Maybe Now It's Clear?

Well, it's been almost four months since the WBAI Christmas Coup. It was in the late evening of December 22^nd that a small band of disgruntled staff--led by Utrice Leid under the auspices of Bessie Wash, Pacifica's Executive Director--took over WBAI. They immediately fired Valerie van Isler, Station Manager, Sharan Harper, Executive Producer of Wakeup Call and Bernard White, Program Director and co-host of Wakeup Call. They were threatened with arrest if they entered the station. Leid also banned the entire support staff for this award-winning morning program. When the takeover took place, Leid and her co-conspirators attempted to convince listeners that this was an internal matter based on personality conflicts. That was a gross mischaracterization of reality. Our community was understandably confused and shocked. Many either could not or did not want to believe that someone we held in such high esteem could be involved in behavior that was so diabolical and underhanded. However, maybe now it's clear.

Those who were ousted publicly declared that the station was in the midst of a raw corporate takeover launching a narrowly focused, depoliticized programmatic direction for WBAI. They declared, to the chagrin of many, that our ability to make our own decisions had been destroyed by a small group who placed their individual egos above the community's right to control and shape WBAI. Utrice Leid, as the agent of a reactionary segment of the Pacifica National Board, was at the helm.

Today Leid plays a dual role at the station. She is the interim station manager and the program director. The aimless meanderings of some of the newly installed programs, the purging of the most political shows and their producers, the imposition of a "gag rule," which she selectively applies to stifle dissent, and vilification of anyone who opposes the regime are tools that Pacifica has successfully employed in the devolution of three of the five Pacifica stations. Very few people believed the dissidents' proclamation at the time it was stated. Maybe now it's clear.

The only media outlet that our community could rely on to consistently present accurate information in an intelligent manner was WBAI. Under the present regime, that is no longer the case. We are the Community for Progressive Radio (CPR), a group of activists from the Black and Latino community, and we intend to counter Pacifica's actions. We are holding informational rallies and activities to educate the community about what is at stake. On April 25^th at 6:00 P.M., we are calling on concerned community residents to attend a teach-in and update on what's really happening at Pacifica and WBAI. The forum will be held at The House of the Lord Church, 415 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn. Speakers will include leaders of community organizations and representatives from other Pacifica stations who will share with us their experience at the hands of a small rogue band of Pacifica Board members. If you attend, you will become clear on what's happening at WBAI radio.