| 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.org Josh 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." ************************* |