*The following is an excerpt from an email forwarded by Jamye Wooten of Kinetics: Faith-In-Motion*
Dr. Tyrone Powers
The Silencing of a Prophet January 2007
In Baltimore the most prophetic voice does not come from the pulpit but from the airwaves of WEAA (We Educate African Americans) Morgan State University Radio.
Dr. Tyrone Powers, Scholar, Activist, and International Terrorism Expert, gives voice to the voiceless. Speaking truth to power and confronting the powers that be, many who have been negligent in their responsibilities to the citizens of Baltimore. While many of our pastors remain silent and make friendly with politicians that represent the domination system that is oppressing our people, Dr. Powers puts aside his selfish ambitions and sacrifices his life for the least of these.
As of Tuesday January 23rd, The Powers Report has been suspended. We have heard that former Congressman Kwesi Mfume on behalf of newly elected Governor O’Malley has pressured the president of Morgan State to remove Dr. Powers from the air. We are asking for an explanation from the governor, Mr. Mfume, and the President of Morgan as to why Dr. Powers was removed from the air.
Please sign the attached petition http://www.petitiononline.com/baltimor/petition.html
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Please join us on Tueday January 30th at 4 p.m. at Morgan State University and show your support for Dr. Tyrone Powers and strong, uncompromising black radio.
_________________________________________________________________
OFFICIAL RESPONSE From the
Executive Producer of "The Powers Report"
In order to dispel rumor, here are the apparent facts. Please feel free to circulate them as you deem necessary.
In the later part of December, according to the General Manager of WEAA, Mr. Mfume (current member of the Board of Regents for MSU) approached Dr. Earl Richardson, President of MSU, and allegedly stated, on-behalf of the Governor- elect Mr. Mfume explained to Dr. Richardson that the Governor was displeased with comments made on the Powers Report and wanted it off the air. When Dr. Richardson asked what specifically was said, Mr. Mfume did not give specifics, but rather referred to the previous two months of programming.
Dr. Richardson contacted the General Manager, Dr. Donald Lockett to inquire about the show, and to explain the conversation between him and Mr. Mfume. To the show's defense, Dr. Lockett explained that the show and its content did not violate FCC rules regarding obscenity, profanity, indecency or slander. Nonetheless, Dr. Richardson asked to have sent to his office, copies of all the shows for two months prior for review.
A week following, Dr. Lockett shared with Tyrone that after speaking with Dr. Richardson again, the show would remain on air. President Richardson encouraged Dr. Lockett, however to ensure that proper policies were in place.
On Tuesday January 23, we arrived at the station to record our show. Dr. Lockett informed Tyrone and me that he received instruction from the Dean of Liberal Arts, Dr. Burney Hollis (the station falls under Dr. Hollis), that the Powers Report was indefinitely suspended pending further discussion.
Needless to say, it is apparent to us, that if this transpired as delivered to us, that a journalist/communications professional, former congressman, former President of the NAACP national chapter, co-founder of WEAA and member of the Board of Regents for MSU in collaboration with the Governor of Maryland, has attempted to censor public information, and violate 1st amendment constitutional rights.
Thank you for your support. We will be in contact.
Leslie Parker Blyther, Executive Producer
THE POWERS REPORT
___________________________________________________________________
For additional commentary on this incident, please visit
http://faithinactiononline.wordpress.com/
Also, be sure to click on the link below to sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/baltimor/petition.html
Additionally, call, fax, and email WEAA to voice your concern and to demand the return of "The Powers Report" to WEAA's airways!
Donald Lockett/General Manager
443.885.3564 OfficeDr. Tyrone Powers
The Silencing of a Prophet January 2007
In Baltimore the most prophetic voice does not come from the pulpit but from the airwaves of WEAA (We Educate African Americans) Morgan State University Radio.
Dr. Tyrone Powers, Scholar, Activist, and International Terrorism Expert, gives voice to the voiceless. Speaking truth to power and confronting the powers that be, many who have been negligent in their responsibilities to the citizens of Baltimore. While many of our pastors remain silent and make friendly with politicians that represent the domination system that is oppressing our people, Dr. Powers puts aside his selfish ambitions and sacrifices his life for the least of these.
As of Tuesday January 23rd, The Powers Report has been suspended. We have heard that former Congressman Kwesi Mfume on behalf of newly elected Governor O’Malley has pressured the president of Morgan State to remove Dr. Powers from the air. We are asking for an explanation from the governor, Mr. Mfume, and the President of Morgan as to why Dr. Powers was removed from the air.
Please sign the attached petition http://www.petitiononline.com/baltimor/petition.html
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Please join us on Tueday January 30th at 4 p.m. at Morgan State University and show your support for Dr. Tyrone Powers and strong, uncompromising black radio.
_________________________________________________________________
OFFICIAL RESPONSE From the
Executive Producer of "The Powers Report"
In order to dispel rumor, here are the apparent facts. Please feel free to circulate them as you deem necessary.
In the later part of December, according to the General Manager of WEAA, Mr. Mfume (current member of the Board of Regents for MSU) approached Dr. Earl Richardson, President of MSU, and allegedly stated, on-behalf of the Governor- elect Mr. Mfume explained to Dr. Richardson that the Governor was displeased with comments made on the Powers Report and wanted it off the air. When Dr. Richardson asked what specifically was said, Mr. Mfume did not give specifics, but rather referred to the previous two months of programming.
Dr. Richardson contacted the General Manager, Dr. Donald Lockett to inquire about the show, and to explain the conversation between him and Mr. Mfume. To the show's defense, Dr. Lockett explained that the show and its content did not violate FCC rules regarding obscenity, profanity, indecency or slander. Nonetheless, Dr. Richardson asked to have sent to his office, copies of all the shows for two months prior for review.
A week following, Dr. Lockett shared with Tyrone that after speaking with Dr. Richardson again, the show would remain on air. President Richardson encouraged Dr. Lockett, however to ensure that proper policies were in place.
On Tuesday January 23, we arrived at the station to record our show. Dr. Lockett informed Tyrone and me that he received instruction from the Dean of Liberal Arts, Dr. Burney Hollis (the station falls under Dr. Hollis), that the Powers Report was indefinitely suspended pending further discussion.
Needless to say, it is apparent to us, that if this transpired as delivered to us, that a journalist/communications professional, former congressman, former President of the NAACP national chapter, co-founder of WEAA and member of the Board of Regents for MSU in collaboration with the Governor of Maryland, has attempted to censor public information, and violate 1st amendment constitutional rights.
Thank you for your support. We will be in contact.
Leslie Parker Blyther, Executive Producer
THE POWERS REPORT
___________________________________________________________________
For additional commentary on this incident, please visit
http://faithinactiononline.wordpress.com/
Also, be sure to click on the link below to sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/baltimor/petition.html
Additionally, call, fax, and email WEAA to voice your concern and to demand the return of "The Powers Report" to WEAA's airways!
Donald Lockett/General Manager
443.885.8206 Fax
410.319.8888 On-Air Studio
weaa@moac.morgan.edu
Dr. Burney Hollis/Dean of Liberal Arts
Dr. Burney J. Hollis, Dean
The Department of Communication Studies
Phone: 443.885.3330
Fax: 443.885.8222
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