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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Report of assault of Indymedia reporter at WBAI |
Current rating: 0 |
by Eileen Sutton
Email: efsutton (nospam) earthlink.net (unverified!) |
04 Jun 2001
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· * ACTIVISTS ENTER WBAI
· * TUNE INTO www.wbix.org FOR ON-GOING COVERAGE
· * IndyMedia Reporter Assaulted by WBAI Staff Member
Editor's Note: For complete coverage of this protest, go to: http://nyc.indymedia.org/ |
Calling from the street, an activist named John contacted Errol Maitland who was hosting WBAI in Exile, a radio station that broadcasts over the Internet. He gave Maitland this report:
At 8:57 this morning, 18 activists entered WBAI. Someone within the station shouted to call the police, to call 911, as the last activist entered the premises.
The activists proceeded toward master studio where 3 activists then entered and began chanting. Another group of 3 also attempted to hang a banner and they opened a window. However, security was pretty tight and they were not able to drop the banner.
John said a large man came and grabbed the banner and threw it across the room along with other supplies there for the banner drop. John said they were ordered out of the station and threatened with bodily violence if they ever returned. John said it was a non-violentaction, though the man was described as hostile.
On the air when the activists entered the station, host Marjorie Moore was noticeably shocked and reacted without cutting the mic. She shouted *who are those people.* She is now, at 9:09 a.m. on the air with Public-Affairs Director Diabel Faye and Diabel is discussing the incident. He is insisting that the activists came to *take over the station.* Yet according to John, there were no attempts to occupy master studio and the activists left when asked to leave.
The activists hoped to read a statement of support for the station decrying the censorship and bannings at the station, and calling for the resignation of Utrice Leid. John said there was not a chance to read the statement on the air, though John read the statement in its entirety while speaking with Maitland.
Kevin Prichard, an Indypendent Media reporter covering the action, has just reported over www.wbix.org that he was assaulted by WBAI stffer Paul DiRienzo. He says DiRienzo also threw Prichard's equipment. The police were on the scene, but there were no arrests.
There have been daily vigils at WBAI, and this morning as well, musicians were playing out front and about 15 folks were giving out literature.
Eileen Sutton
Banned WBAI Reporter
Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship |
See also:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=6289&group=webcast
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