Radio Says #Enough, Supports Student Walkout
• On Wednesday, as America commemorated a grim milestone — the one-month observance of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that killed 17 and seriously wounded another 17, students all across the country staged a #NationalWalkoutDay and sent a powerful message to the world — #ENOUGH.
The show of support began early on The Dave Ryan Show on iHeartMedia Top 40 KDWB/Minneapolis, as the names of the fallen Marjory Stoneman Douglas students were read aloud, followed by Andra Day‘s stirring “Rise Up,” interspersed with recordings of parents and teachers of area schools stating unequivocally, “We stand with our students.”
RAMP later spoke with KDWB PD Rich Davis, who explained, “This was not about politics or gun control or even the radio station making any specific comment other than standing by our kids and supporting them in making their voices be heard. As THE radio station in Minneapolis that has the majority of kids listening we wanted to make sure they knew we heard them and that we’re standing with them. As I tweeted earlier today, there is nothing more important than keeping our kids safe.”
• At the stroke of 10am on Wednesday, Alpha Media Top 40 KBFF (Live 95.5)/Portland went silent for 17 minutes in support of National Student Walkout Day. Live 95.5 morning host Jubal Flagg (left, with co-hosts Brooke and Jose) said, “I’m proud to live in a country that was created by people standing up for what they believe in. I’m incredibly honored to work with a broadcast company who would break our industry’s rules and highlight the voices of the students by muting our own.”
Phil Becker, VP of Content for Alpha Media, remarked, “Airing our traditional broadcast during a time when students across the country are creating a movement for change feels inappropriate, so for 17 minutes we will only be broadcasting the names of those whose are no longer with us. It’s our hope that the National School Walkout will remind us of the time when students felt lucky to go to school and not lucky to simply come home safe.”
• Bonneville Top 40 KMVQ (99.7 NOW!)/San Francisco also pulled all music from 10:00-10:17am in support of the National Student Walk Out. During that time, 99.7 NOW! aired audio from local students and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors expressing why gun control legislation is important.
Morning hosts Fernando & Greg and Producer Shan Berries took calls from listeners, who shared their thoughts on #NationalWalkoutDay and were also active on social media.
Several 99.7 NOW! personalities were on location at Bay Area schools to observe and report on the #NationalWalkoutDay activities. Weekend air talent Mary Diaz, who also assists at two local elementary schools, said, “The Kinder-5th grade students I work with organized peace assemblies, walk-outs, and even ‘walk-ups.’ A walk-up is when a student is encouraged to walk up to a person who is sitting alone and say hi, walk up to a teacher/staff to say thank you, and just be kind.”
