630 WMAL Suspends Michael Graham

In a statement released last night, 630 WMAL president and general manager Chris Berry announced midday personality Michael Graham would be indefinitely suspended pending an internal investigation into Graham's July 25th remarks that Islam is a terrorist organization.

"Talk radio is an excellent forum to discuss issues important to our society. Nevertheless, the statements that Michael Graham made on July 25 crossed the line," Berry said. "He has been suspended pending an internal investigation. We do not condone his position, and we believe his statements were irresponsible."

Shortly after the second round of bombings in London last week, Graham began telling listeners Muslim leaders were complicit in terrorism, since they had not said or done enough to curb extremism.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a press release late Monday condemning Graham's remarks and urging the station to reprimand him. The station has received hundreds of emails and calls since then, both supporting and criticizing Graham.

Yesterday, CAIR and other American Muslim leaders gathered in Washington to announce a fatwah, or religious edict, against terrorism, citing criticisms that Muslim leaders had not said or done enough to curb extremism.

Well, well, well what did Michael say that upset CAIR?

Read what Michael has to say on his Blog...

A STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL GRAHAM:

My radio station, 630 WMAL, has publicly announced that I've been suspended by ABC (no doubt Ted Koppel and Peter Jennings are thrilled) and I am "under investigation" for my discussion on Islam and the tragedy of its current links to terror.

What exactly is I'm being "investigated" over, I have no idea. After all, everything I do, I do on the air in front of thousands of people. What's to investigate?

But I do know the one and only reason I've been suspended: CAIR.

As a talk show host, author and columnist, I've repeatedly criticized the current state of Islam and called for its reform. As for the "controversial" statement that "Sadly, as it is constituted today, Islam IS a terrorist organization, but the good news is that the major of Muslims--who don't support terror--can change that and take back their religion," I first made that statement on the air last Thursday.

Did I get suspended Thursday? No. Friday? No. Monday? No.

It wasn't until CAIR launched its campaign against me in the mainstream media and the story appeared in the Washington Post-Democrat that my job was threatened.

THIS IS THE KEY FACT: CAIR WANTS TO FIRE ME. AND RIGHT NOW, CAIR IS WINNING.

I've extended an invitation to Michael Graham to join us Monday on the show.

Here is The Washington Post account...

Radio talk-show host Michael Graham was suspended by station WMAL-AM yesterday for repeatedly describing Islam as a "terrorist organization" on his program.
more...
Graham, 42, said on his mid-morning program on Monday that the fault for recent acts of terrorism lies not with Islamic radicals alone but also with Muslims generally because religious leaders and followers have tacitly supported extreme elements. "The problem is not extremism," Graham told listeners. "The problem is Islam." He also said, "We are at war with a terrorist organization named Islam."
Read the rest of the article HERE.