Silencing dissent in Monrovia

• Published in: San Gabriel Valley tribune (West Covina, Calif.)
• Main Authors: Kemp, Cyrus, Parry, Robert C J, Walker, Ralph
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: West Covina, Calif Los Angeles Newspaper Group 09.12.2008
• Subjects: Kemp, Cyrus; Parry, Robert T; Walker, Ralph

Earlier this year, Mr. [Cyrus Kemp] applied to join the Community Emergency Response Team, a group of Monrovians trained and ready to act in a catastrophe. Fire Chief Chris Donovan ruled Mr. Kemp's service unwanted. In the event of disaster, Monrovians will be better off without his help. Surely it is a coincidence that he was recently described by Mayor Rob Hammond as "the one person in Monrovia whose phone calls and e-mails I will not return." Surely it had nothing to do with his frequent trips to the council podium to rail against waste, abuse and inefficiency. Mr. [Ralph Walker], moderator of the public-access television show "Beyond the Headlines," fearlessly explores the issues of the day with journalists, politicians and government officials. The one person he has been prohibited from having on his show is Mr. [Robert Parry], a man well known for speaking his mind and directly challenging the council. Mr. Walker has been told in no uncertain terms that Mr. Parry is not to appear on this "public access" show.