FYI

[JBFRAME at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/23/2000 5:40:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
savepacifica at peacenet.org writes:

<< 12/23/00 -- Pacifica Fires NY Manager, Program Director Then Locks Out 
WBAI Staff
 
 In its latest arbitrary exercise of power, Pacifica has 
 dismissed long-time New York station manager Valerie Van Isler 
 and also fired recently appointed program director Bernard 
 White.  White's producer on the WBAI "Wake Up Call" morning 
 show, Sharan Harper, was also dismissed.   Pacifica executive 
 director Bessie Wash, accompanied by a newly hired security 
 guard company, changed the WBAI locks in the middle of the night 
 Friday.  WBAI staff are now locked out of the building, and are 
 being admitted only on a "controlled entry" basis until further 
 notice.  White and Harper were threatened with arrest should 
 they attempt to enter the building.
 
 All regular WBAI programming is being maintained for the moment, 
 including a previously scheduled four-hour teach-in on the WBAI 
 and Pacifica crisis, which was broadcast Saturday morning.
 
 Several dozen people held a vigil outside the WBAI lower 
 Manhattan studios despite the 10 degree weather Friday night.  
 Over five hundred are reportedly attending a demonstration which 
 began at noon Saturday outside the building.
 
 WBAI afternoon talk show host Eutrice Leid has been appointed 
 acting station manager by Pacifica.  Last week, WBAI news 
 director Jose Santiago turned down the job, saying he had been 
 falsely assured that Valerie Van Isler was resigning voluntarily.
 
 To protest this latest arbitrary action by Pacifica, please 
 contact (toll free) executive director Bessie Wash: 1-888-770-
 4944 Ext. 348.  Or send her e-mail:  FALCON1591 at aol.com.
 
 Other messages of protest should be sent to Pacifica board 
 member John Murdock, who is now coordinating  Pacifica's legal 
 and structural assault on free speech, community radio, and to 
 David Acosta, the current board chair.
 
 John M. Murdock 
 Tel: 202-861-0900
 Fax: 202-296-2882
 Email: jmurdock at ebglaw.com
 
 David Acosta, Chair
 Tel: (713) 926-4604 
 Fax: (713) 921-2780 
 Email: cpadga at aol.com
 
 For updates, please see http://www.savepacifica.net
 
 For additional updates, and to get on the New York hot line 
 alert e-mail, call (718) 707-7189.
 
 Contributions to support the WBAI locked out workers and the New 
 York listeners can be sent to:
 
 Friends of Free Speech Radio
 905 Parker Street
 Berkeley, CA 94710
 
 
 
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