The Theft of Pacifica

Note: This Web page was originally posted in early 1999, and was added to as events warranted for five years. A lot of its links were broken from Web sites going defunct, publications moving their content around or some individual pages just being deleted from servers because they are so old. I am currently, Friday, June 25, 2010, rehabilitating as many of the broken links as I can. This chore is going to take a while. I'll continue rehabilitating this page by restoring links, meanwhile here's the partially rehabilitated Web page. Only the actual links are being updated, everything else remains exactly as it was when this page was finished in 2004.

The Theft of Pacifica!

Events are proceeding rapidly regarding the theft of the Pacifica Foundation. The links below are separated into things that went on before the vote on February 28^th, 1999, and things that have happened since. If you're unfamiliar with the issues, the first part, “The Prelude,” should fill you in rapidly. The second part, “The Aftermath,” should keep you up to date on this crisis in the Pacifica Foundation. Scroll down for the latest information, or click here.

With the convening of the new, elected Local Station Boards the Pacifica Foundation and its five radio stations have entered a new era. This ends the era of the Theft of Pacifica and starts a new Pacifica Foundation. This page will be left in this, its final state after five years of activity, for historical purposes.

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Listener Lawsuits (updated 2/23/2002) The listeners' lawsuit has been settled.

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Read the transcript of the June 27, 1999, Pacifica National Board meeting. Why did it take Pacifica Management six months to finally publish a transcript of a public part of a meeting? Why is the original version on the Pacifica Foundation web site broken up into 143 parts and formatted so badly that it's difficult to read? We can't answer those questions, but we can present the transcript formatted so that you can actually read it. Thanks to Gary Evans for reformatting the mess Pacifica Management had originally presented into a readable transcript.

Here are the transcripts of the Pacifica National Board meetings from September 1997, through September 2000.

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Photographs from some of the demonstrations.

A Web page indexing even more photographs related to this struggle.

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The Theory of Listener-Sponsored Radio by Lew Hill, late founder of the Pacifica Foundation

The Prelude
Union Bulletin #12	Call for Picket Line at WBAI	WBAI Local Board Resolution
The 2/22/99 radio program page	Leaflet Passed Out at the WBAI Demonstration	The press release about the WBAI Picket Line
The first article in Counterpunch	The second article in Counterpunch halfway down the page	Press Coverage of the WBAI Picket Line
San Francisco Bay Guardian article	S.F. Bay Guardian Editorial	Z Magazine - Article by former KPFK PD (1981-82)

The Aftermath
Z Magazine Transcript of Public Session 2/28/99	Larry Bensky's public analysis of Pacifica 2/28/99	Cockburn's report on the vote
Free Pacifica page about the 2/28/99 events	Anatomy of a Heist	The WBAI Union page
Oakland Tribune	East Bay Express	Current Magazine
WBAI Local Board meeting 3/30/99	Popular KPFA GM fired!	Official Pacifica line on firing
Larry Bensky counters official Pacifica line on firing	Transcript of Larry Bensky's remarks	KPFA Staff Web site
KPFA Staff statement on firing of their General Manager	Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting group's statement on current Pacifica crises	Current article on KPFA picket line 4/5/99
KPFA's 50^th Birthday Committee walks out	Alexander Cockburn on the latest KPFA turmoil	Larry Bensky Fired! Producers Threatened!
WBAI Staff letter of solidarity to the Staff of KPFA	New York Daily News takes note of Pacifica turmoil	Leaflet handed out at NYC demo against police brutality 4/15/99
Demonstration at KPFA 4/15/99 (news transcript)	Democracy Now interview with Lynn Chadwick et al. 4/16/99 (transcript)	Democracy Now interview with Lynn Chadwick et al. 4/16/99 (RealAudio)
Roberta Brooks (Pacifica National Board member) resigns!	The Nation has run a very inaccurate article	The WBAI Union replies to part of the Nation article
The Nation prints some edited letters, and a reply from the guy who wrote the inaccurate article	Special: A short history of the crises that have gotten us to this point	Pacifica Management brings in the “security guards” to intimidate KPFA Staff
NLRB issues complaint against Pacifica/WBAI Management for Unfair Labor Practices	East Bay Express on KPFA's most successful fund drive	Robbie Osman, 22 year veteran at KPFA, fired for breaking Pacifica “gag rule!”
A report on the 6/20/99, KPFA demonstration/camp-out from one of the demonstrators.	KPFA News: Demonstration against firing of KPFA's Robbie Osman (RealAudio)	14 arrested at KPFA demo!
San Francisco Chronicle coverage of the 14 arrests	Z magazine has also covered this story	Local Advisory Boards of three Pacifica stations to file suit against Pacifica (RealAudio)
Pacifica Foundation to turn over 2,000 protest letters to police to be investigated for “violent tendencies” (RealAudio)	Pacifica Board Chair Mary Frances Berry uses her influence to get Berkeley cops to be tougher on protestors (RealAudio)	Staff door codes revoked and armed guards placed in KPFA lobby
Current is keeping up with the story	Authenticated E-mail from Pacifica National Board member outlining plan for sale of KPFA	Armed guards shut down KPFA News. Staff and protestors arrested!
San Francisco Examiner coverage of armed coup and demo on July 13 (video link on page)	Democracy Now! coverage on July 14 now available despite Pacifica Management censorship	KQED's “Forum” with Michael Krasny discusses KPFA / Pacifica crisis (RealAudio)
San Jose Mercury News “The Ear” radio column	Political cartoon depicting Pacifica Management's new KPFA	Current has a story on the lockout and protests at KPFA
Lawsuit filed against the theft of Pacifica	Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) calls on Pacifica Management to resign	Open Letter to Pacifica Management from WBAI/UE Local 404 about the current Pacifica Crisis
KPFA Staff denied files, is FBI having “field day?”	Pacifica Management agrees to mediation: Progress or Delaying Tactic?	New York Daily News gives readers a roundup of the latest events
Pacifica Management installs new lines to transmitter to facilitate scab radio	Pacifica Management to spend estimated $250,000 on high powered “Crisis Management” PR firm	Berkeley, CA City Council passes Pro-KPFA Staff motion
Pacifica National Board to vote on selling KPFA (7/28/99)	A.P. story “Pacifica To Reopen Berkeley Station”	Pacifica “Offer” to Reopen KPFA just a Media Ploy!
West County Times on KPFA Staff Reaction to Pacifica Management Announcement	KPFA Press Conference & non-opening — Armed Guards Trashed the Place	Confirmed: Expensive PR Firm & Pacifica Management Split
San Francisco Examiner coverage of huge rally for KPFA	Pacifica Management Refuses to Allow transmitter Repair	Current article on end of lockout (8/2/99)
Message of solidarity from Radio B92 (Yugoslavia) to KPFA and WBAI	KPFA resumed broadcasting on 8/5/99	WBAI Local Advisory Board calls for resignations of Berry, Chadwick and National Board!
L.A. Weekly “Debate” Pro-Staff side	L.A. Weekly “Debate” Pro-Management side	The Nation has an editorial on the Pacifica crisis
Charge KPFK Staff being coerced into calling for dismissal of dissident Board members	Dennis Bernstein replies to Pro-Management L.A. Weekly piece	Other replies to L.A. Weekly piece
Pacifica Management refuses to attend Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing!	Three KPFA Staff members file Civil Right Charges against Pacifica Management	S.F. Chronicle covers Legislative Committee proceedings
San Francisco Bay Guardian on Legislative Committee hearings	New York Times ad regarding Pacifica Crisis (Large Graphic)	KPFA Interview RE: Dr. Berry's remarks at WBAI 8/24/99 (transcript)
KPFA Interview RE: Dr. Berry's remarks at WBAI 8/24/99 (RealAudio)	Pacifica Management Agrees to Release Financial Information	Petition the FCC to Prevent the Sale of Pacifica Stations
Reporter Banned from KPFK for reporting on Pacifica Crisis	The Article That the Reporter Was Banned For Writing	KPFA News Story on the Banning (transcript)
NLRB Orders Unpaid Staff Removed From WBAI Union After Management Appeal	Pacifica Management Admits Spending Nearly Half Million Dollars on KPFA Lockout	Enfoque Latino program purged from KPFK for breaking “gag rule”
San Francisco Chronicle coverage of Pacifica Management's Six Figure Profligacy	Pacifica Management Spent $428,315 on KPFA Lockout: Some Details	Berkeley Top Cop Calls Pacifica Management “Culprits”
City of Berkeley asks Pacifica to reimburse $200,000	Robert W. McChesney in The Nation with some thoughts on Pacifica's Summer	Elected Leaders Back KPFA Fund Drive, Pledge to Fight Sale of Station
Salon magazine on Mary Frances Berry & Pacifica	Daily News Coverage of WBAI Staff demonstration (bottom of page)	Pacifica National Board to Ban Public From “Public Session!”
S.F. Chronicle: Pacifica Management Relents, Allows Public To View Proceedings	Houston Chronicle: Pacifica Governing Board Votes To Not Sell Stations	S.F. Bay Guardian on Pacifica Management's Houston Weekend
Pacifica Network News Chief Reports Facts For 20 Seconds, Loses Job	Page of letters protesting Dan Coughlin's firing	WBAI Union's Open Letter to Pacifica Management RE: Dan Coughlin firing
The N.Y. Daily News coverage of the Dan Coughlin firing	Current Article On Staff Protests Of Dan Coughlin Firing	WORT-FM Goes on “Rent Strike” Against Pacifica For Shoddy Satellite Service And Coughlin Firing
Listeners File New Suit Against Pacifica, Seek To Remove National Board	WPFW Dumps Counterspin: Move Seen As Censorship	Pacifica Foundation HQ moved to Washington, D.C. Under Cover of Night
San Francisco Chronicle: Pacifica Seeks “Easier Access To Federal Agencies”	Pacifica Network News Reporters & Stringers Threaten Strike	Reporters and Stringers for Pacifica Network News Hold Rally and Commence Strike
WBAI/UE Local 404 Statement of Support for PNN Job Action	Washington Times: Nat Hentoff On Pacifica Crisis	Yahoo!: Berry To Leave, Chadwick Out, 5 New Board Members Seated
Verna Avery-Brown's Speech About Leaving Pacifica Network News (transcript)	N.Y. Daily News: Pacifica Conflicts & Changes	Current's coverage of 2/00, Pacifica National Board Meeting
The Nation Has Run a Very Inaccurate Article Favoring Pacifica Management	Here's Some Reader Comment on The Nation's Article, You May Comment Too	Pacifica Network News Reporters & Stringers Vote to Extend Job Action Indefinitely
Judge Rules LAB Lawsuit Against Pacifica Management May Go Forward	Letter in reply to the Inaccurate Article in The Nation	Alternative Press Review “The Fight for Free Speech Radio” by Lyn Gerry
Pacifica LAB Members File For Injunction Against Pacifica National Board	A Report on the June 9-11, Pacifica National Board Meeting	Audio Excerpts of the June 9-11, Pacifica National Board Meeting
California Joint Legislative Audit Committee Issues Report on Pacifica's Actions (MS Word Document)	San Francisco Chronicle on California Investigation of Pacifica Crisis	Two Board Members to Pacifica National Board: Cease Illegal & Improper Actions
Pacifica Management Hires Another Expensive Public Relations Firm	Listeners Granted Standing to Sue Pacifica Management by CA Attorney General	Listeners Serve Pacifica National Board With Legal Complaint
Two Pacifica National Board Members Sue Pacifica Over Unlawful Actions	Pacifica to Displace Local Advisory Boards with Selected Cliques	Z Magazine Comments and Memo from Amy Goodman RE: Crackdown on Democracy Now!
Z Magazine Call to Action on Pacifica Crisis	The Media Alliance calls for Demonstration for Democracy Now!	Pacifica Management Statement about Democracy Now!
WBAI/UE Local 404 Statement of Support for Democracy Now!	Independent Coverage of Rally for Democracy Now! at WBAI	Lawyer for Amy Goodman responds to Pacifica Management's Disinformation
The Nation: “Goodman and Democracy Now! belong on Pacifica”	Pacifica Fires WBAI GM Valerie Van Isler	New York Times on WBAI's Management Crisis
Newsday on WBAI Midnight Coup	Some WBAI Producers Forcibly Kept Out	Utrice Leid Denies Amy Goodman Entry to WBAI
NY Daily News on WBAI Firings	KPFA Special on the WBAI Crisis	Interview With Fired WBAI PD & Worker
Management Memos to WBAI Staff	Interim GM Utrice Leid and Pacifica ED Bessie Wash On WBAI 12/26/00 (RealAudio)	Interim GM Utrice Leid and Pacifica ED Bessie Wash On WBAI 12/26/00 (Transcript)
NY Daily News on New WBAI Regime	NY Times on 1/6/01 Demo at WBAI	Proposed Pacifica National Board Member Withdraws
WBAI Union Statements Regarding Midnight Coup & Aftermath	Time Magazine on WBAI Midnight Coup & Pacifica	8 Arrested at Epstein, Becker & Green Demo in S.F.
WBAI Management Arrests LAB Members & Others	Proposed New Bylaws for Pacifica Foundation	Democracy Now! Co-Producer Resigns On Air
Pacifica Board Members' Depositions Available On Web (updated frequently)	N.Y. Daily News: Remainder of WBAI Morning Show Removed	Pacifica Foundation Attacks Listener Web Sites
Open letter to the Pacifica Board from the Electronic Frontier Foundation	Pacifica National Board Meets in Houston (updated 3/7/01)	WBAI Producer & Congressman Owens Cut Off Air - Live
Rep. Major Owens on House Floor: “Radio Free Speech is Being Denied in New York City”	Fired Pacifica Network News Chief Dan Coughlin on Pacifica Management's Government Entanglements	Pacifica Management Strikes Back - Labels Opposition “Violent”
Critics of Pacifica Management Call Accusations of Violence “Shockingly False”	Beth Lyons Quits Pacifica National Board Over “Violence” Press Release	Nat Hentoff in Village Voice “WBAI: Beijing Radio, New York”
Newsday: Congress to Hold Hearings on WBAI Debacle (half way down page)	Pacifica Foundation to Sue Listeners Over Web Sites	N.Y. Daily News: New York City Council Holds Hearing on WBAI
Pacifica Lawyers Back Off Threats to Sue Listener Web Sites	Washington Post RE: Congressional Forum on Pacifica Crisis	Pacifica National Board Member Michael Palmer Resigns
Progressive Congressional Caucus Forum on Pacifica Crisis (RealAudio)	N.Y. Daily News: “Nothing Personal” in Democracy Now! preemptions (half way down page)	Previously Unknown Listener Group Attempts to Force Way Onto WBAI Air
Pacifica Board Chair David Acosta & Board Member Karolyn Van Putten Quit	Pacifica Management Hires Yet Another Public Relations Firm	WBAI Union Bulletin Vol. 2 #1
Dissident Pacifica National Board Members RE: Meetings & FBI Involvement	Historian Matthew Lasar's Open Letter on FBI Involvement	Pacifica National Board Announces Intent to Illegally Appoint “Poison Pill” Members
Court Issues Restraining Order Against Pacifica National Board “Emergency” Tactic	Pacifica National Board Member Andrea Cisco Agrees to Resign	Pacifica Management's Oddly Formatted Response to Restraining Order
Pacifica Management Fires Lawyers, Seeks Worse Firm	Democracy Now! Vacates WBAI Studios for 8/14/01 Broadcast	Pacifica Management Statement About 8/14/01 Democracy Now! Broadcast
Pacifica Campaign Statement About 8/14/01 Democracy Now! Broadcast	Amy Goodman Suspended — Democracy Now! in Reruns	Man Accused of Assault by Pacifica Management Has All Charges Dismissed
Pacifica Management to Try Again to Stack National Board	Mainstream News Service Scabs Democracy Now!	Another Unsigned Nation Editorial In Favor of Pacifica Management
Michael Albert in Z Magazine Responds to Nation Editorial	Majority of Pacifica National Board Demands Return of Democracy Now! to Air	Nobel Peace Prize winner Defends Amy Goodman
Jesse Jackson & Danny Glover Call on Pacifica Management to Stop Blocking Democracy Now!	Pacifica National Program Director Resigns	Nat Hentoff in Village Voice “WBAI = Anti-Free-Speech Radio”
Utrice Leid Named Pacifica National Program Director - New GM Imposed on WBAI	Pacifica National Board Stacked, Including New Foundation Officers (updated 10/3/01)	15 Radio Stations Dump Pacifica, Start “Affiliates in Exile”
IRS Forms Show Pacifica Management Spending Half Million on Lawyers, $1.5 Million on “Miscellaneous”	New Pacifica National Board Chair Announces “Peace Initiative”	Dissident Board Members Respond to Chair's “Peace Initiative”
Pacifica Near Bankruptcy — KPFA Takeover or Shutdown Threatened	S.F. Examiner: Pacifica Vice Chair Ford: Sale of WBAI & KPFA “Just Common Sense”	Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash Fired
“Dissident” Board Member on Wash Firing	Pacifica Vice Chair Ford Says Stations Not for Sale - Backs Off Linking Pacifica Campaign to al-Qaeda	Mediation Between Some Lawsuit Plaintiffs & Pacifica National Board Begins Nov. 1
Pacifica Vice Chair Ken Ford Quits	Dissidents “Confident” That a Negotiated Settlement Is Near updated 11/6/01	Current Magazine Publishes “Summary of Settlement”
Mediations Between Lawsuit Plaintiffs & Pacifica National Board Fail—Court date 1/7/02 (updated 11/09/01)	Possible Lawsuit Settlement Agreement From Pacifica National Board	Lawsuit Settlement Attempt Fails
Pro Forma “Mandatory Settlement Conference” Set for December 11, 2001	National Program Director Utrice Leid Is Fired/Resigns	Settlement Signed, Lawsuits To Be Dropped
Settlement “Fully Executed” — iPNB To Convene Within Week — Bannings Continue	iPNB Meets - Democracy Now! To Return, Other Decisions Up To Judge	iPNB Member Barney Goodman Resigns
Pacifica GMs Revolt! - Actions May Threaten Network ( updated 2/1/02)	KPFT's GM Garland Ganter & PD Mary Ramirez Resign (updated 1/10/02)	Judge Issues “Minute Order” on iPNB Motions: “Gag Rule” Dead
Pacifica Executive Director Joanne Meredith Resigns on Eve of iPNB Meeting	iPNB Returns All WBAI Fired & Banned to WBAI—Fires GM Daughtry & Others	iPNB member Wendell Johns Resigns
Full Text of the “WBAI Committee” Resolutions	Dan Coughlin Appointed Interim Executive Director of Pacifica Foundation	Summary of Motions Passed at the January 2002 iPNB Meeting
KPFK GM Mark Shubb Replaced	Audit Finds Pacifica Foundation $4.8 million in debt	WBAI Paid Staff Offered Buyouts For Financial & Political Reasons (updated 2/23/2002)
Pacifica Audit of 2/5/2002 released (updated 4/12/2002)	Pacifica Network News Liquidated	WBAI GM Valerie Van Isler “Promoted” Again
Summary of Motions Passed at the March 2002 iPNB Meeting	Pacifica Bylaws Revision Committees Set Up In Each Listening Area	PNN Stringer Strike Settled (even though PNN no longer exists)
iPNB Meets For 3rd Time; Many Decisions Made	Democracy Now! Contract Sparks Controversy (updated 7/24/02)	iPNB Phone Meeting Stops Move to Berkeley (updated)
iPNB Meets in Houston, TX 9/20-22/2002 Move to Berkeley Reinstated	iPNB Meets in Washington, D.C. 10/13-14/2002 Spins Wheels on Bylaws	iPNB Meets in Houston, TX 11/22-24/2002 More on Bylaws
iPNB Meets in Washington, D.C. 12/6-8/2002 More Debates on Bylaws	Lawyer to iPNB - Bylaws Diversity “Requirements” Illegal	Proposed Pacifica Bylaws Published in “Grid” Format
Judge Rules Pacifica Has Bylaws, Orders Elections to Begin Immediately	iPNB Meets In NYC September 19-21, 2003	Pacifica Foundation Election Schedule Posted
All 5 Pacifica Stations Elect Local Station Boards
The Pacifica Foundation Begins Anew — February 2004