SFSC letter: Shameful firing of Michael Harris by CFRA

Mr. Steve Winogron, Program Manager, CFRA Ottawa

March 22, 2012

Dear Mr. Winogron:

I write to you on behalf of the Seriously Free Speech Committee, an organization founded specifically to defend freedom of speech on matters relating to the Palestine-Israel conflict.

We write to you because we are concerned that CFRA Ottawa has fired Michael Harris, a radio talk-show host at your station. Mr. Harris is an award winning author, and an experienced and highly regarded broadcaster.

It is our understanding that his firing came shortly after complaints about an article Mr. Harris had published on the iPolitics website February 1st, titled “Canada will be on the sidelines in search for Middle East peace”. This article is critical of the federal government’s policies on Israel. It appears therefore that CFRA succumbed to the pressure to silence Mr. Harris’ critical views on an important matter of public policy. 

There have been many other similarly shameful efforts in Canada to pressure media and universities to eliminate critical public discussion of the Palestine-Israel conflict. Such efforts intend to throttle the necessary public airing of diverse interpretations of this important area of public policy. Simply put, those who engage in such tactics of censorship aim to deny Canadians the opportunity for genuine democratic discussion of this issue.

We therefore call on you to reinstate Michael Harris and to commit CFRA to upholding freedom of speech, supporting thereby the democratic right of citizens to hear and consider the full range of views on Palestine-Israel.

It is a matter of shame when media choose to act as censor. We object to it in other countries, and it simply is hypocrisy if we ourselves do what we condemn in others.

Sincerely,

Mordecai Briemberg
On behalf of the Seriously Free Speech Committee

 

 

 

4 Responses to SFSC letter: Shameful firing of Michael Harris by CFRA

  1. James B - Montreal

    Michael Harris fired: BEAUTIFUL

    He is a muslim lover. And off the air. WONDERFUL. Another one bites the dust.

  2. I wish he still has the freedom to express his LOVE on the air, as much as you have the freedom to express your( DISLIKE) on this platform.

  3. JERRY COOPERMAN

    THIS GUY MIKE HARRIS IS TRULY ONE OF THE BIGGEST JERKS THAT I HAVE EVER LISTENED TO. HE HAS A VERY SERIOUS MENTAL PROBLEM,HE REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE HIS HEAD EXAMINED !POOR GUY
    I FEEL SO SORRY FOR HIM.IN ANY LANGUAGE HE IS A BIG PUTZ ,
    GOOD LUCK MIKE HOPE YOU CAN GET SOME HELP???

  4. JERRY COOPERMAN

    please help mike harris ,he needs a brain scan…..