Hip Hop Artists Including Aztlan Underground and La
Paz to Perform at Protest of Suspension of Program
from KPFK 90.7 FM**
**Seditious Beats Hip Hop Show Hosted By Community
Organizer Fidel Rodriguez Taken Off-the Air**
**KPFK Management Defies Recent Settlement of Lawsuits
Against Pacifica Radio**
**Arbitrary and Retaliatory Actions Continue**
WHAT:Hip hop artists including, Aztlan Underground
and La Paz will perform in support of suspended hip
hop program Seditious Beats at a protest of listeners,
donors and former staff outside of KPFK studios. They
will also be protesting the banning and firing 150
other KPFK volunteers and staff members by General
Manager Mark Schubb.
WHEN: Friday, December 28, 2001 9 AM- 11 AM WHERE: Outside KPFK's studios 3729 Cahuenga Blvd.
North Hollywood (near Lankersheim)
HOLIDAY GET TOGETHER: Casitas Taco House- 11 AM-NOON
at 3731 Cahuenga Blvd
Call or email and demand 'Seditious Beats' be
reinstated:
General Manager Mark Schubb 818 985-2711 Ext: 503
E-mail: mailto:GM@kpfk.orgJosh Berman, Program Director e-mail: jberman@kpfk.org
LOS ANGELES, CA (December 26, 2001)-- In defiance of a
recent settlement of the lawsuits against Pacifica
Radio Network, arbitrary and retaliatory actions
continue by KPFK 90.7 FM management in Los Angeles. On
December 19, Seditious Beats, (http://Seditious.com)
hosted by community organizer Fidel Rodriguez was
'suspended indefinitely' by KPFK management.
The timing of his suspension is highly suspect," said
Karen Pomer organizer for the Pacifica Campaign LA,
"three weeks ago Fidel Rodriguez was the co-emcee of a
fundraising event attended by over 1,000 people for
suspended Pacifica/KPFK flagship program Democracy
Now! in Exile hosted by award-winning journalist Amy
Goodman." Interim Program Director Josh Berman used
the pretext of citing Rodriguez with being late for
the show on two occasions.
In the past six years, Mark Schubb, KPFK General
manager, has banned or fired over 150 staff and
volunteers at the station. He has eliminated people of
color from "drive time" public affairs programs and
drastically cut back Spanish-language programming.
Seditious Beats, is an award-winning three hour live
show "highlighting the positive and uplifting aspects
of Hip-Hop culture which reaches a wide and diverse
audience whose musical tastes often transcend the
boundaries of the genre," said Rodriguez.
Former state senator Tom Hayden honored Seditious
Beats for their
"enormous and continuous efforts to touch and
transform lives through conscious radio".
Until last week,for almost two years Seditious Beats
has aired on KPFK Friday (evening/Saturday morning),
Midnight to 3AM.
"This is an attack on a youth of color who broadcasts
to many youths of color and who does effective
outreach to youths of color and, of course, to a broad
range of listeners," said Don White a member of the
KPFK Local Advisory Board. "We need to know the
'rationale' for this behavior, and respond to the
community that has been contacting us with outraged at
the thought oflosing their favorite program."
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