On 8 March U.S. Rep. Major Owens took to the floor of the House and described what happened when was pulled off the air of Pacifia Radio's WBAI. He also offered a suggestion for freeing WBAI from the shackles of corporatization and censorship that association with the Pacifica network has burden the station with.

Pacifica's Station Manager Utrice Leid describes her shut down of the microphones, as the congressman spoke, saying that she had to intervene because it was her job to allow only the truth over the airwaves.

Owens, a N.Y democrat and ranking member on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, had been invited to speak on "Building Bridges" a WBAI show focusing on union and labor issues.

On the floor Thurs. Owens' said that had he gotten the chance to speak, he would have addressed the situation at WBAI specifically and the consolidation of the broadcast industry generally.

"We have a problem of great magnitude that is not being appropriately addressed," he said.

Listen to Rep. Major Owens speech (6 min): Streaming MP3 or Download MP3

News on continuing crisis at Pacfica

www.savepacifica.net
www.wbaifree.org
www.freespeechnow.org (KPFA, Berkely)