October 26,
2004
Dennis Apuan (719) 632-6189
10:00 PM
Pikes Peak Justice
and Peace Commission
Mark Lewis (719) 471-9400 CSAction.org
National groups respond to political censorship at KBIQ radio in
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs-October 25
Colorado activists, along with national groups will expand the pressure
on the advertisers on KBIQ radio (102.7) over the political censorship
of refusing political action committee ads aimed at president Bush's
record, with a protest, Tuesday, October 26 during a remote broadcast
of the station on West Colorado Avenue at the Mason Jar Restaurant.
The protest is sponsored by the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace
Commission, Springs Action Alliance,
Citizens
for Peace in Space, Pikes
Peak Media Alliance, Students
for Social Justice, and a nationwide coalition of groups working
for peace, justice, and fair campaign practices.
The demonstration will take place on the public
sidewalk along Colorado Avenue, in front of the Mason Jar Restaurant,
on West Colorado Ave., from 5:30 until 6:30 PM.
Organizer Mark
Lewis, of the Springs Action Alliance,
and producer of an international daily alternative news digest,
said, "It's another stain on the city's reputation that a radio station
here is the only one in the country to refuse to carry a political ad
because they don't agree with the message."
"The airways are public property and part of the responsibility owed
to the people for the privilege of using them, is to disseminate information
during political campaigns."
"We have contacted
the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) regarding this abuse of fair play and attempt to keep
all sides from being heard."
"While it's not a violation of the McCain/Feingold BCRA law, it is a
violation of the public airways they use, to deny equal time to all
sides of an issue."
"We have organized a national email cyber action to pressure the advertisers
on KBIQ: Safeway, 1st Metro Mortgage, Cheyenne Leather, Dr. Ty Johnson's
Colorado clinic of Chiropractic, Colorado Transmissions, Colorado Eye
Associates, lawyer, Don Vsetecka, Freedom Financial, Meeker Music, Perkins
Motor City Dodge, University of Phoenix, and Vision Home Loans; to pressure
the station to be fair and informative to their listeners", Lewis said
Station manager, Phil Lewis,
no relation, has not returned any phone calls or emails.
According to the Gazette, several other stations in town, including
KKCS, KKFM, and KVOR are airing the ads denied by KBIQ. They quote Gary
Ferdman, of the True Majority Action PAC as saying, "...if some of the
supporters of George Bush knew the truth, it might cause them to think
twice before they voted for him."
The protest will be peaceful and lawful. The organizers encourage all
in attendance to observe all laws, and to be peaceful in words and actions.
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