Thursday, April 26, 2007

DOZENS OF RIOT POLICE CONFRONT PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS SPEAKING AGAINST HATE RADIO


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007

CONTACT:
Carmelita Ramirez-Sanchez
(310) 614-0464

LOS ANGELES - 40 Parents, Students, Educators and Supporters of Los Angeles Charter School Academia Semillas del Pueblo were illegally stopped from their peaceful demonstration by at least two dozen LAPD officers in full riot gear, with weapons and batons. Monday morning, lead by Tom Hayden, Rev. Maupin, Tupac Enrique Acosta (The Seventh Generation Fund), and leaders from the Muslim (Muslim Public Affairs Council), Japanese-American (Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress), African-American and Latino community. Parents came to ask KABC to stop airing racist, Hate filled broadcast by morning show jock, Doug Mcintyre. Management at KABC (3321 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016). KABC officials responded to the call to end Hate Radio with their own call, to the LAPD. Demonstrators heard an LAPD helicopter overhead, then moments later, were surrounded by 9 to 11 squad cars. Officers told demonstrators to disperse. Legal representatives maintained the right to a peaceful assembly to the officers, they were still however illegally removed from the sidewalk. Witnesses note that Police officers came out in full riot gear, and at one point discharged a 12 gauge bean bag gun. Police held batons in front of them and warned parents to leave the sidewalk and the area in front of KABC. Police officers also stopped traffic on La Cienega and Jefferson, prohibiting people from driving in front of the building.

Academia Semillas del Pueblo and it's supporters ask all public officials, especially Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Council-members Jose Huizar, Herb Wesson Jr.. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and LAPD Chief Bratton to investigate the use of excessive manpower to deny the civil rights of all citizens. Additionally, question why LAPD came to the aid of a corporation, and not remain an unbiased, mediating force in the action.

Since May 31, 2006, KABC's Doug Mcintyre has used the public airwaves to attack the children of Academia Semillas del Pueblo by calling them 'cannibals', 'terrorists' and calling for the closure of their school. 2 days after McIntyre started asking his listeners to force the closure of Academia Semillas del Pueblo, a bomb threat was called into the school, warning the students and staff that the building would smell like 'burnt tortillas' after their attack. Community leaders are calling for an end to Hate Radio and the removal of Doug Mcintyre from the public airwaves.


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