whom have been running disclaimers about union-busting at Pacifica

April 1998 - Pat Scott resigns and is praised by CPB President Coonrod, former Deputy Director of the Voice of America, and director of Radio Marti, propaganda arm of US vs. Cuba. By now, more than 300 people have been purged from Pacifica stations.

Oct. 1998 - Lynn Chadwick named Executive Director of Pacifica..

Feb. 22, 1999 - Pacifica Archivist Al Stein is fired before he can give a report on neglect and mismanagement of the Pacifica archives.

Feb. 26,1999 - Pacifica Board, overriding the votes of local Boards, staff and communities, makes itself a self-selecting body. WBAI staff goes on the air to mobilize the community against the heist. Board claims the CPB made them do it. In an unpublicized meeting of the Pacifica Executive Committee on the eve of the meeting, it is agreed that Sawaya, the most popular manager in KPFA history, "has to go." (see section on coup at Berkeley’s KPFA)

March 31 1999 - Nicole Sawaya fired (technically, her contract was not renewed) Protests begin as KPFA staff goes on the air to tell the community what's going on inside Pacifica. The staff begins making on-air statements demanding the reinstatement of Sawaya.

May 19 - National Labor Relations Board files complaint for unfair labor practices against Pacifica/WBAI

June 14, 1999 - Atty. Dan Siegel, representing 16 members of Local Advisory Boards (LABs) of KPFA, KPFK and WBAI, sends a demand letter to Mary Frances Berry advising her that bylaw amendments approved by the Pacifica Board in Sept. '98 and Feb. '99 violate California Corporation law and requesting that they be rescinded. Deadline for a response is June 25.

June 23, 1999 - Pacifica affiliates vote no confidence in Pacifica management

June 25 - 27, 1999 Pacifica Board meets. Attempts to deflect critics with accusations of racism and violence - an old ploy of Pacifica management since the Pat Scott days. KPFA union files unfair labor practice charges.

July 16 - FAIR calls for resignation of Pacifica Board and management. Counterspin segment on Pacifica censored by Gen.Man. Mark Schubb at KPFK. Class action lawsuit filed to reverse hostile takeover of Pacifica.

July 28, 1999 National Board member Pete Bramson goes public - reveals Pacifica Board executive committee will hold secret meeting that day to vote on sale of KPFA. Pacifica almost bankrupt as a result of the Boards expenditures in the cover-up. Adding insult to injury, they discuss taking a $5 million dollars loan with KPFA's frequency as collateral.

July 29, 1999 - Foiled by the Bramson revelation, MF Berry sidesteps mediators, goes to press with statement that KPFA will reopen and staff should return. Claims staff may "run the station." Denies sale in progress. This is a ploy to deflect attention from sale exposure.

August 3, 1999 - WBAI Local Advisory Board calls for resignations of Berry and Chadwick, and a democratic restructuring of Pacifica's governance

August 17, 1999 - As part of a national day of action, KPFA staffers file Civil Rights complaint against Pacifica management and Mary Frances Berry with the US Commission on Civil Rights, which Berry chairs. Demonstrations and actions take place at all 5 Pacifica stations; meanwhile Pacifica CEO Chadwick announces that Pacifica officials will not testify.

August 18, 1999 - An ad runs in the New York Times condemning the actions of Pacifica's Board and Management. It is signed by dozens of prominent activists, intellectuals, journalists and other community leaders.

August 24, 1999 - Mary Frances Berry makes surprise visit to WBAI for unpublicized meeting with staff. She displays her rancour towards KPFA and its community, and asks if WBAI staff would support the sale of KPFA to create a series of small stations in the South.

August 26, 1999 - National Labor Relations Board oveturns earlier decision; rules to grant Pacifia management request to eject unpaid staff from WBAI's union. Tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of listener funds have been spent to do this. This action was started by Pat Scott in 1996 to take away all rights from community producers, to be able to purge them more easily.

September 2, 1999 – California Legislative Committee votes to subpoena Pacifica financial records

January 5, 2000 - Pacifica Foundation moves its national office to Washington DC in the dark of night

Feb. 26, 2000 - Berry, Chadwick to resign - the station sale team of Acosta, Palmer and Ford occupy top Board positions. WPFW manager Bessie "the Censor" Wash named to succeed Chadwick. Audience research consultant's report: Pacifica has not been turned into NPR fast enough.[17]

December 23, 2000–In the dead of night on Christmas eve weekend, Executive Director Bessie Wash begins coup at WBAI, New York. (see WBAI article on the coup and section in the chronology)

January 30, 2001–Democracy NOW! co-host Juan Gonzalez resigns on air, starts an anti corporate campaign against Pacifica Board members that are subverting Pacifica’s mission. (see section on Democracy NOW!)

February 22, 2001: Twenty-five California legislators sign on to a letter opposing new Pacifica bylaws which would allow for decisions, such as the sale of a station to be made by as few as five board members with only 24 hours notice of the meeting. Also the Pacifica Board loses, as a federal judge remands lawsuits against Pacifica back to state court.

WPFW, the Washington DC Pacifica Station (founded in 1977)

Oct 1, 1993—Popular WPFW morning talk show host and acting station manager Tom Porter resigns over the undemocratic nature of the hiring process for the permanent station manager, triggering a crisis. Volunteer programmers show up at station hours later demanding and initiating special programming to discuss the crisis at the station and with Pacifica. Pacifica Executive Director David Salniker orders the plug be pulled on the transmitter. WPFW, in violation of FCC rules, is off the air for 3 days. On the morning of Oct 4^th the station has a new general manager and goes back on the air. Prior to what local activists called “the coup,” one third of the stations broadcast time was taken up with public affairs programs[18] now, seven years later public affairs programming takes up only 13% of the airtime.

1993 &1994–The struggle to reclaim WPFW intensifies as management strikes back at any hint of resistance. Under the guise of training, the station makes on-air hosts, producers, engineers, all volunteers attend classes that recount WPFW’s history, no technical training was provided. As the protests - which were being coordinated by a community coalition called WPFW Watch and included petition drives; efforts to organize a staff/volunteer union; reaching out to BAI and other Pacifica stations for support; protesting and presenting alternative plans to the Pacifica Board - continued, management intensified their attempt to control programmers, sending many special delivery letters warning errant hosts they would not be allowed to return to the air until their “attitude problem” is fixed. [19]

April 20th, 1999–CounterSpin, a weekly syndicated radio program of media criticism created by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), is taken off the air while in-progress at WPFW during an interview with Larry Bensky, a broadcaster recently fired by Pacifica. Listeners hear an Emergency Broadcasting System announcement, followed by music, which runs for the duration of the half-hour (11-11:30am) CounterSpin slot. WPFW does not returned repeated calls by FAIR/CounterSpin asking for an explanation of their actions.

July 19, 1999:–CounterSpin is censored. WPFW refuses to run the show featuring J. Imani, a KPFA local advisory board member, and media critic Norman Solomon.[20] In an indication of WPFW's hostility to efforts to cover the crisis at Pacifica, program director Lou Hankins tells FAIR associate Laura Flanders that the station pulled CounterSpin's July 16 discussion of Pacifica issues because, "We're not putting that garbage on our air."[21]

July 21, 1999–WPFW carefully cuts out a story about the KPFA crisis on the Pacifica Network News (PNN), leaving the impression of a "seamless" show, strangely truncated in length.[22]

July 23, 1999–When "Democracy Now!" attempts to air PNN's July 21 piece on the crisis, a WPFW announcer claims technical problems and plays music. Once the "Democracy Now!" segment on the crisis is completed, WPFW returns to the program. The station then airs a disclaimer following the end of "Democracy Now!"

Nov. 1, 1999–PNN News Director Dan Coughlin is summarily removed as national news director after airing a news brief on a Pacifica-affiliates boycott of Pacifica programming. Pacifica News anchor Verna Avery-Brown walks off the job in protest. (PNN is based in DC)

11/9/99: WPFW interrupts CounterSpin in the middle of a story about the "reassignment" of Pacifica Network news director Dan Coughlin.[23]

December 10, 1999–Without notice to producers or listeners WPFW cancels CounterSpin. When FAIR contacts WPFW this week to ask why, after years of providing the station with a high-quality show for free, FAIR had been given no notification of its cancellation, general manager Bessie Wash replies only, "I'm sorry if that upsets you."[24]

January 5, 2000–Pacifica departs its Berkeley headquarters in dark of night; moving its offices to Washington D.C.[25]

January 24, 2000–National Pacifica news stringers (freelance reporters) launch strike against Pacifica National News (PNN) demanding an end to censorship at Pacifica.[26]

March 2000– Newly promoted Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash holds back web posting of Democracy NOW! because it carried a segment on the Pacifica crisis. [27]

August 2000–In reprisal for “Heal DC’s” interview with Dr. Orgaine, the president of the National Medical Association (one of largest consortium of African-American Doctors) in which he discussed his role in a sister city project with Cuba, Station Manager Lou Hankins institutes an ideological litmus test for the show’s guests, demanding all guests be pre-cleared for opinions and attitudes in advance of any shows.[28]

October 25, 2000–Hundreds protest censorship and intimidation of Democracy NOW! show host Amy Goodman by Pacifica, in coordinated demonstrations in Washington, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.[29]

Jan 1, 2001– While orchestrating another coup at New York’s WBAI, Bessie Wash tells WPFW “Heal DC” producer Fahima Seck, that she “doesn’t expect to see her around WPFW any more” within minutes after Seck ends an interview on WBAI detailing the slashing of public affairs programming that occurred at WPFW after the 1993 coup.[30]

Jan 16, 2001–"Between the Lines," a nationally-syndicated radio program, is censored. The episode titled "A Special Report on the Latest Conflict at Pacifica Radio's WBAI" was not played. When Sam Husseini, WPFW Local Advisory Board member, asks acting station manager Lou Hankins why the program did not run, Hankins hangs up on Husseini. The WBAI program pulled by WPFW featured interviews with WBAI interim general manager Utrice Leid, and dissident national-board member Leslie Cagan.[31]

Jan 19, 2001–Dozens of activists protest outside of the Washington DC corporate law offices of Epstein, Becker and Green which represent Pacifica and is the office of John Murdock. Activists carry signs with enlarged photo’s of Pacifica national board member John Murdock. Murdock is rewriting Pacifica’s by-laws to allow for a quick sale of a station by a small group of directors on short notice.

Jan 21, 2001–One hundred-fifty activists rally and march on Pacifica National Headquarters and WPFW demanding democratization of the network and community control of the member stations.

KPFT- The Houston Pacifica Station

September 1991–A former KPFT radio volunteer accuse the listener-sponsored radio station of bias against Hispanics. “In the Mood”, a Chicano/Mexican-American music and announcement show geared to Hispanic prison inmates and their families, is cancelled by KPFT program director Garland Ganter. The program is cancelled after some callers made critical comments about the station and the failure of its largely poor listenership to give enough to the station during the three annual fund drives. The program is replaced with a jazz program and a Mexican folk music program.[32]

Spring 1992 fundraising drive–Listenership drops 18%, donations plunge 32 per cent (from $72,000 to $49,000). Forbes justifies listener drop, his self reported aim was to trim away the stations “fringe” listeners” and strengthen its core of loyal supporters.

November 18^th 1992—Women’s Action Coalition presents a petition of 1000 signatures to KPFT Radio Board protesting changes in the stations format, including cancellations of two long-running gay and lesbian shows. Thirty seven of the stations ninety volunteer on-air hosts have their shows axed,.[33] Forbes oversees program changes. Forbes proposes reducing “Music of India” show time from 3 hours to one hour. “Music of India” fans threaten to boycott contributions to station, Forbes partially capitulates and gives host Meen Datt’s 2 hours. [34]

March 24^th 1994- Hatchet man Barry Forbes, General Manager of Houston’s KPFT, resigns after 21 months. Forbes then is promoted by Pacifica to develop a nationwide satellite network of community and college radio stations. [35]

April 20, 1995 Seventy-five supporters of “Music of India”, a KPFT-FM program taken off the air, demonstrate outside of the station to protest the cancellation of the program and the cancellation of a Celtic music show which demonstrated on-air support for the Indian music program. Supporters vow to file a class-action lawsuits to recover their financial contributions to the station ($30,000) and seek the firing of newly promoted general manager Garland Ganter. Ms Datt’s show and the Celtic music show were removed from their air in violation of the stations own policy. Ganter says the removal of the Indian show was spurred by a 35% drop in program audience since 1991. Music of India’s time slot had been reduced by the previous station manager by 33% in 1992.[36]

July 12, 1999—Media Alliance releases to the media a copy of an e-mail sent by Pacifica board member Michael Palmer to Pacifica board chair Mary Frances Berry calling for the sale of the Bay Area or New York Station. Twelve thousand protesters march on Pacifica National Headquarters. Houston based KPFT program director cancels more public affairs programs in response to the threatened sale.

October 29, 1999 5:45 AM--Fire set at storage building at KPFT-FM’s Montrose-area offices on eve of a National Pacifica board meeting to determine the station’s future. Van Jones, a member of a San Francisco Bay Area delegation of listeners to monitor the national board meeting, denounces the fire.

October 30, 1999—Pacifica Foundation holds directors meeting using off-duty Houston Police Department officers as security. Houston Committee for People’s Radio and Houston Peace News hold town meeting on the future of Pacifica and KPFT. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting unveil a plan to replace Pacifica board’s executive committee by a 11-member panel of “well respected figures in the progressive community.”[37] Protestors are not allowed to speak at the public session of Saturday’s meeting. The meeting is adjourned when Berkeley City Councilman Kris Worthington attempts to address the board.[38]

November 2000–Following the October 25^th national day of actions protesting the censure of Amy Goodman by Pacifica at five Pacifica stations, Edmundo Resendez, KPFT operations director, fires George Reiter, host of KPFT’s show Thresholds , for joining the picket line.[39]

January 17, 2001 WPFW Censors "Between the Lines." a nationally-syndicated radio program. The cancelled episode was titled "A Special Report on the Latest Conflict at Pacifica Radio's WBAI." When Local advisory board member Sam Husseini calls WPFW general manager Lou Hankins to ask why the program did not run, Hankins hangs up on Husseini.

KPFK- The Los Angeles Pacifica Station

1993–Pacifica management begins reforms. Pacifica claims that the national board of directors has lost control of stations content to volunteer groups that had taken over the local community advisory boards. New managers are hired to restore order. At KPFK changes are made under the pretext that given free rein a handful of programmers engaged in “hate speech directed against Jews and homosexuals,” but what was more common was what a local paper called “a doctrinaire rant based on race more than class that alienated even the stations loyal old left listeners.” In 1994 two programs were terminated after the Anti-Defamation League charges the station with broadcasting anti-Semitic hate speech.[40]

Jan. 1995 - Pat Scott fires KPFK (L.A.) management and seizes control of books. Contract negotiations there are suspended. Gag rules are enforced against any staff member trying to inform the public regarding the firings. Purges of programmers begin at KPFK.[41]

Feb. 10, 1995 - KPFK producer Al Huebner is removed for criticizing firing of KPFK managers. His engineer, Neal Connor is threatened with removal for not cutting Al's mic[42]

1995–New General Manager March Schubb tells a group of fifty listeners concerned with program changes that their opinions are not important, as they could easily be replaced by 5000 new listeners with changes in programming.[43]

Feb. 26, 1996 - "Gag rule" issued by Mark Schubb at KPFK saying that staff will be fired if they let callers criticize Pacifica policy on-air.[44]

February 27, 1996–“Continent to Continent” Pan-Africanist show host Ron Wilkins brings in Ruben Lizardo, a former chair of the stations advisory board, with several dismissed African American programmers to discuss their complaints against Pacifica management. Station manager Mark Schubb cuts the dissidents off shifting to a promo tape for a womens’ program and bans Wilkins and his guests. Pacifica begins pumping new financial resources into the station.[45][46]

August 29, 1996 - Mark Schubb threatens to ban UE Rep John Fernandes from KPFK.[47]

March 1997– KPFK Program Director Kathy Lo slashes programming geared to Los Angeles’s huge Spanish speaking population. Among the cuts are a reduction of Spanish language Radio Chicano/a program time from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. The program director questions the relevancy of "that ancient stuff." Lo prefaces her critique of 'Radio Chicano/a' by saying "I haven't heard that much of the program." Radio Chicano/a’s recent programs include the following topics: FBI harrasssment of AIM & Chicano/a Movement; the. Zapatistas, and an update on Big Mountain. Los Angeles is a community where Mexicanos and Central Americans form the largest segment of the population, and where the highest rated radio and TV news programs are in Spanish.[48]

In late March'97–Veteran programmers Mario Lazo/'Pajaro Latino' & Fernando Velasquez/'Clave Latina' (along with their radio collectives) are removed from the airwaves; 'Enfoque Latino' the only remaining non-commercial Spanish language public affairs program, is cut from 90 minutes to 60 minutes with no evaluations or discussion. Earlier in 1997 KPFK Program Director Kathy Lo terminates the station's Program Planning Committee because, in her words, the committee "wasn't meeting her needs".[49]

AT PACIFICA NATIONAL: Veteran radio programmer & Public Affairs Director Mario Murillo at Pacifica-New York's WBAI, Mario Murillo's nationally syndicated program on the politics & history of the continent 'Our Americas' is taken off the national satellite system of distribution by Pacifica' National Program Director. While it was on the satellite KPFK never aired 'Our America's.'

September 1998–KPFK Program Director Kathy Lo slashes popular music shows in remake of the station’s sound. Lo is accused by Andrea Enthal, a 45 year old avant guard music show host, and Hamilton Cloud of age discrimination. Lo, according to Enthal, told her that they didn’t like the idea of a middle-aged programmer doing a cool music show.

KPFK [50] management claims Enthal was fired for refusing to fill in for another programmer at the last moment.

Feb. 1998 - KPFK Management sends memo barring programmers from encouraging attendance at anti-war demonstrations for Iraq.[51]

April 16, 1999–CounterSpin is pulled from its scheduled 3:00 pm airing on Friday, April 16th by KPFK. FAIR believes the show is suppressed because it features an interview with the recently fired Pacifica network host Larry Bensky. Bensky, one of the Pacifica network's most recognizable voices, was fired on April 9th following the airing of his network show, Sunday Salon, which featured a segment discussing the dismissal of Nicole Sawaya, a popular station manager at KPFA, the Pacifica affiliate in Berkeley, California.

May 10 - 1999 - KPFK Phone volunteers gagged from discussing KPFA/Pacifica matters in the phone room.

July 14, 1999–KPFK management restricts the KPFK News Department from reporting on the crisis at KPFA in Berkeley. Only AP wire stories on the crisis can be aired and only KPFK General Manager Mark Schubb, and approved programmers, discuss the issue on air.

July 16, 1999–KPFK edits a broadcast featuring KPFA local advisory board member J. Imani and media critic Norman Solomon to include commentary on Pacifica from KPFK station manager Mark Schubb.

August 12, 1999 - RadioNation and KPFK host Marc Cooper leads the charge to purge KPFK LAB members opposing hostile takeover of Pacifica, and begins a campaign to impeach the credibility of Flashpoints' producer Dennis Bernstein.

September 1, 1999–Reporter Robin Urevich is banned from entering the station by KPFK General Manager Mark Schubb. He claims she breached journalistic norms by authoring an op-ed piece critical of Pacifica in an independent, bi-monthly publication. Following an outcry, Urevich is allowed to again work on premises.

1999–General Manager Mark Schubb boasts he has removed more than 150 people from the station since his term began.

January 31, 2000– Forty demonstrators carry placards and chant slogans in front of KPFK for two hours protesting KPFK censorship as well as statements by Mark Cooper, host of a daily show and a weekly syndicated show. Cooper wrote, “If I go to one more lefty event, and see one more ‘Free Mumia’ poster, I might just have to switch sides…What collective affliction has overcome my fellow pinkos. The protest is timed to coincide with the on-air fund-raising drive and is a part of a year long campaign which has included at least seven protests against Pacifica and KPFK over programming and on-air dissent.[52]

February 4, 2001–Confidential source reveals that a week into the winter fund drive, KPFK is running $74,000 behind in its weekly goal of $270,000 (Pledges down 27%).

Feb 7, 2001–Pacifica comptroler Sandra Rosas put on 'administrative leave' for three weeks. The rest of her staff is fired. Financial records set to move to Washington DC, possibly setting the stage for transfering Pacifica assets to a new foundation and evading the lawsuits against Pacifica.[53]

February 10, 2001–KPFK announces fund drive garnered $467,540, this is $35460 short of the winter fund drive in 2000

KPFA the Berkeley Pacifica Station [54]

August 1995 - Massive purge of KPFA programmers by KPFA general manager Marci Lockwood under direction of Scott.[55]

July 1997 - KPFA Manager Marci Lockwood resigns. Lynn Chadwick, Executive Director of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, is made manager of KPFA.[56]

Dec. 1998 - Larry Bensky abruptly fired then reinstated after public outcry. KPFA's new manager Nicole Sawaya supports Bensky and allows him to defend himself on the air.

April 4 1999 - Larry Bensky replies to Chadwick's distorted press statement and reads the speech he had prepared to deliver to the Pacifica Board in February bit was prevented from completing, on the expansion of Pacifica at the expense of KPFA and its sister stations.

April 9 1999 - Bensky fired again after promising on the air to discuss Chadwick's firing of Sawaya on his Sunday Salon program. The staff continues on the air calling for the reinstatement of both Sawaya and Bensky and an independent mediator to deal with the underlying disputes between Pacifica and KPFA.

April 15. 1999 - 1000 people demonstrate outside Pacifica's offices in Berkeley.

May 9, 1999 - Close to 2000 KPFA supporters rally for staff at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to hear June Jordan, Utah Phillips, Holly Near, Wavy Gravy, Barbara Lubin and many others speak in support of KPFA staff.

May 13-27, 1999 - KPFA staff has record $605,000 Spring Fund Drive. 6200 of 7000 subscribers pledge under protest.

June 18, 1999 - Chadwick fires Osman, accusing him of having "forfeited" his "access to KPFA/Pacifica airwaves."

June 20, 1999 - Hundreds turn out for an emergency rally at the station as KPFA goes off the air for the two hours of Osman's program.

June 21, 1999 - After camping overnight in front of KPFA and Pacifica headquarters, Chadwick has 14 people arrested for blocking Pacifica's doorway. Chadwick and Pacifica's six employees remove the files to another location.

June 22, 1999 - Several hundred again show up for a press conference in front of the station, part of which is played live on :Flashpoints. Speakers include June Jordan, Michael Parenti, Elizabeth Martinez, Van Jones, Medea Benjamin . June 23, 1999 - Janet Reno's Justice department intervenes on behalf of Pacifica management; US DOJ staffer from the COPS Program (where former Pacifica Communications Director Burt Glass also worked) questions Berkeley Police Chief about their reluctance to arrest Pacifca demonstrators.

June 24, 1999 - Pacifica turns over 2000 letters and e-mails from listeners protesting Pacifica management actions to the Berkeley police.

June 27, 1999 - Armed guards are brought into KPFA. The security company, IPSA, is the 4th largest in the country and has had clients such as ABC (against the NABET strikers) and the City of Atlanta. The bill may run as high as $300,000 per MONTH. Who is paying for this? Not Pacifica, becuase Pacifica doesn't have that kind of money. And if Pacifica is paying, how can they justify lack of funds as a reason for having no local news at KPFT and WPFW for the last 3 years. Tapes are being brought up secretly to Berkeley from Pacifica Archive as Chadwick prepares to shut down KPFA.

July 8, 1999 - KPFK's Blase Bonpane goes public and tells why he has been on strike against KPFK

July 12, 1999 - Andrea Buffa at Media Alliance receives misdirected memo from Pacifica Board member Micheal Palmer discussing plans to "shutdown and reprogram KPFA and sell KPFA and/or WBAI. MF Berry comes to Berkeley and holds an invitation-only press conference, attempting to keep out reporters from media who have been critical.

July 13, 1999 - Dennis Bernstein broadcasts press conference where the Palmer memo is discussed. He is pursued by Pacifica's armed goons into the newsroom where his tussle with the goons is broadcast, interrupting the evening news. Garland Ganter, KPFT manager brought in to enforce the gag rule throws the switch and takes KPFA off the air. Tapes begin playing as hundreds converge on the station. 52 staff and community members, including Dennis Bernstein and the news staff, are arrested.

July 14, 1999 - Staff arrive to find KPFA locked and boarded up. They are informed that they are on "administrative leave." Democracy Now covers the story - and is again censored from Pacifica stations.

July 15. 1999 - California legislators call for investigation into Pacifica finances, actions

Camp KPFA is established outside the now boarded-up building

Daily protests continue as Communications Workers of America sets up picket around KPFA transmitter to prevent installation of an ISDN line that would allow programming to be fed in from another station.

July 18, 1999 - Berkeley PD swoops down on Camp KPFA in the middle of the night and makes mass arrests. Camp is back the following day.

July 19, 1999 - Huge benefit concert with Joan Baez and others organized on a few days notice sells out.

Statements of solidarity come from many groups, protests continue. Protests in solidarity are held at WBAI and KPFK.

July 22, 1999 - Pacifica hires Fineman and associates - high priced PR firm to do damage control Berkeley police sweep Camp KPFA in the wee hours, and arrest demonstrators.

July 26, 1999 - Daily protests begin outside Fineman and Assoxiates.

July 27, 1999 - Berkeley City council hold special session. Calls for Board resignations and return of KPFA to community control. City will contribute to lawsuit, file amicus brief. Police are instructed to facilitate peaceful protests. Pacifica Board holds conference call discussing sale of KPFA.

July 29, 1999 - Foiled by the Bramson revelation, MF Berry sidesteps mediators goes to press with statement that KPFA will reopen and staff should return. Claims staff may "run the station." Denies sale in progress. This is a ploy to deflect attention from sale exposure.

July 30, 1999 - Fineman quits. KPFA staff are admitted into building. An estimated $30K's worth of damage has been done to the facilities and studios by IPSA goons. The KU Satellite uplink equipment, actually owned by KFCF has also been mishandled and damaged.

July 31, 1999 - More than 10,000 march in Berkeley in support of KPFA and Free Speech radio - call for removal of Pacifica Board

August 20, 1999 - California legislature holds public hearings in Oakland as to whether Pacifica violated its non-profit status by its recent actions. KPFA staffers testify, in spite of orders by Chadwick that they face termination if they do. A week later, the Legislative Audit Committee subpoenas financial records. Word has leaked out that the Pacifia Board spent more than half a million dollars (of the subscriber's funds) on armed guards and PR experts to support their takeover of KPFA and Pacifica.

September 2, 1999 – California Legislative Committee votes to subpoena Pacifica financial records

January 5 - Pacifica Foundation moves its national office to Washington. DC in the dark of night

WBAI the New York Pacifica Station (see also article)

January 1, 2001–Peter Bochan's year-end highlights program censored.[57]

January 4, 2001–WBAI Management tells WBAI Local Advisory Board that it cannot hold its regular, bimonthly meetings at WBAI anymore. Utrice Leid says she doesn't want listeners coming into the station, a requirement for the board if it is to have meet the FCC mandated public comment section of the meeting.[58]

January 10, 2001–WBAI TURNS 41. Today marks the 41st birthday of WBAI - on Jan 10 1960, this station was given to Pacifica by its owner, Louis Schweitzer.[59]

January 15, 2001–On the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s birth, “Morning Show” host Clayton Riley orders Amy Goodman’s microphone to be silenced while she discusses the firings and bannings at WBAI .[60]

January 17, 2001– Francesco Rocciolo, Citibank vice president in charge of international private banking for Europe/Middle East/Africa, withdraws his candidacy for a Pacifica National Board seat, on the eve of protest in front of Citibank protesting his nomination.[61]

January 18, 2001–Hundreds demonstrate in front of WBAI, protesting the “Christmas Coup”

Jan 22, 2001–John Murdock sends a draft of Pacifica by-laws changes to Pacifica National Board members, which would reduce the size of the board and allow key decisions such as sale of a station, to be done with as few as 5 members on as little as 24 hours notice.[62]

January 23, 2001–Clayton Riley proposes sale of WBAI as a way to resolve the crisis at the station on the new “Morning Show.”[63]

January 23, 2001–Utrice Leid bars Local Advisory Board (LAB)from holding a regularly-scheduled meeting at the station . Nine are arrested, including two LAB members.[64]

January 24, WBAI station management issues a memo barring any producer from on-air discussion of station business, policy or personnel, including announcing meetings, or facilitating such discussion by others.[65]

February 9, 2001–Interm General Manager Utrice Leid fires veteran WBAI programmer and Local Advisory Board member Mimi Rosenberg, in a letter delivered by regular mail, "Effective immediately, you must cease all your on air and on-site volunteer work at/or for WBAI or Pacifica generally. You are not to enter or attempt to enter WBAI's premises or participate in any WBAI activities. If you fail to abide by this decision, all appropriate action to insure that this decision is complied with will be taken."[66]

February 10, 2001–Epstein, Becker and Green(EB&G), the lawfirm representing Pacifica, informs WBAI Listener Network that its internet domain name www.wbai.net constitutes “Unlawful use of the WBAI Trademark” and threatens legal action against the group.[67]

February 13, 2001–Utrice Leid tells Award winning news reporter Robert Knight that both he and Amy Goodman are removed from their positions on the “Morning Show”[68]

February 15, 2001–Activists disrupt EB&G seminar "Surviving in the Labor and Employment Law Jungle," in Cornell Club in Manhattan.[69]

February 20, 2001–Five hundred members of WBAI’s United Electrical Workers Local 404 and Concerned Friends of WBAI protest at the offices of Epstein, Becker and Green in Manhattan, and one hundred-fifty demonstrate in Newark NJ. Protesters demand an end to unfair labor practices and the “coup” at WBAI/Pacifica.

Democracy NOW

February 1997–Pennsylvania’s Temple University cancels its contracts to air Democracy NOW! with Pacifica because the news program decides to air 13 commentaries with Mumia Abu-Jamal.[70] Temple owns 13 radio stations.

May 27, 1997 - WBAI Program Director tells the WBAI local board that Pacifica executive director Pat Scott is pressuring Democracy Now producers to downplay criticism of Clinton and to remove Mumia Abu Jamal commentaries.[71]

July 14, 1999–Pacifica managers pull the network's most popular program "Democracy Now!" from KPFK, WPFW and KPFA. The main story on the show that day addresses the crisis at KPFA. Executive Director Lynn Chadwick is interviewed live on the program and replies to critics. Pacifica chief Lynn Chadwick bars the July 14th edition of "Democracy Now!" from being put up on Pacifica's web site. Chadwick also blocks the

Pacifica Radio archives from selling or distributing copies of the July 14th program.[72]

On July 23, 1999 "Democracy Now!" airs the a PNN piece by Verna Avery-Brown and Laura Flanders. Just before the story comes on, a WPFW announcer tells listeners that there are "technical problems" and switches to music. Once the story about the KPFA crisis is over, WPFW returns to the program. The station also airs a disclaimer following "Democracy Now!"[73]

October 2000–Pacifica threatens to fire Goodman if she does not give advance notice of speaking engagements and show topics.

October 18, 2000–Democracy NOW! show host Amy Goodman issues memorandum to Pacifica alleging harassment, gender harassment and censorship.

March 2000–Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash holds back web posting of Democracy NOW! because it carrys a segment on the crisis at Pacifica. [75]

August 2000–Acting national program director for Pacifica Garland Ganter refuses to give Amy Goodman press credentials to allow her to cover the Democratic Convention in reprisal for allegedly bringing Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader onto the floor of the Republican convention. It is common for journalists to bring guests into conventions for interviews.[76]

October 18, 2000–Democracy NOW! show host Amy Goodman issues a memorandum to Pacifica alleging harassment, gender harassment and censorship.

October 25, 2000–Hundreds protest censorship and intimidation of Democracy NOW! show host Amy Goodman by Pacifica in coordinated demonstrations in Washington, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.[77] Pacifica threatens to fire Goodman if she does not give advance notice of speaking engagements and show topics.

January 31, 2001– Democracy NOW! co-host Juan Gonzales resigns to launch a campaign to oust the Pacifica board and reclaim the network. Pacifica censors the program a minute or two into Juan Gonzalez's comments over the D.C. station, WPFW and KPFT.

February 12, 2001–Democracy NOW! host Amy Goodman reads part of a commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal titled “WBAI: THE COUP ON WALL ST.” encouraging listeners to fight for the survival of the embattled station.

February 13, 2001–Democracy NOW! is interupted by a censor at the end of the broadcast as Amy Goodman reads, “From the embattled studios of WBAI …” During the struggle for the control panel the censor is heard to say, “Who are you working for”

February 14, 2001–An entire episode of “Democracy NOW!” is censored at WBAI during the fundraising drive, but aired at other affiliates. WBAI pledge line swamped with calls from angry listeners demanding to know why Democracy NOW! is not being aired.

February 7-8, 2001– Houston's general manager Garland Ganter refuses to allow Goodman to pitch for the last two days of Houston's fund drive. Ganter is unhappy that Goodman referred to Juan Gonzalez in a previous pitch for the Houston audience. Gonzalez is Goodman's Democracy Now! Ganter is reported as saying that Goodman can not be trusted not to refer to Gonzalez when she pitchs.

At Pacifica station KPFK in Los Angeles, general manager Mark Schubb asks Goodman to condemn Gonzalez's statement of resignation. Goodman reportedly says she will not submit to a litmus test, and will not condemn a colleague she's worked with for so many years. Goodman's pitching is censored on KPFK. Goodman is dropped altogether from the Wednesday pitch in Los Angeles. KPFK then uses an old tape of Goodman, instead of having her pitch herself, although the tape was played as if it were Goodman live. The tape was previously edited for time references and news items that would have betrayed the age of the tape being used.

February 28, 2001–WPFW management censors Mumia Abu Jamal as he reads his January 29 column, "WBAI: The Coup on Wall St." during Democracy Now broadcast! In the column he expresses strong support for those fighting to return Pacifica to democratic control . WPFW, cut Mumia's voice off after a few minutes and played jazz. Mumia also gave out the phone numbers of Concerned Friends of WBAI and the web addresses for WBAI.net and savepacifica.net.[78]

March 1, 2001–On the eve of a Pacifica National Board meeting where protests are planned, KPFT censors Amy Goodman’s announcement of the national board meeting.

Back to OUT-FM homepage.

[1] Unless otherwised marked all footnotes in the Chronology of Abuses by the Pacifica Management and Board of Directors is from a single document “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[2] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[3] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[4] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[5] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[6] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[7] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[8] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[9] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[10] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[11] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[12] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[13] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[14] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[15] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[16] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[17] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[18] Washington Post Oct 24^th 1993 , Sunday , Final Edition by Michael Hardesty “Duel on the Dial Diversity and Self-Destruction on the Alternative Airwaves”

[19] WBAI’s “Health Action,” interview with Fahima Seck, hosted by Bob Lederer February 6, 2001

[20] FAIR ACTION ALERT: “Pacifica's WPFW Axes FAIR's CounterSpin: Media Criticism Show Cancelled After Three Earlier Instances of Censorship” (12/10/99) http://www.fair.org/activism/pacifica-wpfw.html

[22] Letter to Pacifica Management from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship January 24, 2000, http://www.savepacifica.net/strike/

[23] FAIR ACTION ALERT: “Pacifica's WPFW Axes FAIR's CounterSpin: Media Criticism Show Cancelled After Three Earlier Instances of Censorship” (12/10/99) http://www.fair.org/activism/pacifica-wpfw.html

[24] [24] FAIR ACTION ALERT: “Pacifica's WPFW Axes FAIR's CounterSpin: Media Criticism Show Cancelled After Three Earlier Instances of Censorship” (12/10/99) http://www.fair.org/activism/pacifica-wpfw.html

[25] “Embattled Pacifica Foundation Moves National Headquarters from Berkeley to DC; KPFA listeners and Bay Area media activists shocked by nighttime move,” press release, Jan 6, 2000 http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[26] Letter to Pacifica Management from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship,”

http://www.savepacifica.net/strike/ , Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship

[27] Daily News, “ Pacifica Network has New Changes and New Conflict” by David Hinckley March 2, 2000

[28] WBAI’s “Health Action,” interview with Fahima Seck, hosted by Bob Lederer February 6, 2001

[29] “Protests Planned Against Pacifica Network Radio, The Award-Winning Host of ‘Democracy NOW!’ Accuses her Bosses of Censorship”, by Steve Carney, Los Angeles Times, Wed Oct 24, 2000, Home Edition Page 3 Part F

[30] Interview of Fahima Seck by Bob Lederer on “Health Action” on WBAI 99.5FM Tuesday February 6, 2001 at 2PM

[31] Personal Communication between Sam Husseini and Eileen Sutton January 17, 2001, posted on Sutton’s list serve February 11, 2001.

[32] “Radio station Accused of Bias Against Hispanics,” The Houston Chronicle, September 17, 1991, Tuesday, 2 Star Edition pg. 14A

[33] November 18, 1992 Wed, 2 Star Edition Pg 12 “KPFT Changes Spark Petition” by Louis B. Parks Houston Chronical

[34] “A Clash of Cultures, KPFT bids goodbye to its embattled boss”. Houston Press March 21, 1994

[35] “A Clash of Cultures, KPFT bids goodbye to its embattled boss”. Houston Press March 21, 1994

[36] “Cancellations at KPFT-FM Draw Protests” by Armando Villa Franca The Houston Chronicle, April 20, 1995, Thursday, 2 Star Edition, pg 26A

[37] “Radio Meeting Protests Likely; Pacifica Network Brings Feud Here,” by Allan Turner, The Houston Chronicle, October 29, 1999 Friday 3 Star Edition Pg. 29A

[38] “Protesters demonstrate Against Radio Chain, Deny Involvement in Fire,” by Chris Fletcher, Associated Press State and Local Wire, October 30, 1999, Saturday, AM cycle

[39] “Like a Virgin,” Richard Connelly, November 9, 2000, Houston Press, http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2000-11-09/hostage.html

[40] “Mixed Signals at KPFK; The Pacifica Radio Network—Long a Voice of the Left—Says it is Trying to Bring Order to the Chaos at its Stations. But Ousted Show Hosts Say the Changes Violate Free Speech and Aren’t Going Quitely.” Hector Tobar, Los Angeles Times Metro Part A Page 1 September 17, 1996

[41] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[42] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[43] Lyn Gerry list serve Monday, February 05, 2001

[44] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[45] “Mixed Signals at KPFK; The Pacifica Radio Network—Long a Voice of the Left—Says it is Trying to Bring Order to the Chaos at its Stations. But Ousted Show Hosts Say the Changes Violate Free Speech and Aren’t Going Quitely.” Hector Tobar, Los Angeles Times Metro Part A Page 1 September 17, 1996

[46] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[47] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[48] http://www.radio4all.org/fp/ttt.html, Journal of Anti-Racist Activism Research & Education

TURNING THE TIDE, Summer 1997 issue

[50] “KPFKed: Clatter,” by Sara Scribner, November 26, 1998, New Times Los Angeles Music section

[51] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[52] “Protesters Take Aim at KPFK Host’s Statements,” by Judith Michaelson, Feb 2, 2000, Los Angeles Times, page 11 part F

[53] Personal communication between Peter Franck and Lyn Gerry Wed, 07 Feb 2001 09:15:59 -0800

[54] Unless otherwised marked all footnotes in the KPFA Berkeley section is from a single document “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[55] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[56] “A Pacifica Chronology,” http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

[57] “Update: Peter Bochan,” Eileen Sutton’s list serve posted January 9, 2001

[58] Memo from R. Paul Martin posted on freepacifica@recordist.com January 4, 2001

[59] “Matthew Lasar on WBAI Tonight,” on Eileen Sutton’s list serve, January 10, 2001

[60] “Fwd: Martin Luther King day WBAI coup?,” Eileen Sutton’s list serve, January 15, 2001

[61] “CITICORP EMPLOYEE DROPS BID,” Eileen Sutton’s list serve, January 17, 2001

[62] “{FP} URGENT: Pacifica Theft Heads Up, Free Pacifica lis