>>9562751 PB
>>9563079 LB
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/04/sahan-la-raza-radio-relaunches-days-after-burning-down-during-george-floyd-protests
When studios of La Raza radio, one of two Spanish-language broadcasters in the Twin Cities, went up in flames in violent protests over the death of George Floyd, Latinos lost an important source of information about the demonstrations, the COVID pandemic and other important issues.
Broadcasters kept their social media channels churning, however, and despite the destruction of most of their equipment they were back on the air only one week later.
For the time being, La Raza will be using a studio in Minneapolis-based community radio station KFAI until it reestablishes its own space in the near future, according to station owner Maya Santamaria. Santamaria credited her staff and, particularly, General Manager Armando Quintero for the rapid turnaround.
“We lost our music, we lost our programming, we lost our simian [broadcasting software],” Santamaria said. “So to pull this off is truly a feat.”
La Raza, which was established in 2005, can be heard at 95.7 FM, 1400 AM and 1470 AM frequencies throughout the metro area. It operated in the century-old International Order of Odd Fellows building on Lake Street and 27th Avenue South.
The building, which also housed El Nuevo Rodeo restaurant and club, was lost to arson on the same night protesters burned down the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct Station following the police killing of George Floyd.
Jessica Acevedo, who hosts an afternoon variety show that includes music, news and entertainment, was in the station’s building with two others Wednesday night as the police precinct started to burn.
As they reported from the roof surveying the situation at around 10 p.m., Acevedo says they heard a noise resembling a bomb-like explosion on the first floor.
“I don’t know where it came from,” said Acevedo, who hosts her show under the moniker “La Trompudita.”
She and the two others took the fire exit stairs from the radio station’s fourth floor headquarters and saw smoke coming from the restaurant.
The building housing La Raza burnt down around 2:30 Thursday morning. Santamaria said she doesn’t know who is responsible for starting the fire.