January 21, 2010
Former KPFA broadcaster Nadra Foster facing trial March 22 (http://www.sfbayview.com/2010/former-kpfa-broadcaster-nadra-foster-facing-trial-feb-5/)
Pack the courtroom Monday, March 22, 9 a.m., 161 Washington at 7th, Oakland
by Minister of Information JR
Listen to a dynamite 20-minute discussion about Nadra's case on Hard Knock Radio between host Anita Johnson and Minister of Information JR broadcast on KPFA Thursday, March 18, at Hard Knock Radio - March 18, 2010 at 4:00pm | KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio (http://kpfa.org/archive/id/59479), beginning 11:30 minutes in (archived only until April 1 )
(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfbayview.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2FNadra-Foster-on-footbridge.jpg&hash=c0f1cc6df4923cc1bd2a6e81404a724061943f49) (http://www.sfbayview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Nadra-Foster-on-footbridge.jpg) Nadra Foster hosted a weekly show on KPFA for years on Fridays at 7 p.m. and worked as a volunteer with other producers. After more than a decade of work without pay, KPFA management called the police to remove her from the station after she used a copier to run off math worksheets for her daughters and a phone to call for a ride home. - Photo: © Kristin Oliver
On Aug. 20, 2008, single mother and Black radio broadcaster Nadra Foster was beaten mercilessly by Berkeley police inside of the building of the "home of free speech radio," "progressive" radio station KPFA in Berkeley, after bogusly being accused of trespassing at the station in which she had volunteered her services for over 10 years. To this day, the management of KPFA and of the Pacifica radio network have attempted to cover up their role in this vile police crime against the Black community and progressive media makers. Now that ratings are slipping at KPFA, management is accusing the journalists who exposed this government act of terrorism, where a Black woman was kicked in the head and between her legs by police, as being the cause of such a shift in listenership, as though we, the reporters, should be ashamed of reporting the stories that our communities need to be informed about.
The drop in listenership is not because the station is not capable of doing a tremendous job serving their listenership. It is a growing vote of no confidence by many of the listeners and a majority of the staff in the current management of the station and the Pacifica network that it is a part of. Should there be a change in who runs the station and who has regular station sponsored shows – and depending on the actions of the administration that takes over – there could be a drastic turnaround in listenership, volunteer support, fundraising and the station and network's credibility in the media.
(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfbayview.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2FNadra-Foster-Berkeley-PD-Wanted-for-Terrorism-by-Refa-One.jpg&hash=cb8de08084dda69749a03e0f857c4622cf1f8d84) (http://www.sfbayview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Nadra-Foster-Berkeley-PD-Wanted-for-Terrorism-by-Refa-One.jpg) This poster by renowned artist Refa One symbolizes the outpouring of support for Nadra and condemnation of the current KPFA management. An Oct. 4, 2008, press release notes the support of prominent newsmakers and major organizations and includes a Statement of No Confidence in management signed by 56 KPFA programmers, paid and unpaid.
Now we are going to talk to Nadra Foster, who faces trial Feb. 5 at the courthouse on Seventh and Washington in downtown Oakland on the fourth floor in Department 111 at 9 a.m. M.O.I. JR: What were you charged with?
Nadra: Currently, I am charged with two counts of resisting arrest and two counts of battery on an officer.
M.O.I. JR: How have these charges affected your family life? Can you talk about your hand being paralyzed?
Nadra: Being criminalized by the same media field in which I worked as a passionate professional for over a decade for showing up to work like every positive, progressive adult citizen should do has been devastating. Actually being prosecuted by the DA is an extremely surreal experience like a horror movie turn Matrix. I am thankful I am grounded by Jah, the almighty protector, and all of my ancestors who have been praying me through.
Currently my left hand is paralyzed with upcoming surgeries to mend severed tendons. My hand has been in constant pain for over a year now and as you can imagine that alone has been overwhelming. My family and friends have been called on for overtime to help me with my children and I have not been in any condition to work or function as I used to.
This is a very harsh lesson yet a very real one. In America in 2010 the Kmtyw American community is not protected by law and order, and justice is just a lottery ticket promise. Thus the stand, walk and daily quest for liberty is ever necessary. I am going to take this hardship as training and learn to become a champion for the people for love and for justice.
M.O.I. JR: When does your trial start? How can people help you?
Nadra: I go to trial in Oakland Feb. 5th [postponed to March 22], 9 a.m., on the fourth floor in Department 111.
In America in 2010 the Kmtyw American community is not protected by law and order, and justice is just a lottery ticket promise. I am going to take this hardship as training and learn to become a champion for the people for love and for justice. – Nadra Foster
M.O.I. JR: How can people stay up with what's going on with you?
Nadra: People can help by showing up at court dates and praying and chanting.
Email POCC Minister of Information JR, Bay View associate editor, at blockreportradio@gmail.com (mailto:blockreportradio@gmail.com) and visit www.blockreportradio.com (http://www.blockreportradio.com/).
Kiilu Nyasha interviews Nadra Foster
This interview with Nadra Foster on the Channel 76 show Freedom Is a Constant Struggle was broadcast Aug. 28, 2009, shortly after the first anniversary of the attack on Nadra by Berkeley police inside a KPFA studio. Host Kiilu Nyasha hosted Freedom Is a Constant Struggle on KPFA for many years, and she and Nadra are long time friends. Kiilu is renowned as a former Black Panther, a revolutionary journalist and a columnist for the SF Bay View.