It's almost 7 p.m. in Berkeley, and I just got back from a day of fantastic demonstration, speeches and the beginning of a camp-out at Pacifica/KPFA.

The catalyst for this latest demonstration by very-definitely-NOT-the-usual-suspects was Chadwick/Pacifica's firing of Robbie Osman on Friday. KPFA went off the air for the two hours that Robbie would normally have been broadcasting. Chadwick knew it was going to go off. Would love to have seen her sputtering.

For this spontaneous, barely noticed (as in notified) demo (because of its short planning time), about 300 people showed up, many of them new faces. Pacifica's damage-control just isn't working!

The demo was loud, feisty and non-permitted. It got tremendous reception from passing vehicles, had some great graphics and good speakers. After the demo, those who were planning to camp out in front of the station and those who simply werent ready to give it up for the day stayed around discussing the situation, in what amounted to a mini-teach-in.

Jeffrey and Media Alliance had gotten a press release out, which brought out the media, and sparked the Chronicle/Examiner to write the best mainstream media story yet (captured the history, not just the symptoms [the firings and gag rule], of this struggle). There was coverage from at least three stations (Channel's 2, 7 and Bay View/local) and stated plans from channels 4 and 5 to come later in the evening for the camp-out. Reporters spoke with many people, and got some excellent background material. Let's hope they use it well.

Specific plans for the camp out are not yet ready for prime-time, and some decisions have yet to be made by those who will be carrying out the actions, if any. We don't know yet how long the camp out will last, and it is not necessarily all in our hands.

Robbie's time at the mike was quite moving. The pain of losing his air time was clear on his face. Multiply that by so many others who have lost precious (to US and tho them) time - Bill Mandel, Mama O'Shea, Larry Bensky, Sue Supriano, Maria Gilardin, and on and on. . . .

The demo and the camp-out has been announced on most of the programs throughout the day. The gag rule, reinstituted by Chadberry (let's remember that while she may ACT alone, she does not PLAN alone), seems to once again be falling victim to courage and principle. Let's hear it for staff!!! Let's hear it for the organizers who have worked for so damn long, bringing this to the public eye!! Chadwick will have a very difficult time convincing the Board next week that she has returned the station "to equilibrium"

ALL ARE REQUESTED TO RE-SEND YOUR PREVIOUS LETTERS TO THE BOARD - FAX THEM, MAIL THEM. EMAIL THEM. UPDATE THEM - LET THEM KNOW THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN THE NETWORK UNTIL THE NETWORK BELONGS TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS AGAIN!!

Marianne Torres
Oakland

Action Links for Young People: Dont'Just Sit There, DO something! http://www.yakresearch.com/actionlinks/index.html

What happened to "community" in Pacifica's community radio? http://www.radio4all.org/freepacifica

Protect privacy, boycott Intel: http://www.bigbrotherinside.org

Palestine Papers - information mainstream media didn't and won't tell you- http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.org/palestine/palesndx.html

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