ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Protestors are keeping the pressure on a Twin Cities radio station that aired in March a parody song called "30 Hmongs in a house."
A group of of 9 individuals from the Hmong and allied communities entered the home of Clear Channel Communications, demanding to speak with executive. Instead, the protestors claim they were denied a meeting and removed from the premises by police and security officers.
The 9 were part of a larger group of dozens of protestors that rallied in front of KDWB FM Friday morning demanding that the station take responsibility for the song that aired March 22nd, a segment they call "an intolerable racist joke."
KDWB released a statement that reads "We fully support the rights under the first amendment of individuals to gather together and to express their thoughts and opinions. We share a committment to racial justice."
"The March 22nd song segment in no way reflects the values and viewpoints of our station or individual KDWB personnel," the statement continued. "We are reaching out and engaging directly with members of the Hmong community, as well as with other community leaders to make things right."
The rally, organized by TakeAction Minnesota's Hmong Organizing Program and others, was held to encourage KDWB to consider five requests. Among them are the firing of morning show co-host Steve LaTart, known as Steve O on the Dave Ryan morning show.
The Facebook page for The Dave Ryan in the Morning Show was filled in the hours following the protest with a running dialogue from both protestors and supporters of the show.
Other requests from the group include prohibiting offensive anti-ethnic and racist commentary; requiring annual diversity training for employees; requiring community service in the Hmong community; and dedicating airtime to discuss the matter and educate listeners about the Hmong culture.
"KDWB's on-air apology isn't enough," said Hmong Organizing Program leader Sandy-Ci in a released statement. "What's critical is that KDWB change its policies about what's fair game for on-air entertainment. Pushing hurtful, inaccurate ethnic stereotypes, in this case about the Hmong community, is racism. It's not entertainment."
Protestors filmed the encounter and will be making the raw footage available on the TakeAction Minnesota website and on the YouTube channel "BLintheWorld."
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