May 26: Meeting of Coalition to Take Back WBAI

WBAI has been the jewel of the New York Left since its founding in 1955. For most of its life it has lived up to its name, "Free Speech Radio." In case you haven't been paying attention (easy to do during the Spring and Summer) a cabal from San Francisco has taken control of WBAI, fired the program director Bernard White and station manager Tony Riddle and decided that they know better how to appeal to a New York audience. It seems to me that means much more talk about health and diet and less about war and peace. Since this is not the first time a group of outsiders has attempted to take over the station, many people are well prepared to fight back.

The second meeting of the Coalition to Take Back WBAI will be Tuesday, May 26, 6:30-10:00 PM at District Council 1707, 75 Varick St. (north of Canal St.), 14th floor.(A or 1 train to Canal St.). We need to start on time - there's a lot of urgent work to do. There will be an update on the coup, and time for the working groups to meet and move forward on action plans.

Current Demands of the Coalition to Take Back WBAI:

1. Reinstate Tony Riddle as WBAI General Manager and Bernard White as WBAI Program Director
2. No gag rule - no punishment of staff - reinstate Ayo Harrington and any other removed staff
3. Keep the transmitter under WBAI's control
4. Safeguard WBAI's historic local autonomy.

Among the people supporting the Coalition are

Pam Africa
Stanley Aronowitz
Father Luis Barrios
City Councilmember Charles Barron
Tony Gronowicz
Fred Ho
Akinlabi E. A. Mackall
Esperanza Martell
Dr. James McIntosh
Ken Nash
Ralph Poynter
Lea Rizack
Nayo Joy Simmons & Brenda Walker
of Operation P.O.W.E.R. (People Organizing
& Working for Empowerment & Respect)
Lynne Stewart
Valerie Van Isler

We can't afford to lose WBAI now. Support the Coalition. Take back WBAI.