[Most humble apologies for any misspellings.]

0905am, 31 Jan 01

AMY GOODMAN: ... chimes of freedom. And you're listening to Pacifica
Radio's Democracy Now. I'm Amy Goodman, here with Juan Gonzalez.

JUAN GONZALEZ: Good day, Amy and to our listeners around the country. And
Amy, do you realize the anniversary that we're approaching, in the next
few days? It will be five years since Democracy Now came on the air, since
you and I started working in February of 1996 to produce the first of
these shows. And, I have an important announcement for folks, and I'd like
to urge all of our loyal listeners to Democracy Now and to Pacifica across
the country to get a pencil and paper because I've got some important
information that has to deal with both the anniversary of Democracy Now as
well as the upcoming fund drive of Pacifica. I want to give you some
numbers. First, there's a phone number that you need to write down. It's
(212) 871-9322. That's (212) 871-9322. And then there's an email address
that I want you all to take down. That is pacificacampaign@yahoo.com.
Again, that's pacificacampaign@yahoo.com. Now, Amy, you know we've been
working together for five years now, and I have to tell you, since the
show's inception, I've been very proud of the ground-breaking work that
we've done on Democracy Now, and also, more importantly, as a long-time
listener for more than 30 years to Pacifica Radio programs, I understand
the critical role the network has played in reporting important stories
the corporate media ignored, thus helping to shape a lot of the
progressive thoughts and popular movements in the country. But,
unfortunately, I am resigning today, effective immediately, from Democracy
Now, because I've decided that the current management situation at
Pacifica has become intolerable and despite my hope that the majority of
the Pacifica Foundation's Board of Directors would come to its senses, the
situation has only gotten worse, the last straw being the Christmas Coup
at this station, WBAI, last month. Quite simply, I've come to the
conclusion that the Pacifica Board has been hijacked by a small clique
that has more in common with modern-day corporate vultures than with
working-class America. That clique has illegally changed the foundation's
bylaws and, during the past two years it has methodically sought to squash
dissent throughout the network, first at KPFA, then at PNN News, then at
Democracy Now, and now at WBAI. This group does not respect free speech.
It does not respect labor or civil rights. It doesn't even practice due
process for its own managers. And it's now seeking to radically alter
Pacifica's bylaws to pave the way for the selling of one or more stations.
Finally, Amy, I've got to tell you that the consistent attacks on you, the
most important public face at Pacifica, have so poisoned the atmosphere at
the network that it's becoming increasingly difficult for many people of
conscience to continue working here. And, Amy, you're a wonderful and
committed journalist, you've been subjected to slanderous personal
accusations and constant undermining of your efforts. And the board of
Pacifica has tolerated, and I think even encouraged this, and it's
hypocritical of the board to claim in its taped statements that it fully
supports Amy Goodman when key managers routinely make your life miserable.
This clique on the board insults Pacifica's loyal and sophisticated
listeners by asking them to finance its shenanigans with their donations.
Therefore, starting today, I will be joining other Pacifica listeners in a
national corporate campaign that will not rest until every board member
who has orchestrated this hijacking resigns and a new board is in place, a
board that is democratically accountable to the network's listeners, to
the communities of the stations of Pacifica, and to its staff. Our
campaign is calling for listeners across the country to withhold donations
to Pacifica in a mass referendum against the board's policies. Instead, we
will be urging the listeners to contribute their money to a variety of
groups across the country that are battling the Pacifica board, including
the legal fund for court suits which are currently challenging the board's
legitimacy. Mr. Murdock, Mr. Accosta, Mr. Palmer, and the other clique on
the board will soon find out that Pacifica is listener-sponsored community
radio and I am sorry to have to take this kind of action, but, and I fully
support you in continuing to keep Democracy Now alive as long as possible
under these trying circumstances, Amy, but I am sure and I am hopeful that
a few months from now, once this clique has been removed, that we may be
able to resume Democracy Now and come back as a cohost, but, if not, I
guarantee you that the network will not stay in the hands of these people.
And I know you can't say anything, Amy, because of the gag rule at this
station as there are at many Pacifica stations right now and that's why I
felt it important to resign as I make this statement, but my best luck, my
best wishes to you and to all the other people of good will who are still
working at Pacifica. Don't worry, the network will be rescued soon.

AG: Well, Juan, I don't know what to say except to say that it's been an
incredible honor working with you over the last five years.

JG: And it's been an honor only working with you but all the other great
producers that we've had over those five years, like Julie Drisen, and Dan
Coughlin, and Jeremy Scahill, Maria Canino, David Love, Jesu Ko, Karen
Palmer, and now, of course, Terry Allen and Chris Abrams, they've all been
wonderful, and without them, we couldn't have done the work.

AG: Well, I'm going to miss you very, very much. Your contribution to
Democracy Now has been, well, something beyond words that I have right
now. We're going to move now into the rest of the program. We're going to
play you a documentary. It's produced by Stacy Abramson and David Isay.
David Isay, in fact, got his start at Pacifica Station WBAI in New York.

JG: Oh, Amy, one last word before I leave. Those phone numbers and those
email addresses that I gave at the beginning of my statement. That's the
phone number and the email address for listeners who want to support this
campaign against the Pacifica Board. That's (212) 871-9322, and the email
address is pacificacampaign@yahoo.com. Please communicate with me and
others today, or tomorrow and in the coming days, and you can join the
campaign to oust this board.

AG: Juan, it's been, again, an honor working with you. The documentary by
David Isay and Stacy Abramson is called "Witness to an Execution."