The Petition to Deny KNEW-AM's license was partially based on monitoring by Media Alliance, whose study observed that more than half (50%) of Michael Weiner's programs on KNEW-AM encouraged physical violence as a solution to social problems.
Mr Weiner repeatedly uses our publicly owned airwaves to stereotype, scapegoat and advocate violence against people of color, immigrants, women, Muslims and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered ('LGBT') persons, and those who support social services and civil rights for these groups, and those opposed to the war in Iraq.
Some examples cited in the Petition to Deny KNEW's radio license include:
- Islam 'is a religion based on child sexual rape.'
- Use of 'vermin' 43 times in one 40 minute broadcast to describe undocumented workers
- 'Illegals are raping, stealing, murdering and defecating on our lawns'
- Dean of Harvard Law School is a 'radical, female, lesbian monster from hell'
- 'The Supreme Court is run by the gay and lesbian mafia'
'As the Commission is aware, the San Francisco Bay Area is an incredibly diverse community, with sizable Latino, African-American, Native-American, Asian, Pacific Islander communities, as well as a large gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. Its citizens embrace a wide variety of political and religious affiliations.
'And yet, a random sample of KNEW-AM's hate-filled programming reflects a total absence of commitment to serving the Bay Area's diverse wide-ranging community. Rather than reaching out to community members, KNEW-AM relies instead primarily on syndicated programs that spew violent and vitriolic language against people of color, immigrants, Muslims, gays and liberals.'
'Petitioners submit that KNEW-AM's non-stop programming of racist and xenophobic hate speech reflects Clear Channel's inability to broadcast in the public interest, or to serve the diverse local needs of the Bay Area community. The fact nobody is permitted to disagree with KNEW-AMs radio hosts, or offer a different viewpoint without being insulted, badgered or yelled at, reflects Clear Channel's total disrespect for the diverse Bay Area community.'
'Ultimately, KNEW-AM's steady stream of 'hate radio' constitutes an abrogation of the basic compact between the licensee and the Commission to use the airwaves in a manner that promotes the public interest.'
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