LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Democracy
Now! on February 19, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and
character of life in this great Empire State is indelibly enriched by
the faithful and untiring efforts of those news programs which have
helped shape the history of broadcasting in their area; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 20th Anniversary of Democracy Now! on Friday, February 19,
2016; and
WHEREAS, Democracy Now! is a daily progressive, non-profit, independ-
ently syndicated news hour which airs on more than 1,400 radio, tele-
vision, satellite and cable TV networks around the globe; the program is
funded entirely through contributions from listeners, viewers, and foun-
dations, and does not accept advertisers, corporate underwriting, or
government funding; and
WHEREAS, Founded by progressive journalists, Amy Goodman, Juan Gonza-
lez, Larry Bensky, Salim Muwakkil, and Julie Drizin, Democracy Now! went
on air for the first time on the eve of the New Hampshire Primary on
February 19, 1996, at WBAI-FM in New York City; the program was
originally aired on five Pacifica Radio stations; and
WHEREAS, Amy Goodman serves as the program's principal host, with Juan
Gonzalez as frequent co-host; Jeremy Scahill, an investigative reporter
for The Nation, has been a frequent contributor since 1997; and
WHEREAS, After they left WBAI Studios, Amy Goodman brought the program
to the Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV) located in a
converted firehouse building in New York City's Chinatown, where the
program began to be televised; and
WHEREAS, In November of 2009, Democracy Now! left their broadcast
studio, and moved to a repurposed graphic arts building in the Chelsea
District of Manhattan; in 2010, the new 8500-square-foot studio became
the first radio or television studio in the Nation to receive LEFD
Platinum certification, the highest rating awarded by the United States
Green Building Council; and
WHEREAS, Democracy Now! focuses on issues considered underreported or
ignored by mainstream news coverage; the program began broadcasting on
television every weekday shortly after September 11, 2001; Democracy
Now! was the closest national broadcast to Ground Zero, reporting live
for eight hours; and
WHEREAS, The program's first 10 to 15 minutes, called the "War and
Peace Report", are translated daily into Spanish, and the Democracy Now!
Website is also available in the language; and
WHEREAS, Democracy Now! is the flagship program of the Pacifica Radio
network which airs simultaneously on satellite, cable television, radio,
and the internet; the television simulcast airs on Public-access tele-
vision stations, by satellite on Free Speech TV and Link TV, and free-
to-air on C Band; in addition, the program is on the Internet as down-
loadable and streaming audio and video; and
WHEREAS, Throughout two decades of service to the public, Democracy
Now! and its staff have been the recipients of numerous awards and
accolades including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio and
Television, the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary "Drill-
ing and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship"; in addition,
Amy Goodman with Allan Nairn won the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial's First
Prize in International Radio for their 1993 report, "Massacre: The Story

of East Timor"; in October 1, 2008, Amy received the 2008 Right Liveli-
hood Award for her years of work establishing Democracy Now!; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, Democracy Now! has interviewed several
notable guests such as Alan Dershowitz, Norman G. Finkelstein, Alan
Greenspan, Arundhati Roy, Bill Clinton, and Bill Moyers, as well as
Cornel West; and
WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, Democracy Now!
can look back with great pride upon its humble beginnings; taking just
satisfaction in its purposeful growth, it will continue its mission,
devoting its talent and unique services to enriching the cultural spirit
of the public it has served so faithfully for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Democracy Now! has served its community with integrity and
devotion, continuously striving to meet the needs of its listeners
through entertainment and enlightenment; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body would like to extend its highest
commendation to Democracy Now! in recognition of its history of achieve-
ment, innovation and service to its community and the State of New York;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Democracy Now! on February 19, 2016;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Democracy Now!.