I am writing today because the disingenuous reaction to the report of guns in the workplace at KPFK is not, in any way, acceptable. And as is not unusual, you as a board of directors, are being misinformed. When it is a question of personal injury up to and including death, that cannot be allowed to continue.
You have not received the testimony of the former employee who was told guns had been brought into the station and the parking lot by volunteer coordinator Adam Rice, who was paid with KPFK listener dollars to provide “security” for your June visit to Los Angeles.
You have not received that testimony because neither John Proffitt, Lydia Brazon or Leslie Radford chose to ask for it. Yes, you heard me. They did not ask for the name of the person who states they were told by Adam Rice he had brought a gun into the station. They did not talk to that person. That is not an investigation. That is not an inquiry. That is not even asking a question. How do you think it will look if there is a shooting at the station? How will you sleep at night if someone is accidentally or purposely injured or even killed?
On Wednesday October 14th, one day before you were notified Adam Rice made a statement that he had brought a gun into the station, Adam Rice wrote an email to a phone room volunteer who Radford banned from the station. The woman’s name is Celina Dority. She appears to be somewhat unstable. Those of us who work Pacifica phone rooms and have done so for years know that people often show up with issues, but I have never heard anyone on staff or placed in any position of responsibility at a Pacifica station say what Adam Rice said to her on October 14, 2015 at 11:16am.
“You may be used to dealing with Pacifica pacifists, but I am a firm believer that the ultimate guarantee of peace is the willingness and the ability to defend oneself and their family. I will, reluctantly, yet without hesitation, personally teach you the true meaning of armed self defense. You dig?”
While Adam Rice may be in fact, as he said on Facebook, “the wrong cracker to fuck with”, I ask you in all seriousness, what do you think the meaning is of “armed self-defense?” Do you not believe what Adam Rice is telling you?
**
Here are some things Celina Dority had to say via email:
On Oct 14, 2015 12:00 PM, “Celina Dority” wrote: “The only one who is threatening anyone is you, telling me you consider everyone @ KPFK to be honest and all outsiders liars. . . . And to watch out because you are armed”
On October 14, 2015 2:36pm “Celina Dority” wrote: “And then you have the audacity, due to a misunderstanding, to kick me out, unapologetically and to threaten me, a volunteer, with armed “self-defense”. Unbelievable”.
On Oct 14, 2015 9:33 PM, “Celina Dority” wrote:
“Ms. Leslie,
Should anything happen to me soon or whenever, and if anyone cares, please don’t rule out KPFK-Adam …. who basically threatened me and said he take matters & the law into his own hands.
All I have requested is to be a volunteer. You all said I could be. And a KPFK fanatic is threatening me with a gun”.
**
Since all of these emails are in the possession of management on KPFK’s server, what is the nature of your confusion as a board of directors?
This is the second report Adam Rice has told multiple people he has guns and arms and will use them if he feels it appropriate to do so as a volunteer coordinator/amateur security detail.
This country has been wracked with violent shootings.
Do you really want one of your stations to be the next headline?
Tracy Rosenberg
KPFA listener rep 2007-2013, Pacifica Board of Directors 2010-2014
It been two weeks or so that l been kicked out and banned from KPFK, just after taking a pledge from a wonderful listener. . .
But l hear them asking for phone answerers again, and call to see if maybe all the craziness has ended and l am welcome.
They put Adam Rice on the phone. He say l welcome. I say, are you sure? He say, oh, it’s you!! And No, you are not welcome!!
I ask if l could please talk to someone other than him to see if l am welcome after all, and he say he in charge and No, l am not welcome.
So l ask him who he think he is? The King? President Obama?
He say something to the effect, Yes, he is in charge, and to get the f word off the line. No joke, he used the full f word . . .
I was shocked!! And hung up immediate.
Next, called front desk to complain. Front desk, very nice, listened, took my name & number, asked if l wanted to speak to GM, l say No, that l was grateful for the station being great, and grateful to have my complaint heard. That it’s fine if l not welcome, but to be talked to so rude & violent, there’s something wrong w/ that. And not permit to get a second opinion.
A similar but unarmed threat occurred at an LSB meeting over a year ago, when a woman, public member, exited a meeting to go to her car. She was approached and threatened by a man who followed her outside – Reza Pour (Siegel/Brazon faction) – who then threatened ‘to kick your A…” screaming wildly and while angrily shouting and displaying his intentions by raising his leg as in a kick and approaching the unsuspecting woman. Had another male friend of his not physically held back this aggressor, violence was obviously threatened and appeared likely, as he repeatedly screamed and came toward her – in the open parking lot behind bldg of LSB meeting.
When a full written prompt report of this danger and aggression was sent to Tej – chairwoman of LSB- there was no response at all….. so a 2nd email request was made to also distribute the descriptive letter from her to all LSB members. There was never any response, reply, nor concern given or made by anyone at all…. [assuming info was distributed as asked]. Intending to alert all to dangers, emotionally unbalanced members, and the need for some protection and security. when needed, there was apparently no interest, nor concern. No response. ever.
No threat of firearms, but actual physical threat of being hit, hurt, damaged for reasons known only to the man declaring his intentions to kick, hit, hurt…..
Peace Out, Everybody!
A note from Celina Dority . . .
Breathe in / Breathe Out
Just a few things KPFK board or staff might weigh/consider:
Considering all the “crazies” in the world, security consciousness at a special community radio station might not be unwise.
However, before having some man named Adam who says he considers KPFK staff family and will take what measures he must to “protect” them bring or have a gun on board . . . Maybe you could consider more of a professional?
Unless it was professional for Adam to tell me he would teach me, unarmed and a woman, the meaning of “armed self defense”, in an email.
To be fair with KPFK Adam, while l cannot say I approve of a threat of violence to me with a gun, more frightening than a man named Adam threatening an unarmed woman with a gun is whoever told him a lie to make him consider me a threat.
It’s just as well I’ve been banned I suppose . . . Since it is truly frightening there. One minute, taking peaceful happy pledges, the next, being threatened w/ armed self defense.
As far as me being “unstable” . . . All l can ask is, who isn’t in these days and times ? That Oscar Pistorious out of jail after viciously murdering Reeva Steencamp, a truly evil act and I, an unarmed woman – simply taking pledges gets kicked out, threatened w/ armed self defense, and banned indefinitely w/o any concern about how l might feel about it.
Anyhow, Peace Out, everyone . . .
Peace / Love / Equality / Respect / Zero tolerance for domestic violence and workplace violence
I know none of these people nor the veracity of the charges, but absolutely the charges should be thoroughly investigated, and if found to be true (specifically if Adam Rice has stated to people that he is armed and threatened Celina Dority or anyone else with violence), he should be banned from the station and prosecuted. Why has a thorough investigation not been done? Are people afraid of him? If so, all the more reason to investigate. Fear empowers bullies to escalate.
We’ve read previously that the KPFK staff is united against the imposition of a reckless station manager who apparently was imposed precisely to wreak havoc there. Given the threat to workplace safety that the report about this Adam fellow represents, would it not make sense to the KPFK staff to issue a Union demand that either Raford publicly declares the guy persona non grata and bans him from the station or they’ll set up a picket line and take the issue to the Media? When a station staff achieves some level of unity against mismanagement they need to use that concensus to act in their own defense and for the good of their listeners as well.