UPDATE: You can now listen to the archive of this program on SoundCloud:
On Tuesday, June 9 from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (PST), KVRU 105.7 FM joins over 90 radio stations nationwide to play Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” in commemoration of the life of George Floyd.
Floyd’s gruesome killing on May 25 has been the focus of international protests in addition to the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Sean Reed, and Ahmaud Arbery. Black communities are struggling with the issues raised by these deaths, including the persistence of racial injustice and police misconduct. Locally, Charleena Lyles (Magnuson Park neighborhood), Shaun Fuhr (Mount Baker neighborhood), and Manuel Ellis (Tacoma, WA) are being mourned and honored. On June 9, Floyd will be laid to rest at a private ceremony in Houston, his hometown, but we honor all cities including ours that have been organizing for the end of institutional violence.
Participating stations will broadcast the Civil Rights Movement anthem at the same time that afternoon, coast-to-coast. Throughout the day, KVRU 105.7 FM will be playing songs calling for justice, freedom, and dignity. Diverse communities in Seattle have shown up to say Black lives matter and we want to honor them as well.
“Every historic moment has had a soundtrack and we want to honor this moment by lifting up Black songs that have called out injustice throughout history,” said Lulu Carpenter, Station Manager. “We come together with stations nationwide to grieve, act, and heal collectively as a community and a nation.”
The nationwide remembrance was organized by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. “As our country deals with the hurt and outrage of what happened to George Floyd, these stations are in their communities, feeling this sorrow too,” said NFCB Program Director Ernesto Aguilar. “Stations together will play a song to speak as a unified voice for change, justice, and love.”
Residents can tune in to KVRU 105.7 FM or kvru.org from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm to be part of Tuesday’s Sam Cooke event and tune in throughout the day to hear other inspirational music. We will continue to amplify diverse voices through our media collective.
Please email us at info@kvru.org to hear how you can become a community reporter, create a program, record a story, or volunteer.
