Dr. Bonpane is the founder of Office of the Americas, a Los Angeles-based organization that has engaged in solidarity work with liberation movements in the Americas. He had been a regular programmer on KPFK, hosting "Focus on the Americas" for many years twice a month on KPFK. His program was eliminated in 1995, and he was offered a 15 minute weekly commentary slot on the KPFK news. He resigned in protest as a result of censorship of his words by"Program Director" Kathy Lo. The letter below is in response to a letter sent out by another now ex-programmer, Gil Contreras. - ED.

Copies to:       la-amn@igc.org
Date sent:       Thu, 8 Jul 1999 15:33:47 -0700 (PDT)
From:            Blase Bonpane <ooa@igc.org>
Subject:         Re: [LA-AMN] Letter of Resignation from KPFK
To:              Gil Contreras <gilcontreras@earthlink.net>

Hello Gil,

I have been on strike against KPFK for over a year as a result of unnecessary and arbitrary "orders" from the program director and apparent support for her from the Station Manager.

I continue this strike to make it clear that qualifed professionals are not going to take a position of compliant mediocrity by accepting the power trips of individuals who have ignored the MISSION STATEMENT OF PACIFICA and are hard at work trying to create a second class NPR.

I have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars of my time to KPFK since 1969. My commentaries are in the hands of a competent publisher. My current commentaries are being published by a national magazine.

I am extremely disturbed by the lack of cooperation given to volunteers at KPFK. Apparently the station evaluates us on a strictly dollar basis, which is to say worthless.

Personally, I don't intend to stand by and watch a great institution become sterilized. In case management is unaware, KPFK is supposed to air material that would not be heard on commercial media. As it is, the majority of KPFK's material could be aired on any commercial station.

KPFK could have many more members if it just read the National Inquirer on the air. Wouldn't that be a great idea?

When is your press conference?
 

Blase Bonpane, Ph.D.
Director, Office of the Americas
http://www.OfficeOfTheAmericas.org