Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990 TAG: 9004240648
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: BEN BEAGLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We are here to complain about the coverage of Lyndon LaRouche," said Phillip Valenti, the demonstration's organizer.
Valenti, who said he is from Pennsylvania, said he is a LaRouche volunteer who came to the Roanoke Valley when asked by people who were "frightened."
The cause for the fright, he said, is a 77-year sentence given LaRouche fund-raiser Michael Billington.
Judge Clifford Weckstein followed the sentencing recommendation of a Roanoke County Circuit Court jury last December in sentencing Billington for securities fraud.
The LaRouche people have said the sentence was excessive.
That trial, and several others for LaRouche associates, were transferred to the Roanoke Valley from Northern Virginia because of heavy publicity in that part of the state.
Weckstein, several newspaper reporters and local politicians recently have been attacked in handbills from the LaRouche organization.
As they marched in a short circle on Campbell Avenue Southwest in front of the newspaper building, the picketers chanted slogans renewing the charges.
The charges include one that Weckstein is influenced by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith - which has published negative articles about the LaRouche organization, seen widely as an extremist group.
Valenti said this morning his group believes "the ADL has undue influence on your newspaper."
Once during the demonstration, one of the picketers yelled to cars waiting at a traffic light: "An honest reporter is as hard to find as an honest lawyer. Honk if you agree."
Somebody honked.
One of the signs carried by the picketers read: "Shame on Roanoke Times - Stop ADL Lies."
Forrest M. Landon, executive editor of the newspaper said: "We give a fair chance to everybody - including jailed fringe politicians and their followers."
Landon said he knows of no mistakes made in the coverage of LaRouche and his associates.
"We correct every mistake we make," Landon said. "All somebody has to do is write or phone us. They don't have to picket."
Original information on the picketing sent to the newspaper suggested that the demonstration would be on behalf of LaRouche supporter Nancy Spannaus. She has been unsuccessful in trying for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican U.S. Sen. John Warner.
Neither the chants nor the slogans mentioned Spannaus, but Valenti said the pickets represented her as a LaRouche supporter.
The pickets also carried the Virginia state flag, the U.S. flag and a replica of the Revolutionary War flag with a coiled snake and the legend: "Don't Tread On Me."
by CNB