Please take action immediately to protect WBAI's weekly anarchist radio show, Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (see statement below).
Hosts Bill and Anne Marie have bravely covered free-speech struggles and other worthy fights for many years.
WBAI interim general manager Utrice Leid appears to be selectively enforcing her own gag rule. Leid abruptly took Building Bridges, WBAI's labor show, off the air recently when it discussed WBAI issues.
Other programmers have discussed station business recently, including Brother Shine and Clayton Riley, though Leid has not removed them. It is not known if Brother Shine or Riley have been sanctioned in other ways.
Call WBAI when the phones are open (212-209-2900) and call Utrice Leid (212-209-2800) and express your support for Bill and Anne Marie. Also demand that Building Bridges be restored, and that all the banned and fired be returned.
Leid recently likened her midnight lock-changing in December to taking over an apartment.
Tell Leid WBAI is not her apartment. Tell her it's a listener-sponsored radio station that belongs to the community, not to her.
Excerpts of Bill's broadcast are at http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=2733
A Statement from WBAI Producer Bill Weinberg of the
Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade
After Tuesday's broadcast of the Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (March 6), I was approached by Utrice Leid on my way out of the studio. She demanded a copy of the show's air-check. As usual, we had openly discussed the WBAI situation on the air, and taken listener phone calls in which WBAI's direction and management were directly addressed. Also, as usual, I tried to steer the discussion away from personalities and towards the real issue of corporate America trying to shut down free-speech radio.
But this time, Utrice was on the premises throughout the broadcast. (She usually leaves at midnight, just as we are going on.)
I asked Utrice if it would be OK if I dropped the air-check off next Tuesday night, the next time I planned to be at the station. Utrice responded, "no, I need it immediately."
I said, "Well, if you need it immediately, can we communicate about why you need it?"
Utrice replied, "No, I just need it." I walked away. End of conversation.
I intend to supply Utrice with the requested air-check, although not necessarily "immediately," as I am busy with deadlines and my business will not be taking me in the vicinity of Wall Street this week.
My co-host Ann-Marie Hendrickson and myself have grave concerns that our show is about to be yanked from the airwaves.
We urge all listeners to tune in next Tuesday at midnight.
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