JUNE 2001

PACIFICA TIMELINE Ten Years of the Pacifica Purge This highly selective chronology of Pacifica's censorship, purges and usurpation of power is drawn from many sources. Many pre-2001 entries are distilled from a chronology by Lyn Gerry posted at www.radio4all.org/freepacifica/pacifica_chrono.htm. Compiled by John Riley, Bob Lederer, and CDPNY

KEY • PNB: Pacifica National Board • CPB: Corporation for Public Broadcasting • KPFA: Berkeley • KPFK: Los Angeles • KPFT: Houston • WBAI: New York • WPFW: Washington, DC articles index | wbaiaction.org | wbai.net

articles index

1991-1992 Pacifica management drafts mainstream-oriented National Program Strategy, acknowledging grant applications made to (and later rejected by) such corporate foundations as Pew, Ford and MacArthur. May 1992 (Houston) Pacifica names Barry Forbes as KPFT Manager. Forbes alters or cancels numerous programs he terms "the far left of your radio dial." During spring fund drive, listenership drops 18%, donations 32%.

Feb. 1993 Pacifica National Board (PNB) approves National Program Strategy. KPFA Manager Pat Scott, facing unified opposition from staff for attempted purges, is transferred by Pacifica to DC to lobby Congress, which is threatening Pacifica’s funding from Corporation for Public Broadasting (CPB).

Oct. 1-4, 1993 (DC) Acting WPFW station manager Tom Porter resigns over the undemocratic nature of process for hiring permanent manager. Hours later, programmers air special program on battles within the station and network. Pacifica Exec. Dir. David Salniker takes station off air for 3 days, violating federal communication rules. In what local activists call a "coup," station returns to air with new Pacifica-appointed manager.

1994 (DC) At WPFW, protests, petitioning and union organizing go on all year. Management holds mandatory staff "trainings"—mainly their version of Pacifica history—and then fires dissident programmers who refuse to change their "attitude problems."

1995 (L.A.) New KPFK Manager Mark Schubb tells delegation of dissident listeners that they could easily be replaced by new listeners through program changes. March-April 1995 Pacifica secretly hires American Consulting Group (professional union busters) to draft new contracts stripping workers of input, eliminating right to strike, and removing unpaid staff from union protection.

Aug. 1995 (Berkeley) KPFA Manager Marci Lockwood begins massive purge of programmers, including many leftists, particularly people of color. Sept. 1995 Community observers barred from PNB meeting in Houston.

Nov. 1995 Prompted by news coverage of the exclusion, CPB investigator probes Pacifica’s violation of open-meeting rules. Pacifica intervenes, and within 17 days, investigator is fired.

May 1996 Activists reveal Pacifica’s hiring of American Consulting Group, denied by Pacifica. Pacifica management asks National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to remove unpaid producers at WBAI (90% of staff) from the union contract, clearly seeking to ease a future purge.

September 18, 1996 (NY) First informational forum on the crisis at WBAI is held by SOS and WBAI's staff union, UE local 404.

Dec. 1996 Another CPB inspector fired on verge of filing report citing PNB violations of open-meetings rules. January 22, 1997 (NY) Striking members of the Detroit Free Pressappear on Utrice Leid's show "Talk Back" and Leid fails to inform them of the union struggle in process at WBAI. Informed of the struggle by SOS, the strikers address the audience of the second WBAI teach-in later that night, held at the Musicians' Union, again with WBAI's staff union.

Feb. 1997 After Pacifica’s Democracy Now! airs first of 13 commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal, angry Temple University officials, influenced by Philadelphia police, cancel contract to air program on the university’s 13 radio stations.

March 1997 (L.A.) KPFK Program Director slashes programming for the huge Latino community. April-May 1997 CPB inspector’s report says PNB violated open-meeting rules. CPB Board, after private meeting with Pacifica officials, whitewashes staff report and praises Pacifica.

July 1997 (L.A.) KPFA Manager Lockwood resigns, replaced by Lynn Chadwick, Exec. Dir. and mainstreaming crusader of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (who had served with Pat Scott on the CPB task force—see "1994" entry).

Sept. 1997 Mary Frances Berry, Chair of Clinton’s Civil Rights Commission, takes office as PNB Chair. (PNB had earlier elected her on recommendion of Pat Scott and retiring PNB Chair and former Rainbow Coalition official Jack O’Dell.) After challenge by listener group’s lawyer, PNB drops proposal to halve local board representation, instead voting to almost double at-large members.

Jan. 5, 1998 (NY) Save Our Station and WBAI UE local 404, hold forum to discuss problems at Pacifica and WBAI, at PS41. Program Director Samori Marksman is invited on stage to respond to the panel and audience's questions and comments.

Oct. 1998 KPFA’s Lynn Chadwick named Pacifica Executive Director. November 1998 (NY) SOS holds its fourth teach-in, "Labor and the Media" at PS 41. Prominent labor organizers as well as CBS strikers participate.

Feb. 28, 1999 PNB, overriding votes of Local Advisory Boards and staffs, amends bylaws to end elections of its members by local boards, thus becoming self-selecting. Justification are letters from CPB, solicited by then-Exec. Dir. Pat Scott, claming that any Local Board role in national board is illegal and would lead to funding cutoff.

March 31, 1999 (Berkeley) KPFA’s popular manager, Nicole Sawaya, fired by Chadwick after opposing PNB vote. KPFA staff begins breaking gag rule en masse to demand Sawaya’s reinstatement on air. Late that night, shots fired into window of uninhabited Pacifica office; no injuries. Perpetrator never found.

April-Oct. 1999 WPFW, KPFK and KPFT censor all news about KPFA struggle. KPFK reporter and Pacifica National News stringer Robin Urevich banned after writing a newspaper article critical of Pacifica.

June 18, 1999 (Berkeley) Chadwick fires KPFA programmer Robbie Osman for defying gag rule. When no one will replace Osman, air goes silent for 2 hours, for first time in 25 years. Two days later, hundreds rally at station.

June 24, 1999 (Berkeley) Pacifica forwards 2,000 protest letters and e-mails to Berkeley police, suggesting they investigate the letter-writers’ possible role in 3/31 shooting incident that they dub "attempted murder."

June 27, 1999 (Berkeley) KPFA installs armed guards from security megacompany with self-proclaimed CIA links, costing $300,000 monthly. July 12, 1999 (Berkeley) Media Alliance receives misdirected email from PNB treasurer Micheal Palmer discussing plans to "shut down and reprogram" KPFA and to sell KPFA and/or WBAI.

July 14, 1999 (Berkeley) Staffers arrive to find KPFA boarded up and themselves placed on "administrative leave." July 14, 1999 "Democracy Now!" segment on KPFA crisis, including interview with Chadwick, censored by KPFK, WPFW and KPFA. Chadwick bars show from Pacifica’s web site and archives.

July 22, 1999 (Berkeley) Pacifica hires high-priced PR firm for damage control. Berkeley police again arrest Camp KPFA protesters in wee hours. Later, daily protests begin outside PR firm, which quickly quits.

July 29, 1999 (Berkeley) Foiled by Bramson’s revelation, Mary Frances Berry tells media no sale is in progress, sidesteps mediators, and says KPFA staff should return, claiming they may "run the station." Later, Berry says station managers can decide whether to enforce gag rule, knowing it is unenforceable at KPFA.

August 3, 1999 (NY) WBAI Local Advisory Board calls for resignations of Berry and Chadwick, and democratic restructuring of Pacifica. August 17, 1999 Solidarity protests at all 5 Pacifica stations; KPFA staffers file civil rights complaint against Pacifica management and Berry with her own Civil Rights Commission.

August 18, 1999 Ad in The New York Times, signed by dozens of prominent activists, intellectuals, journalists and other community leaders, condemns Pacifica’s actions against KPFA.

August 26, 1999 NLRB overturns regional decision, says unpaid staff are not to be in WBAI’s bargaining unit. WBAI Manager Van Isler nonetheless continues renewing (month-to-month) the previous contract that includes unpaid workers.

Oct. 1999 (L.A.) KPFK cancels Radio Chicana (program on Chicano, indigenous and Mexican issues) after anchor John Martinez airs segment on KPFA crisis.

Nov. 1, 1999 Pacifica National News Director Dan Coughlin removed after airing news brief on one-day boycott of Pacifica programming by Pacifica affiliates. News Anchor Verna Avery-Brown walks off job in protest, later resigning after 11 years to decry trend away from progressive coverage.

Jan. 2000 Pacifica Network News stringers strike to protest network-wide censorship. Thousands of progressives and unionists eventually support strike.

Feb. 26, 2000 At PNB meeting, Chadwick resigns, later succeeded by WPFW Manager Bessie Wash; Mary Frances Berry say she’ll step down when term expires in Oct.; PNB elects as new members HMO attorney John Murdock, broadcast investor Bertram Lee, CPA Valrie Chambers, and two activists, Leslie Cagan and Beth Lyons. Audience research consultant says Pacifica has not been mainstreamed fast enough.

June 2000 (DC) After WPFW Local Advisory Board adds PNB critics to its ranks, Station Manager Lou Hankins bans it from meeting at station, citing unspecified "security threats." Sept. 15-19, 2000 Listeners at all 5 stations and (separately) 2 dissident PNB members sue PNB, demanding removal of illegally-seated members. Listener suit backed by CA Attorney General.

September 16, 2000 (Washington, DC) At the public session of the Pacifica Board of Directors meeting, Gary Evans, a member of the listener group North Bay for KPFA, serves listeners' lawsuit to all directors, including the chair, Mary Frances Berry.

Sept. 2000 Exec. Dir. Wash demands that WBAI Program Dir. Bernard White file report on coverage of Palestinian Right to Return March in DC, and remove the link to WBAI on the sponsoring group’s web site. White refuses, saying she’s not his supervisor. Station Manager Van Isler backs up White’s refusal, then files report. Wash tells her request was based on CPB’s forwarded "listener" complaint alleging funding irregularities.

Oct. 2000 After months of pressure on Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman (including stripping her credentials to cover the Democratic National Convention), Pacifica threatens to fire her if she does not give advance notice of speaking engagements and show topics. (In a Sept. 14 meeting, several Pacifica station managers had attacked her coverage of police brutality, Abu-Jamal and other issues, while WBAI’s Van Isler defended her work.) Goodman, with her union’s support, files grievance charging management with harassment, gender harassment and censorship.

October 31, 2000 (Berkeley) KPFA holds an unprecedented listener election for its Local Advisory Board (LAB) representing the first democratic election of any board in the 51-year history of Pacifica. Eleven candidates are elected from the community, as well as five from the station staff, using a proportional representation model. Twenty-five percent of KPFA subscriber-base cast votes, with 5,538 paper and email ballots counted.

Nov. 31, 2000 (NY) Exec. Dir. Wash demands that WBAI Manager Van Isler accept reassignment at Pacifica National in DC or be fired effective Dec. 31. Van Isler refuses. Program Director Bernard White and others begin on-air denunciations of Pacifica’s attack on local autonomy.

Dec. 18, 2000 (NY) Van Isler signs a 9-month contract extension with WBAI staff union that again includes unpaid staff. Dec. 22, 2000 (NY) At 10:30 p.m., Wash carries out "Christmas coup" at WBAI, firing Van Isler 9 days early, installing Utrice Leid as Interim General Manager, and changing station locks. Leid goes on air at 1:00 a.m. to say "This is not a coup" and promises no program changes.

Jan. 4, 2001 (NY) Citing alleged but unproven security threat, Leid bars WBAI Local Advisory Board (LAB) from continuing to hold legally-required open meetings at the station.

Jan 22, 2001 (NY) PNB member John Murdock circulates to colleagues proposed by-laws changes to reduce board’s size and allow 5 members to make key decisions—such as selling a station—on 24-hours notice. In weeks following, hundreds of emails of opposition pour in to PNB.

Jan. 24, 2001 (NY) Leid issues memo barring any producer from on-air discussion of station business, policy or personnel (including related meeting announcements), or facilitation of such discussion by others. Violators subject to immediate dismissal.

Feb. 2001 (NY) Leid lowers goal of winter fund drive from $1 million to $800,000, and extends drive from two to three weeks in desperate effort to reach goal. Insiders report one-third of listener pledges are conditional on reinstating the fired and banned.

February 10-15, 2001 (NY) Epstein Becker & Green, union-busting law firm defending Pacifica against three suits, threatens to sue three free-Pacifica groups, claiming their web site names www.wbai.net, www.savepacifica.net, and www.wbaifree.org constitute "unlawful use" of WBAI or Pacifica trademarks.

February 15-20, 2001 (NY) Seven anti-PNB activists disrupt Epstein Becker and Green’s labor law seminar. Five days later, in a protest by Concerned Friends of WBAI and WBAI’s staff union, hundreds march outside the firm’s offices in Manhattan, and 150 at the Newark office.

March 3-5, 2001 (Houston) Hundreds from around country converge for teach-ins and pickets against PNB ruling majority. Dozens speak at open-mike during Board meeting. Later, 100+ turn their backs and chant "Resign Now!," throwing the meeting into chaos. Activists from 5 stations form embryonic national Pacifica listener coalition, set tentative action plans.

March 9, 2001 (NY) Award-winning programmer Mario Murillo resigns as morning show cohost rather than submit to management order to deny airtime to fired cohost Amy Goodman.

March 13, 2001 (NY) Amy Goodman fired as cohost of morning program; earlier, Robert Knight, another PNB critic, was removed as morning news anchor. March 16, 2001 On Democracy Now!, former cohost Juan Gonzalez debates PNB member and Epstein Becker attorney John Murdock about Pacifica crisis. WPFW censors entire broadcast.

March 28-31, 2001 Leid removes two more PNB critics, Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis and Deepa Fernandes, from their programs, claiming they violated the gag rule, and threatens other dissidents with firing, while harassing others with demands for tapes of their programs. To date, 17 dissident WBAI staff members have been removed.

April 28, 2001 (NY) The Concerned Friends of WBAI Elections Committee, CdP–NY, and the Pacifica Listeners Union hold a Listeners' Forum to discuss Local Advisory Board (LAB) elections at WBAI. The program includes a panel discussion, a demonstration of proportional representation, a film produced by CdP–NY about the listeners' movement, and live music and dance.

June 13, 2001 After intense activist pressure campaign against reactionary Board members, and effective listener boycott of Pacifica's spring pledge drives (20% drop network-wide; 50% at WBAI), PNB Chair David Acosta and PNB member Karolyn van Putten resign.

Fall 1992 (Houston) Forbes axes shows produced by 37 of 90 hosts, including several serving communities of color. Women’s Action Coalition presents KPFT with 1,000 petition signatures protesting format changes. Feb. 1993

June 1993 Dissident KPFK staff pickets PNB meeting to protest removal of African-American programs. KPFA programmer and former development director Maria Gilardin banned after questioning financial irregularities; later falsely accused of violence.

1994 Congressional Republicans attack Pacifica programming, including commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal rejected by National Public Radio under pressure from Congress, as part of drive to defund CPB. New Pacifica Exec. Dir. Pat Scott dictates format changes to local stations, and joins CPB task force that recommends new guidelines tying grants to ratings and audience fundraising goals. Purges begin at KPFK and WPFW. (By 2000, WPFW has reduced public affairs programming from 33% to 13% of airtime.)

Jan. 1995 (L.A.) Pacifica’s Pat Scott fires KPFK management, seizes books. Contract negotiations suspended; gag rule enforced; major purge begins. Feb. 1995 Pacifica’s consultants urge Program Directors to mainstream programming.

June 1995 PNB closes future finance-committee meetings, violating federal law. July 1995 PNB Executive Committee announces "vast changes" in Pacifica’s program direction, urges dissident Local Advisory Board members to resign.

September 1995 (NY) Producers Alliance is formed in response to proposed strip programming.

Feb. 26, 1996 (L.A.) After KPFK Pan-Africanist show host Ron Wilkins airs complaints by several dismissed Black programmers, Manager Schubb cuts off the program in progress and bans Wilkins and his guests. Schubb tightens gag rule: Programmers will be fired if their on-air callers criticize Pacifica or announce events discussing Pacifica.

August 1996 (NY) Activist listeners' group Save Our Station (SOS) is organized. Demonstration protesting union-busting at WBAI, the purges of KPFA and KPFK, and the corporatization of Pacifica is held outside WBAI.

Nov. 1996 After 18 months of secret meetings, Pacifica releases "Strategic Five-Year Plan," a blueprint—modeled on a similar plan by the National Federation for Community Broadcasters and CPB—for mainstream programming and a drive for more upscale listener-subscribers.

Feb. 12, 1997 (NY) Despite testimony by WBAI Manager Valerie Van Isler, regional NLRB office grants WBAI’s union the right to keep unpaid workers in its contract. Pacifica appeals. $60,000 has been spent on union busting.

March 1997 (L.A.) Pacifica announces proposal to cut in half the number of PNB seats reserved for local board members, allowing PNB to appoint a 2/3 majority. Facing media criticism, Exec. Dir. Pat Scott hires former Justice Dept. spokesperson Burt Glass as Pacifica’s first "communications director."

May 27, 1997 WBAI Program Director Samori Marksman tells WBAI advisory board that Exec. Dir. Pat Scott is pressuring Democracy Now! to downplay criticism of President Clinton and remove Mumia Abu-Jamal’s commentaries.

Aug. 1997 Pacifica writes gag clause into contracts with Pacifica affiliates (non-network stations running its programs) after many air criticisms of Pacifica’s union busting.

October 16, 1997 (NY) WBAI producer Joung Yoon Lym is terminated and the collectively-run show "Radio Bandung" is removed from the air in part for providing an on-air forum for listeners to discuss the station's imminent move to Wall Street. Though the move had been announced by an official Pacifica press release that week, the Program Director's "Report to the Listener" the previous day failed to mention this important matter. Management's termination letter cites, among other complaints, Joung Yoon Lym's defiance of the WBAI/Pacifica "dirty laundry clause" (commonly known today as Pacifica's "Gag Rule" forbidding staff to discuss "internal business" on the air) in conducting a "defacto Report to the Listener."

Feb. 1998 (L.A.) KPFK management bars programmers from encouraging attendance at demonstrations against war with Iraq. April 1998 Pat Scott announces upcoming resignation, is praised by CPB President Robert Coonrod (former head of Voice of America and director of Radio Marti, U.S. government propaganda arm against Cuba). By now, 300+ producers have been purged from Pacifica stations.

1999 (L.A.) KPFK Manager Schubb boasts of having removed 150+ programmers and staffers.

February 1999 (NY) SOS stages protests outside WBAI event to warn listeners of the impending illegal by-laws change threatening to erode the autonomy of the Pacifica stations.

April 9, 1999 (Berkeley) KPFA and Pacifica national programmer Larry Bensky fired after discussing Sawaya’s dismissal on air. For weeks, staff adds to on-air demands Bensky’s reinstatement and appointment of a mediator. April 15, 1999 (Berkeley) 1,000 people demonstrate outside KPFA’s and Pacifica’s adjoining offices.

May 9, 1999 (Berkeley) 2,000 KPFA supporters rally for fired staff, addressed by such celebrities as June Jordan, Holly Near and Wavy Gravy. May 13-27, 1999 (Berkeley) KPFA fund drive raises record $605,000, but 90% of subscribers pledge under protest, as recommended by staff.

June 21, 1999 (Berkeley) After camping overnight in front of KPFA/Pacifica, 14 people arrested at Chadwick’s direction for blocking the doorway. June 23, 1999 At urging of Clinton appointee board chair Mary Frances Berry, a U.S. Justice Dept. official pressures Berkeley Police Chief to crack down on KPFA demonstrators. Pacifica affiliates vote no confidence in Pacifica management.

June 25-27, 1999 PNB meets, falsely accuses critics of racism and violence. KPFA union files unfair labor practice charges. Federal mediation launced between Pacifica and KPFA staff and listeners. 16 members of Local Advisory Boards at KPFA, KPFK and WBAI sue PNB, demanding repeal of 2/99 bylaw amendments and removal of some PNB members.

July 13, 1999 (Berkeley) Award-winning KPFA producer Dennis Bernstein broadcasts activist press conference revealing Palmer email. KPFT Manager Garland Ganter, brought in that day as Acting Manager to control KPFA, fires Bernstein. Pacifica’s guards pursue him into the newsroom where their tussle is broadcast live. Ganter takes KPFA off the air. Tapes from Pacifica archives (secretly brought there weeks earlier) begin playing as hundreds converge on the station. 52 staff and community members, including Bernstein, are arrested.

July 15, 1999 (Berkeley) Camp KPFA established, mounting daily protests outside building amidst heavy riot-police presence. Unionized workers picket transmitter, blocking installation of computer lines for piping in outside programs. July 18, 1999 (Berkeley) In middle of night, police make mass arrests at camp, which is back the next day.

July 27, 1999 (Berkeley) Special session of City Council calls for PNB resignations and return of KPFA to community control. July 28, 1999 (Berkeley) Dissident PNB member Pete Bramson reveals Executive Committee’s planned secret meeting to vote on sale of KPFA. With Pacifica near-bankrupt from KPFA-takeover expenses, PNB discusses seeking $5 million loan, using KPFA’s frequency as collateral (plan later abandoned).

July 30, 1999 (Berkeley) KPFA staff readmitted, finding $30,000 of damage to facilities by security guards. Pacifica ignores demands to rehire Sawaya and Bensky and to grant other forms of autonomy. July 31, 1999 (Berkeley) 10,000 march through Berkeley and to the station to support community control and demand removal of PNB.

August 17, 1999 Following the shutting down of KPFA, listeners groups and the Media Alliance organize coast-to-coast actions at all five stations to protest Pacifica management and Board of Directors.

August 20, 1999 At state legislative hearings on Pacifica’s actions as a CA non-profit, KPFA staffers testify despite Chadwick’s threat of termination. (Committee later subpoenas Pacifica’s financial records.) August 24, 1999 (NY) In surprise visit with WBAI staff, Berry attacks KPFA staff and listeners, and seeks support for sale of KPFA to buy several small stations in the South.

October 2, 1999 (NY) Coalition for a democratic Pacifica–New York holds a teach-in in Washington Square Park at which Dennis Bernstein, a KPFA producer arrested during the lockout, and many other producers and media activists discuss the ramifications of the KPFA situation for WBAI and other Pacifica stations.

November 1999 Listeners' lawsuit filed by the Committee to Remove the Pacifica Board. The suit seeks to remove the illegally-seated Pacifica directors and restore the network to its founding principles, by requiring democratic bylaws, legal membership status and voting rights for Pacifica's listener-sponsors, as well as democratic listener- elections of both local station boards and the Pacifica Board of Directors.

December 1999 (Berkeley) The KPFA "Folio," the vital connection between the listeners and the station, is resurrected and published monthly by the listener group, North Bay for KPFA.

January 5, 2000 Pacifica Foundation packs up and moves national office to DC in the middle of the night."They turned tail and ran after the heat they received last summer," says KPFA news co-director Aileen Alfandary.

May 2000 (Berkeley) KPFA's Local Advisory Board (LAB) approves the proposed model for a democratic election to determine its membership.

September 14, 2000 After California Attorney General Bill Lockyer grants twelve plaintiffs of the listeners' lawsuit "relator" standing to sue Pacifica, the suit is filed in Alameda County Superior Court.

Sept. 16, 2000 Mary Frances Berry changes hats from PNB Chair to PNB "consultant." Top PNB positions now occupied by the station-sale team of David Acosta (Chair), Ken Ford (Vice-Chair) and Micheal Palmer (Treasurer), all illegally retaining their seats. Four days later, in an illegal "emergency" phone meeting, PNB proposes what activists label "shadow local advisory boards" to circumvent opposition by existing boards.

Oct. 2000 (NY) Dissident PNB members Leslie Cagan and Beth Lyons convene first of many mass meetings of listeners, producers and others to organize against Pacifica’s mainstreaming; group later named "Concerned Friends of WBAI."

Oct. 25, 2000 In demonstrations at all five stations, hundreds protest Pacifica’s censorship and intimidation of Amy Goodman. At WBAI rally, "Talk Back" host Utrice Leid speaks against PNB. The next day, KPFT programmer George Reiter fired for attending the Houston rally.

November 15, 2000 (Berkeley) Newly-elected listener LAB-members take their seats on KPFA's Local Advisory Board.

December 13, 2000 (Berkeley) Newly-elected staff LAB-members take seats on KPFA's Local Advisory Board.

Dec. 23-28, 2000 (NY) Program Director and "Wake-up Call" cohost Bernard White, a 20-year station veteran, and producer and union steward Sharan Harper fired via early-morning hand-delivered letters at home. Both are threatened with trespassing charges if they return. Hours later, 200 protest the coup in rally at the station. Later, Leid cancels "Wake-up Call" and bans four other staffers who are PNB critics; and 1200 furious at coup gather for organizing meeting of Concerned Friends of WBAI.

Jan. 15, 2001 (NY) Leid’s chosen morning show host, Clayton Riley, orders Amy Goodman’s microphone silenced after she again criticizes firings and bannings, one of many attacks by Riley on Goodman. Jan. 17-18, 2001 (NY) Francesco Rocciolo, a Citibank vice president, withdraws candidacy for PNB seat, crediting activist opposition. The next day, 700 march on WBAI to oppose the coup.

Jan. 23, 2001 (NY) Host Clayton Riley proposes, on-air, selling WBAI because of the crisis. Leid sets in motion arrests at the station of 9 activists, including the local board vice-chair and another member, after Leid rejects compromise to hold LAB meeting open to limited number of listeners.

Jan. 30, 2001 Democracy Now! cohost Juan Gonzalez resigns on air, denounces corporate hijacking of PNB and coup at WBAI, and announces nonviolent campaign against renegade PNB members and a Pacifica funding boycott. WPFW and KPFT censor broadcast.

Feb. 7-8, 2001 (LA) KPFK’s Mark Schubb asks Goodman to condemn Gonzalez’s resignation statement. Goodman refuses, and is dropped from pitching for fund drive. KPFK uses old tape of Goodman pitching. Feb. 9, 2001 (NY) Leid fires and bans veteran WBAI programmer, Local Advisory Board member and longtime PNB critic Mimi Rosenberg, falsely charging her with violence.

February 12, 2001 (NY) Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman reads commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal titled "WBAI: The Coup on Wall St.," urging listeners to fight the PNB. February 14, 2001 (NY) "Democracy Now!" is not run on WBAI, but aired at other affiliates. Angry calls swamp WBAI pledge line; program restored next day.

February 28, 2001 (DC) During Democracy Now!, WPFW censors Mumia Abu-Jamal’s taped reading of commentary about WBAI coup.

March 6, 2001 (NY) Leid barges into studio while longtime producer and PNB critic Ken Nash interviews Brooklyn Rep. Major Owens, another PNB critic. Leid ends interview, fires Nash, cancels program, and rants about "untruths." (Leid waits two weeks before falsely accusing Nash of having elbowed her that day.) Owens calls the incident "totalitarian," later denouncing Leid and the PNB on floor of Congress.

March 12-15, 2001 Segment about Pacifica crisis on Counterspin!, the syndicated program of Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting, is not aired at WBAI and KPFK. (WPFW had cancelled the show in 1999 after its last foray into reporting on Pacifica.)

March 26, 2001 Bessie Wash and/or PNB Chair David Acosta interrupt national Pacifica broadcasts 3 times (plus one additional time on WBAI by Wash and KPFT’s Ganter) to hurl false accusations of violence against WBAI’s Ken Nash, Houston activist Edwin Johnston, and the Pacifica Campaign established by Juan Gonzalez

April 28, 2001 March across the Brooklyn Bridge and rally at WBAI brings out total of 1300 people, largest demonstration yet against the coup. Endorsement by NYC Central Labor Council announced to the crowd.

May 15, 2001 During a DC forum by the Congressional Progressive Caucus on community radio and free speech, in which speakers from 4 Pacifica stations detail history of repression, Rep. Major Owens gets word of, and announces, resignation of PNB Treasurer Michael Palmer. Decision follows concerted grassroots pressure campaign, including planned national demos (jointly with anti-sweatshop groups) outside offices of Palmer's employer, a commercial real estate firm.

June 18, 2001 Plaintiffs in all four lawsuits meet with Pacifica to determine whether negotiations are possible.