PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

From: FAN <siddharta5@...>
Date: 28 June, 2009 10:36:34 EDT
To: siddharta2@...
Subject: [EARC] Fwd: Response by Nellie Hester Bailey to Mitchel
Cohen's Email
Reply-To: EARCollective@yahoogroups.com



NELLIE BAILEY REPLIES TO MITCH COHEN'S ATTEMPT TO BUY HER SUPPORT.
 
The Cohen email below is typical of the clique of liberals who have
taken over Pacifica in the past 3 years. The stinging reply by Nellie
Hester Bailey shows that community people are not for sale and that the
Take Back WBAI movement will ultimately prevail.
 
Please note that Local Station Boards according to the bylaws are
forbidden from interfering in programming and lobbying station
management for particular programs.
The bylaws were specifically written that way to avoid influence
peddling and corruption. It appears that this has failed and the bylaws
are wantonly violated by King Cohen and probably many others. If Cohen,
unsolicited, approached Bernard White as he says to promote a show that
he believes would gain him favors with long time community activists,
 he failed and Bernard maintained the integrity of the station. By the
way, Nellie supports the Take Back WBAI movement. The Cohen email is
obviously a desperate attempt on his part to stall the current petition
to recall him.
 
Mitch Cohen, the WBAI LSB chair, implies in his email that he has used
his influence and conspired as WBAI LSB chair to violate the Pacifica
bylaws. This should be on the recall petition.
 
Please join the Take Back WBAI movement, sign the recall petition and
make sure you are a member of the station.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/takebackwbaiorg/89438391508
http://takebackwbai.org/
http://www.livestream.com/wbix
 
Makibaka! Huwag Matakot!
 
FAN
 
Here we go:
 
From: Mitchel Cohen <mitchelcohen@...>
To: nelliehester@...
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:11:03 AM
Subject: Hi Nellie -- please be in contact with me ....

Hi Nellie,

Please talk with me about your position vis a vis WBAI.

Did you know that I had pitched a show for you over a year ago, as well
as a different show for Glen Ford and Cynthia McKinney, and management
refused to move on it?

I was hoping to do so again, with the new management, where it will
receive a friendlier hearing.

I don't understand your apparent (and sudden?) support for wbai's past
management. What's up?

Thanx.

Mitchel


From: nellie hester <nelliehester@...>
Date: 26 June, 2009 14:39:41 EDT
To: Mitchel Cohen <mitchelcohen@...>
Cc: Nellie Hester <nelliehester@...>, harlemtenants@...,
glen.ford@...
Subject: Response to Mitchel Cohen Email


Hey Mitch,

I’m an old hand at politics and your ethnic chauvinism (I’m being kind
here) and misogynist arrogance expressed in this reprimanding email
indicates your true race politics. Not respecting the intelligence and
integrity of Black people. And to add insult to injury you’re basically
telling me that I am for sale and you are the highest bidder, without
even batting an eye. Mitch, its 2009 not 1809. But I bet you don’t have
a clue which is alarming, especially for the future of a racially
inclusive WBAI. Give up the left ghost, Mitch. Your classic neo-liberal
politics represents the same message of the Democratic Party to the
working class including immigrants. “ Master is in charge. Be grateful
for any crumbs or promises from our table as long as you stay in your
place.”

 

I host and produce two radio programs in Harlem, having done so for the
past three years. In less than a month we will move into new studios.
Let's be clear I am not looking to get a program on WBAI.  As for Glen
Ford, he is more than capable of speaking for himself.

 

You and I crossed path recently around the Cynthia McKinney petition
campaign when we agreed to allow the Green Party to use our office to
organize a drive to get McKinney on the state ballot. You attended
several of those meetings expressing your support for McKinney. Yet
today you remain silent on the refusal of the National Board of
Pacifica to review her application for Executive Director of Pacifica.
No due process for her application! McKinney has confirmed this. And
when Tony Riddle asked  if you would support McKinney for the job you
said, NO!! If you pitched management for McKinney to get a show then
how do you explain your refusal to pitch support for her to get the
Executive Director slot. What self righteous hypocrisy!

 

The toxic hatred for Bernard White defies rationality, which explains
the racism.  To be sure, several months ago White  spoke at our
Columbia University rally against its expansion into Harlem. And last
month  he spoke at our forum in Harlem where McKinney delivered the
keynote. Two members of the Justice and Unity Coalition are long
standing members of our Board of Directors. For years HTC has held
rallies and programs with the support of Justice and Unity members and
supporters including the D12 Movement, IAC, Free Mumia Coalition,
Cemotap, etc. If this comes as a surprise to you then clearly you have
not paid attention or you have confused my degree of cordiality toward
you as something else. Even more obvious, your devious attempt to sow
suspicion and distrust. 

 

Don’t wait for a call from me. I don't take kindly to a demand to
explain myself from so call white progressives. Nor will I give
credibility to your attempt to turn the politics of what’s happening
at WBAI into yet another personal attack. This appears to be the
hallmark of your “camp” when in reality the National Pacifica Board has
orchestrated a campaign, with the participation of folks like you, to
cleanse all  local stations of genuine radical grassroots voices, in
particular Black, Latino and immigrant communities. Just a reminder
Mitch: Blacks, Latino, Asians and immigrants are the majority in this
city. WBAI has to reflect this unavoidable reality. We call you on the
carpet Mitch, not the other way around!

 

  Nellie Bailey, Director of Harlem Tenants Council & Dump Bloomberg
Coalition

 





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