Subject: {FP} AFFILIATES IN EXILE
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 12:22:51 -0400
From: “Lyn Gerry” <lyn@wilshire.net>
To: freepac@recordist.com

For Immediate Release:

October 1, 2001

For More Information contact:
Marty Durlin (KGNU) 303-449-4885
Norm Stockwell (WORT) 608-256-2001
Cathy Melio (GRC) 207-567-3344

Following the lead of communty radio station KGNU of Boulder, Colorado, and in collaboration with the Grassroots Radio Coalition, 15 community radio stations nationwide will become “Affiliates In Exile” as of October 1, 2001. These stations will suspend their affiliation and payments to the embattled network, with many of them diverting the funds to alternative news sources, including Free Speech Radio News (produced by former Pacifica stringers) and Pacifica's former flagship program Democracy Now!, currently forced to produce its programs “in exile,” without the support of the network.

Pacifica's finest hours have come in times of peril. But in the current crisis, the Pacifica National Board has abrogated responsibility to its listeners and the mission outlined by its pacifist founders.

Pacifica's internationally recognized and award-winning program Democracy Now! is broadcasting in exile from “ground zero,” just blocks from the scene of the recent destruction of the World Trade Center in New York. The voices heard on Democracy Now! In Exile are urging an alternative course. They are voices from the street, from academia, from government, from the arts - independent voices that could guide us along the course to peace through consideration of history, humanity, and reason.

Since August 14, when Democracy Now! became unavailable from Pacifica, the Democracy Now! staff has produced an “exile” version of the program daily from the studios of Downtown Community Television.

We, the coalition of the nation's grassroots community radio stations, support Democracy Now! In Exile and will continue to broadcast the program from alternative sources.

We call upon the Pacifica National Board of Directors to restore the live, daily broadcast of Democracy Now!, and provide them with a guarantee of safe and technologically sufficient studios. Additionally, we ask the Board to commend the fine work of Democracy Now!'s staff, lift their suspensions, and reinstate their paid status within Pacifica. Until the program is fully supported and distributed by Pacifica and all ongoing union issues are satisfactorily resolved, we will suspend our affiliation and our payments.

We are, as of October 1st, 2001, “Affiliates In Exile.”

In Solidarity,

KGNU, Boulder, CO.
WORT, Madison, WI.
KCSB, Santa Barbara, CA.
KZYX, Philo, CA.
WMPG, Portland, ME.
KDUR, Durango, CO.
WERU, East Orland, ME.
KUNM, Albuquerque, NM.
KBCS, Bellevue, WA.
KBOO, Portland, OR.
KVNF, Paonia, CO.
KSVR, Mt. Vernon, WA.
WPKN, Bridgeport, CT.
WEOS, Geneva, NY.
KMUD, Garberville, CA.
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