Protest Rally Targets KDHX Leadership at Its Doorstep

The Grand Center building that houses KDHX (88.1 FM) saw a crowd gathered outside its doors on Thursday evening, as a group critical of the station's leadership hoisted protest signs and waved to the steady stream of passing cars that honked in approval. The gathering was billed as a rally to support the DJs who still remain at the station following a year of turmoil. It took place during the community radio station's annual associates meeting, which was happening just inside.

The crowd of approximately 60 people — and one nice dog named Dinah, who was wearing a sweater — gathered at 5:30 p.m. for the rally, which lasted about two hours. According to Francine Case, an attendee who provided many of the signs at the scene, the group's goal is to see Board President Gary Pierson and Executive Director Kelly Wells removed from their positions, and for the station's ousted DJs to be reinstated.

Case said she and her husband had been longtime supporters of KDHX, but that they've been withholding donations for the past year in the wake of the firing of longtime DJ Tom "Papa" Ray.

"We stopped donating as soon as Tom Ray was fired, because who fires somebody who's a founding member — over Zoom?" Case explained. "We were in shock. We had just donated our car that day, actually."

RFT photographer Zachary Linhares was on the scene to document the event. Scroll on to see the photos he brought back.