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Southern California shock jocks, Jon Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI-AM’s afternoon drive time the “Jon and Ken Show” have become the targets of a powerful Latino coalition. The nationally-syndicated show with one of the largest audiences in the country is infamous for its hosts’ anti-immigrant rants. On September 1st, the eve of a pivotal vote in the state assembly on the California Dream Act, the duo targeted Jorge-Mario Cabrara of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA. The two have long railed against the California Dream Act, but that afternoon they gave out Cabrera’s phone number, listed on a CHIRLA press release and encouraged listeners to call him, angry that CHIRLA planned a celebration if the legislation passed. Cabrera, a seasoned activist, received over 400 phone calls, many of them using demeaning and intimidating language. The LA Times reports Cabrera was told, “I hope somebody shoots you”, and “[w]e don’t want your people here,” among other insults. A dozen groups have come together to fight back, proposing a boycott of the show’s sponsors if a meeting with Clear Channel on Thursday doesn’t result in the end of the John and Ken show. Included in the campaign is the National Hispanic Media Coalition, partly responsible for the successful campaign against CNN’s Lou Dobbs. Meanwhile AB 131, which Jon and Ken were discussing, passed the California legislature and now awaits a signature by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill is part 2 of a two part piece of legislation which allows students to apply for state loans and grants. Brown signed AB 130, the first part of the bill, this past July.

GUESTS: Jorge-Mario Carbrera, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles; Alex Nogales, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition

Find out more at www.nhmc.org and www.chirla.org.