Broadcaster Mbanna Kantako and his Springfield, IL, unlicensed
micropower radio station, Human Rights Radio, were shut down
by Federal Marshals and the Federal Communications
Commission. The FCC charges that Kantako’s station, operating
at less than 100 watts of power, threatened the radio
communications for the Air Rendezvous Air Show planned for
Springfield this weekend.
The raid, conducted by Federal Marshals, lasted from 5:15 PM to
6:00 PM CDT, during which Kantako’s transmitting and computer
equipment. Luckily, his recordings library, containing valuable
archive recordings of Human Rights radio broadcasts, were left
untouched.
Mbanna Kantako, widely recognized as the founding father of the
micropower radio movement, first went on the air with Black
Liberation Radio in November 1987, broadcasting to the residents
of the John Hay Housing Projects in Springfield, the capital city of
Illinois. Since that time Kantako has broadened his message from
one of black liberation to one looking to help empower and liberate
all oppressed peoples. Noted micropower radio activists like
Stephen Dunifer of Free Radio Berkeley cite Kantako as the
inspiration for the nationwide micropower radio movement that
has grown so strong that the FCC was moved into recreating a
licensed low-power radio service this past January.
Kantako’s court date is set for Wednesday, October 4 at 10:00 AM
in the Federal Court, Federal Building in downtown Springfield, IL
on Monroe Street (between 6th and 7th Streets). Supporters of
Kantako, Human Rights Radio, and right to use the airwaves are
strongly encouraged to attend this date and show your support in
the courtroom.
For more information, contact Ron Sakolsky & Sheila Nopper at
217-498-8497 or
Michael Townsend at 217-483-6100
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