RadioPoetics.org

An Eyewitness Account

By Anita Johnson (Hard Knock Radio - Producer and Host)

On August 20, 2008, at about 1pm, I am recording in the main production studio, on the first floor of KPFA Radio (94.1 FM) when suddenly I hear a loud commotion across the hall from the studio. I leave the studio to investigate and find out that the commotion is coming from across the hall in the Ujima Studio. I enter Ujima and see 2 police officers and KPFA unpaid producer Nadra Foster struggling. Nadra is asking the police, “Why are you doing this? Stop...”.The police say: “Calm down.” I ask: “What's happening?” That's when all three notice I am in the room. Nadra, asks me to help her. The police tell me to leave. They become increasingly violent towards Nadra. They are shoving her excessively, pushing and grabbing, hitting her arms and her legs, while talking to each other. I can’t hear what they are saying. One officer looks at me and tells me: “Leave the room.” I refuse and say to the police: “Stop and calm down!” When that doesn't work I say, to both the police and Nadra: “Wait and calm down.” Nadra again asks for help so I leave the studio to look for help. I go into the hall and scream for any KPFA staff located in the area to assist. I can't find anyone so I go back into Ujima to continue to be a witness.

When I return the police are still struggling with Nadra. They are trying to handcuff her and then throw her down on the concrete floor. The situation becomes very chaotic. Nadra is screaming: “Stop, HELP ME, get off me, I'm pregnant." One of the officers has his knee on her groin. Another one is pressing her arms against her chest and his full body weight is top of her. Nadra and the officers are rolling and struggling on the ground. Nadra is still screaming for help, and saying "Stop, I'm pregnant!" The police are screaming: “Calm down”… and mumbling but I can't hear the words. I’m in disbelief, stunned and shocked.

I again go out to the hallway screaming: "Help me, help me!" I notice some KPFA staff, in the nearby Engineering Dept. They appear to be listening but don’t leave the room nor respond to my cries for help.

Next I see at least 3 more police officers arrive and run into Ujima. I'm still screaming for help and crying and getting more hysterical as more police arrive and run into Ujima. It was, like, maybe, a total of 9.

At this point interim Program Director, Sasha Lilley appears. I ask her for help and say: “What is happening?" She says: "We called the police." I ask. “Why? Wasn’t there another option? You all could have talked to me." I’m hysterical, frustrated and feeling totally helpless. I again ask Sasha for help saying: “Someone needs to stop this.” Sasha says to the officers: "We don't want to press charges. Stop this."

The police continue their assault on Nadra who is still screaming and struggling. I attempt to re-enter Ujima but the police tell me: “Get out or you’ll be next!” One officer advises me that it is in my best interest to leave and to stop taking pictures.

I leave the studio but continue to take pictures on my cell phone from outside the studio. I still hear Nadra say: "I'm pregnant." There's a lot going on at this point but I can no longer see what is happening inside Ujima. I hear one officer say: "She's saying something about being pregnant but I don't know." I tell an officer who’s speaking to me: “Nadra is pregnant.” Then other officers say: "It’s been confirmed. She's pregnant...get..." I forget the exact word they used for the piece of equipment they were talking about but an officer leaves Ujima and comes back with a contraption that looks like a black straight jacket which they put on Nadra.