KEXP knowingly promoting hate group
KEXP knowingly promoting Neo Nazi group under Racial and Social Justice resources
In the wake of the George Floyd riots Seattle radio station KEXP devoted a considerable amount of time and resources into centering racial justice, or what passes for racial justice. In their diversity pledge they state: “KEXP is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization; we believe we must embrace the practice of identifying racist behavior and dismantling systemic racism as it manifests in different institutions – particularly the ones that you belong to.”
On their website they have several pages devoted to “Anti-Racist and Social Justice Resources” compiled by KEXP staff.
I am not familiar with many of these groups but I was aware of Black Hammer due to their notorious history of anti-Semitism. Some examples:
So….. I included this small sampling (yes, there is much more) in an email to KEXP staff Chris Kellogg, Ethan Raup, Betsy Troutman, and John Richards.
On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 2:30 PM [redacted] wrote:
Hello
I am reading your online statements about being an anti-racist organization.
"In 2021, KEXP’s Executive Team, with external racial equity consultants, will create a comprehensive and strategic plan to advance our work toward becoming an anti-racist organization"
I have attached a list of social media posts by one the groups listed as a anti-racist resource, Black Hammer.
The question is, why is this group being promoted on your website as an anti-racist organization? Why is an anti-racist organization employing someone who would consider this anti-racism? How much more violence do Jews and Asians have to endure until the progressive community who is obsessed with anti-Black racism to the exclusion of everything else, finally going to admit to what we all know: that racism by Black people is not harmless. I think your organization has some explaining to do. Pandering to Black nationalist racism isn't anti-racism. Anti-Semitism is not a lesser sin or danger than anti-Black racism. When is this racial reckoning going to occur over the enormous chasm of how racism by and towards different groups is being treated with a world of difference in a way that is not justifiable. And it's not harmless.
[redacted]
I didn’t hear back so I emailed again:
From: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, November 5, 2021 11:20 AM
To: tom@kexp.org; Ethan Raup <ethan@kexp.org>; Chris Kellogg <chris@kexp.org>; Betsy Troutman <betsy@kexp.org>; John Richards <john@kexp.org>
Subject: Re: KEXP and anti-Racism/Semitism
Hello?
Can I get a reply?
[redacted]
This is the reply I received:
From: Chris Kellogg <chris@kexp.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 9, 2021 at 5:17 PM
Subject: RE: KEXP and anti-Racism/Semitism
To: [redacted]
Cc: tom@kexp.org <tom@kexp.org>, Ethan Raup <ethan@kexp.org>, Betsy Troutman <betsy@kexp.org>, John Richards <john@kexp.org>
Hi [redacted]
Thank you for reaching out to us. I apologize for the lack of timeliness in my reply – I wanted to be sure that I was being clear in my response to your concerns.
The issues you raise involve the intersectionality of multiple marginalized and oppressed groups. I can’t speak personally to any of those groups’ experiences, and I cannot pretend to know the motivations or the full history of any of the organizations referenced in the link you provided. All we can do is provide resources for people to learn more and develop a deeper understanding of what is important to different groups and why. These groups are going to come at their work from many different angles, and certainly we as an organization are not going to agree with all of them.
The anti-racism resource guide that is provided in the link was developed during the summer of 2020, when the conversation was very much centered – for good reason – on anti-Black racism. This is not to say that anti-Black racism is the only racism or form of prejudice that matters – far from it. But to shift the focus of the conversation away from the leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement and others engaged in a conversation about anti-Black racism would’ve been doing that moment a disservice.
All of this being said, I do appreciate the concerns that you have raised about the resource guide, and I have asked our editorial team to review the decision to include the organization you reference in your message to us. We will also consider noting that organizations and resources listed are not necessarily endorsed by KEXP.
Thank you again for taking the time to reach out and share your concerns.
All the best,
Chris Kellogg (he/him)
Chief Programming Officer
KEXP 90.3 FM | KEXP.ORG
472 1st Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
t: 206.520.5889
Addendum: several hours after this post appeared on Reddit and Twitter KEXP removed the link and posted an apology.
Gross.
Seems to be gone now.