 |
|
|
"Pacifica" vice-chair resigns 11-1-01 |
Please forward widely! Ken Ford has resigned from the Pacifica National Board! Bob Farrell told this to Leslie Cagan this morning at the start of the mediation session in Berkeley. (There's no news yet on the mediation itself.) Later, a staffer at the National Assn. of Home Builders (where Ken is a manager) confirmed it in an angry email to Progressive Portal, demanding that they stop sending emails demanding Ford's resignation (pasted below -- the person said they had gotten it straight from Ford's office that he resigned from the PNB on Oct. 30.) Farrell said the announcement should be going up on the Pacifica.org website, although it hasn't appeared yet. This is a clearly a victory for our movement, and reflects the months of intense pressure brought by thousands of activists nationwide. Most recently, the Pacifica Campaign had announced a major email pressure campaign on Ford and his boss, plus twice-weekly vigils outside Ford's DC office -- all in response to Ford's outrageous comments in the press advocating selling WBAI and/or KPFA, and comparing our movement to Al Queda. Apparently, NAHB, Ford and other majority Board members were flooded with angry emails. Congratulations, everyone! And now let's keep up the fight til all the usurpers leave. Bob Lederer Fired and banned WBAI producer **************************************
From: [DELETED]
WHY DON'T YOU QUIT BOTHERING WORKING PEOPLE AND GET THE TRUTH FOR A CHANGE. MR. KEN FORD RESIGNED FROM PACIFICA'S BOARD AS OF OCT. 30TH. THIS WAS STRAIGHT FROM HIS OFFICE. SO YOU HAVE NO FIGHT WITH HIM NOW. MOVE ON TO THE OTHER ONE ON YOUR LIST.
----------
From: info@pacificacampaign.org
Countdown to the Pacifica National Board Meeting, Nov. 17-18 2001 Washington, DC
Oct. 31/Nov. 1-2 Weds.-Thurs.-Fri. 5-6 PM
Background: The struggle to reclaim the Pacifica network and WPFW is at a critical moment. Ken Ford and his rogue majority on the Board of Directors is trying to consolidate their grip on the Foundation, with the possibility of the sale of the stations a real possibility. The resistance to this takeover continues to grow: a network in exile flourishes, with Democracy Now! in Exile, Free Speech Radio News, wbix.org internet radio working in DC to start WPFW-Radio in Exile, broad-based grassroots organizations of listeners and Local Advisory Boards, and strengthened connections to the global media democracy movement and the Independent Media Centers. Times like these demonstrate our need for Pacifica, and for daily reporting like that currently denied to audiences in four of Pacifica's five metropolitan listening areas (including DC). This is a moment in the Pacifica struggle when the effort and participation of every person counts. Pacifica Campaign -------------------------------------- From the Pacifica Web site. http://pacifica.org/info/releases/kenford.html Vice Chairman Ken Ford Takes Leave from Pacifica November 1, 2001 Pacifica Foundation Board Chairman Robert Farrell has accepted a letter of resignation from Vice Chriarman Ken Ford. "Ken Ford's years of service to Pacifica Foundation as officer, board member, and WPFW local advisory board member were of great value to the organization and are appreciated. We all wish him well as he takes his leave." Mr. Ford's resignation is effective as of October 31, 2001 -------------------------------------- November 2, 2001 Dear Pacifica Campaign Supporters, Pacifica Board Vice-Chair Ken Ford has resigned his post effective immediately, according to new Pacifica Board Chair Bob Farrell and Jerry Howard, the chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) where Ken Ford works. The resignation comes in the wake of the massive wave of protests sparked by Ken Ford's controversial statements in The San Francisco Examiner last week. There, Ken Ford likened the Pacifica reform movement to the Sept. 11 terrorists and laid out an argument for the sale of Pacifica stations KPFA and WBAI. This is a major victory for our movement. Congratulations to the many thousands of people nationwide who have sacrificed so much time, money and energy these past few months to save Pacifica and especially to those who wrote heartfelt letters about Ken Ford's most recent statements. Since the Pacifica Campaign started in February of this year, all the Pacifica Board officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer - have been forced to resign in the face of widespread nationwide protests over their policies. Two other board members have resigned during that time. In addition, Executive Director Bessie Wash has been forced out and so as the No. 2 Pacifica executive, National Program Director Steve Yasko. WBAI General Manager Utrice Leid has also been yanked from her post. In short, our movement has had a stunning series of successes Now must be the time for the remaining Pacifica Board majority members to put the interests of the network first and find an honorable and dignified resolution to the crisis that has engulfed the network in recent years. They should accept the reality that those Pacifica listeners who have been able to hear both sides of the story have overwhelmingly rejected their policies. We urge them to arrange an orderly resignation of their group and thus pave the way for a transition board that can begin rebuilding the network under new democratic rules. There must be an immediate halt to the senseless waste of listener funds that continues to occur around the network. The high-priced lawyers, public relations firms, security companies, and seemingly endless consultants, are no substitute for sound management policies based upon participation and representation, not exclusion and repression. Our strategy of turning up the heat -- putting pressure on individual board members, and cutting off the water - boycotting Pacifica's fund drives, is bearing results. Let us continue to move forward. The end of this stage of the fight is within sight. We need only stay focused we will achieve our goals. After that, we will begin the hard work of rebuilding Pacifica as an even grander bastion of free speech.
**************************
|
top of page | home |