Meltdown at KPFA

Fellow Concerned Activist:
I've been ask to address you by the progressive leadership of Pacifica radio particularly at KPFA in Berkeley regarding a major incident reflective of the ongoing unraveling (see attached) of the entire network which continues to descend into dire financial crisis.

What's important to note is the people now managing the network are opposed to the continuing democratizing of the network a movement created out of the take-back years and dedicated to returning Pacifica to a community based network dedicated to representing those communities who mainstream media is least likely to represent or cover for which they attempted to shutdown and sell the network including KPFA for oogles.

Over a hundred progressives including supporters like Michael Parenti, Dennis Bernstein of Flashpoints and many others have ask me to seek your support on this issue.
To sign the support paragraph just hit me back with your support and comments.

Thanks for listening
Peace & Persevere
Steve C
BACKGROUND ON INCIDENT AT KPFA
DEAR COMMUNITY:
As many of you may be aware, recently there was an incident at KPFA that has shocked and disappointed many of us who are staff, volunteers and listeners.
Nadra Foster - a graduate of KPFA radio’s apprenticeship program, a long time volunteer programmer, and a single mother of two - was allegedly “banned” from the premises of KPFA after a disagreement with the business manager for using the copy machine. On August 20th, Nadra apparently came back to the station to do some work and was asked to leave. When she refused, the Business Manager sought permission from the HR Director of the Pacifica Foundation to call the police. According to several witnesses, after the cops arrived the situation quickly escalated, and over 6 police were called to force Nadra out and excessive force was used. Several staff members tried to intervene in the police action but were also threatened by
the police. Nadra Foster was dragged out in restraints and suffered a sprained arm and was charged with several felonies and misdemeanors including resisting arrest and assault on a police officer, as well as trespassing. Many of us are upset that KPFA, an institution that was founded by pacifists, would resort to
police action in a non-violent situation and without any attempts to resolve this conflict internally.
Later, in an email to the KPFA Local Station Board, KPFA’S interim General Manager stated "KPFA and Pacifica managers have a responsibility to ensure a safe work environment. Period.
The incident happened and was escalated because the person involved repeatedly refused to cooperate, first with a manager and later with the Berkeley Police."
Management’s response to this incident has been dramatic and deepened existing divides at the station. While management has on the one hand attempted to get the charges dropped, it has also defended their decision to call the police and said it wasn’t responsible for the overreaction of the police. Subsequent to this police action made a decision to institute a tighter security system that would require all approved staff to get security cards - - and those who are not approved would have to be let in. Dozens of volunteers, and some on the staff, see this as
another example of a management team that is out of step with Pacifica’s values and mission.
An internal letter of no confidence, in interim General Manager Lemlem Rijio, has since been circulating.
We, the undersigned, have decided we cannot address this situation alone, and without the support of the community, and thus are reaching out to all of you who support KPFA and its mission to sign on to the statement below. This will be added to our internal statement of no confidence
in this interim management so we can show the community is also concerned with
the use of police force to solve non-violent conflicts.
STATEMENT OF CONCERN
"As part of the progressive community, we are appalled at the use of the Berkeley Police Department to remove unpaid programmer Nadra Foster from the KPFA premises on
August 20th, 2008. This act is contrary to the principles of justice, free speech, and peace that we expect KPFA to practice, on-air and off".

Background Material Recent: http://muckraker-gg.blogspot.com/2008/09/quiet-meltdown-on-planet-pacifica.html
Historic: (http://www.straw.com/fsm-a/kpfa/index.html)

******PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY******