Contact: Arturo Lemus 213 382-4514


Activist and Journalist Juan Gonzalez to Address Groundbreaking Bilingual Gathering to Reclaim Community Access to KPFK-Pacifica.

LOS ANGELES—Progressive activists from Spanish speaking communities across Southern California will gather to make plans to reclaim KPFK 90.7 FM Pacifica Radio. KPFK management has dismantled most of the Spanish-language programming and almost all public affair's show hosts of color have been fired or banned in the last five years. Critics say KPFK management has been unwilling to tap into the resources and needs of the million to million and a half people who speak Spanish in their listening area.

KPFK was founded over 40 years ago with the mission of serving the information and cultural needs of the diverse communities within its signal area, progressive activists built it, sustained it and it grew.

"Community radio is one of the best ways through which we can reach a mass audience" said Arturo Lemus, a conference organizer. "Our diverse communities in Los Angeles and Southern California have a right to local community radio stations that serve their information and cultural needs. We must reclaim and transform KPFK into a truly democratic and progressive community radio station."

Earlier this year Juan Gonzalez, dramatically resigned on-air in protest of Pacifica Radio’s national board. "The Pacifica board has been hijacked by a small clique,’’ he explained. "that has more in common with corporate
vultures than with working-class Americans."

WHO: Juan Gonzalez, activist, former Pacifica Radio co-host of "Democracy Now!", columnist NY Daily News, author "Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America" and founder of the Pacifica Campaign, will be the key
note speaker. Music by Son Real.

WHAT: Bilingual conference "La Participación de la Comunidad en la Radio: KPFK-Pacifica-Community Access to Radio: Exploring questions like --How KPFK can better serve the different Spanish speaking communities of Southern California and how can these communities contribute to the progressive growth and rebuilding of Pacifica?

WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 2001 10 AM to 4 PM

WHERE: Student Lounge, Loyola Law School 919 S. Albany St. at Olympic Blvd.

COST: $5.00 donation at the door (no one will be turned away for lack of funds).

The Pacifica Campaign is a grass-roots organization representing listeners and staff alike fighting to preserve Pacifica's 50-year tradition of progressive, community-based radio is co-sponsoring this event along with the
Aztlan Media Collective and the Comite Pro-Democracia en Mexico.
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