Uncommon Meeting of Diverse People

In an uncommon commercial-free broadcast Sunday, KABC-TV Channel 7 allowed diverse people who are typically separated by neighborhood, race, ethnicity and class to talk live and uncensored to each other. The program, “Together: Neighbor to Neighbor--A Town Hall Gathering,” was a public service worthy of salute, and worth repeating.

Television has the technological sophistication to link the world. This powerful medium, however, has rarely used its broad reach in pursuit of discourse by ordinary people.

Sunday’s TV program grew out of Mayor Tom Bradley’s “Neighbor to Neighbor” campaign, which was formed in an effort to keep the peace in the aftermath of last spring’s riots. In giving the effort electronic breadth and reach, KABC--through a team of reporters and executive producers who mirrored the Latino, African-American, Asian and Caucasian diversity of this city--executed the town hall concept superbly.

For three hours the station linked working men and women, former gang members, parents and children with experts and community leaders at seven locations: Hollywood, South Los Angeles, Koreatown, East Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, the Pico-Union area and West Los Angeles.

They focused on justice, public safety, crime, education and the economy. Among the most heated debates: school board member Leticia Quezada and a leader from the San Fernando Valley on the proposed breakup of the school district.

President Clinton sent a message. So did actor/activist Edward James Olmos. Mayor Bradley spoke. So did Rebuild L.A. Co-chair Peter V. Ueberroth, Supt. of Schools Sid Thompson and other leaders. But the big names participated without drowning out the people who rarely get on TV.

Mothers provided the most poignant moments. “My son was killed by another child,” Mildred Hilliard said tearfully. Her son, Demetrius Rice, was fatally shot this year in a Fairfax High classroom. She pleaded with all gang members, all “homies or whatever you call yourselves,” to stop harassing other children so that no youngster would ever again feel the need to take a gun to school for protection.

Another mother asked: “Where is the justice for my son?” Margaret Ensley’s son Michael was shot to death at Reseda High School. She asked why her son’s accused killer would be tried as a juvenile offender rather than as an adult subject to harsher penalties. Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti sympathized, but he explained that state law prohibits trying anyone younger than 16 as an adult.

Police Chief Willie L. Williams unfortunately wasn’t there; however, he was represented, and last Friday he participated in a discussion, before an audience, broadcast on Continental Cablevision and KFI radio.

KABC and other broadcasters are to be commended for these electronic meetings. Every station in this region owes its viewers no less.