Thursday, July 26, 2001 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: Award-winning WBAI producer and investigative reporter ROBERT KNIGHT HAS BEEN FIRED by Pacifica, banned from further work at WBAI, 'Earthwatch' cancelled.. reign of terror continues.. Noelle Hanrahan: live from protest at WBAI.. interview w Bob Letterer, programmer at WBAI: Robert Knight, widely beloved.. given a memo last night, his show Earthwatch cancelled, he is banned from the station.. the reign of terror continues.. Noelle: Utrice Leid refused to speak about personnel issues.. Bob: reads from the memo to Robert.. Robert's many contributions and awards.. Robert's last show: interview with previous board member, Andrea Cisco.. Bob: nobody knows what's gonna happen next.. but the Pacific corporate raiders hold on the board is down to 6-5
-06:40 Dennis: Robert's 20+ year career on behalf of free speech.. excerpt from Robert Knight's George Polk Award-winning reporting on Panana, turned into a documentary, Panana Deception
-08:50 interview Bernard White former WBAI news director, now w/ the Pacifica Campaign: Robert is a magician with the radio.. a tradegy what is going on now.. it used to be the motto at WBAI: always tell the truth on the air.. Utrice Leid trashing that rule.. last night Robert rushed back from Texas to do his show, and wasn't informed until he got to the station.. Dennis: I got my start watching Robert work.. Bernard: what replaced Robert last night: an hour and a half show on alien abduction.. left one with a real emply feeling.. Earthwatch is reflective of what possibilities exist in radio.. music tied into what's being said.. one continuous flow.. Robert the real maestro.. it's becoming apparent: all political programming being eradicated, all independent thinking, call Pacifica Campaign 646-230-9588
-18:40 Noelle Hanrahan: w dissenting board member Leslie Cagan: Who gave the order? We've been trying to figure this out.. Utrice Leid given free rein by Betsy Wash..
-22:00 Noelle: Barbara Lubin of Friends of Free Speech Radio: I agree with Leslie (about Utrice Leid acting on her own).. it's time to rachet up the struggle.. Leslie: unilateral and arbitrary firing is an injustice.. the committment to free speech being challenged.. if we're not standing up for our brothers and sisters when are personally threatened.. what you can do.. very important to let those in charge.. hear from you.. make your voices heard.. demonstrations and protests, too.. sometimes you have to withhold your dollars.. withhold your dollars.. withhold your dollars.. i believe that will help us reclaim this network.. Barbara: remembering her first meeting with Leslie Cagan 10 years ago at the Boonville Hotel with Dennis and Judy Bari.. Robert Knight will have a nightly spot at KPFA now.. if you give your money (to Pacifica) it will be spent on high-priced law firms.. Get in touch with Friends of Free Speech Radio at 510-548-0542..
-32:00 sound production (David Ganns) of Lynn Chadwick..
-34:00 Dennis: live interview with Robert Knight: You know, I've been talking to my heart, telling it, it has no room for sadness.. Robert recounts last night's events... handed his walking papers by the security camera/s operator.. most fired programmers at WBAI have been people of color.. Pacifica under 'demonic' (corporate) possession.. Dennis: I have to come back to the story of Tulia, Texas.. Robert: it is.. ethnic cleansing under guise of drug war.. Barbara: one after another, i am on the air asking for money.. our lawyers, our bills, our four lawsuits.. Carol Spooner was been working.. if we can't resolve this in negotiation, we are gonna have to raise a hell of a lot of money.. Robert: ..this too shall pass
-52:30 End today's show.. today's review by john lionheart
For more information on the ongoing Pacifica crisis, see: www.SavePacifica.net and Pacifica Campaign