Rabbi sends unity message
After losing his KUTR show, he hosts event to boost evacuees
Boteach, a New Jersey author and talk show host dismissed from KUTR-AM 820 last weekend, still hosted a two-hour program he hoped would bring together evacuees and the Utah community to show that they, who are mostly black, were welcome in the white-bread Beehive State.
"The purpose of tonight's event was so people would know it's not the government superimposing on people who don't want you," he told about a dozen evacuees and about 50 other audience members, praising Utah's generosity.
The event included a diverse discussion.
A panel of evacuees living at Camp Williams described the horrors of the hurricane's aftermath, expressed thanks for Utah's welcome, and asked questions — and got answers — about rules at the military barracks. Several indicated a desire to make Utah their home.
A Utah resident on the panel said blacks do not have the political or economic access the majority community has, and that Utah is 15 to 20 years behind cultural sensitivity levels of San Diego and New York.
Boteach believes his show was removed because Friday's broadcast included some of the same lines of discussion and because he planned the Salt Lake event on his own and not through the radio station.
Rod Arquette, vice president of news and programming for Bonneville Salt Lake radio stations, which include KUTR, said the decision was based on what works for the brand new station geared toward women.
"We're looking at all the shows constantly" on every station, Arquette said. "I think Shmuley is very bright, very intelligent, and a very compelling talk show host. But as we looked at it, it just didn't seem to fit with what we were trying to do."
Still, Wednesday's event might be broadcast.
A camera crew from The Learning Channel, home to Boteach's new TV show on family relationships, filmed the event.
"I'm leaving," he told attendees. "So turn us all on. The eyes of the country all are on you. . . . see nothing but the spark of God (in others)."
E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com
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