On Tuesday, June 9 at 1 PM MDT during The Rapture with Nichole Marie, Radio Boise will join 100+ community radio stations nationwide to play Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” in commemoration of George Floyd’s life.
Floyd’s murder at the hands of law enforcement in Minneapolis, MN on Monday, May 25 has been the focus of international vigils and protests. Many communities are struggling with the issues raised by his death, including racial injustice and police misconduct.
This remembrance was organized by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB). “As our country deals with the hurt and outrage of what happened to George Floyd [and others], these stations are standing together to speak as a unified voice for change, justice and love,” said NFCB Program Director Ernesto Aguilar.
“Community radio at its best orbits around the art of listening every day,” said Jessica Evett, Radio Boise General Manager. “There have been a lot of signs of support to mark this period in our nation’s history, and this nationwide remembrance in particular for me also points out that we’ve been here before.”
Participating stations coast-to-coast will be broadcasting Sam Cooke’s Civil Rights anthem at the same time, as George Floyd is laid to rest in his hometown of Houston, TX. Cooke wrote and recorded “A Change is Gonna Come” after being turned away from a then White-only motel in 1963.
Evett noted, “I’m cautiously optimistic that the individual and organizational commitments to do the work required to be anti-racist I’m seeing from people here in Idaho are authentic and lasting. Voices advocating for change, justice and love are part of the human experience and community radio is a powerful platform for that expression. The silencing of those voices through acts of violence, intimidation or apathy throughout society needs to end.”
The region’s only non-profit, free-form station, KRBX Radio Boise provides over 65 live and local music and public affairs programs each week. To listen, tune into 89.9 FM (across the Treasure Valley), 93.5 FM (in Downtown Boise) or visit radioboise.org (for worldwide streaming).
