To: Sarah Johnson
KPBS: Air "Citizen Koch"
The recent New Yorker article alerted the public to the sad fact that public television has eliminated "Citizen Koch" from the scheduled national broadcast – from fear of upsetting major PBS donor and billionaire David Koch. The Citizen Koch documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers that tells the story of the overwhelming role of the Koch brother's right wing philosophy and money medling in American politics.
As you probably know by now, 350,000 people nationally petitioned public television to air Citizen Koch. That petition was delivered to WNET in New York. Now it's your turn to demand the end of self-censorship. Bowing to the Republicans will not briung you peace ... or funding.
As you probably know by now, 350,000 people nationally petitioned public television to air Citizen Koch. That petition was delivered to WNET in New York. Now it's your turn to demand the end of self-censorship. Bowing to the Republicans will not briung you peace ... or funding.
Why is this important?
David Koch may give PBS a lot of money, but he needs to know that he cannot buy YOUR integrity. The Koch brothers are important people, and documentaries are made about important people all the time ... and aired. If the brothers are embarrassed by the content, perhaps they should change their ways.
Knowledge is power. Public Television endangers its charter when it changes programming and the distribution of knowledge based on donor power.
Knowledge is power. Public Television endangers its charter when it changes programming and the distribution of knowledge based on donor power.