Carl Haglund Foundation Issues Statement of Support for Cliff Mass

Organization says Mass was correct and should not be silenced 

SEATTLE, WA – The Carl Haglund Foundation sent a letter to KXKN station manager Joey Cohn lamenting the firing of meteorologist Cliff Mass. The letter in entirety is attached below. 

I am extremely disappointed that you have decided to act like the very mob Cliff Mass describes in his recent blog post. As the manager of a public radio station, you should be facilitating open dialogue, promoting dissenting and unpopular views, and protecting the men and women who are brave enough to speak up. As radio station manager, you occupy a place of privilege that requires a higher standard of conduct. Sometimes that conduct mandates taking a brave stand even if it might be harmful to your bottom-line in the short run. Instead, like so many of your colleagues wedded to social media, you have chosen the path of cowardice—firing Mr. Mass because the Twitter Mob demanded it. Firing him in the misguided belief you could appease the mob, sacrifice an innocent man, and in doing so, save yourself. 

As a man who actually read Mr. Mass’ blog, I was not remotely offended by anything he wrote. In fact, as a small business owner who was in Seattle on the night of the first riots, and saw firsthand the “brown shirt’ tactics of the rioters, I completely agreed with the analogy he drew. I will never forget the devastation to families, immigrants and small businesses of that night. The rioter were spewing racist and hateful dogma, encouraging others to destroy the businesses of people they did not like. When I spoke up, the mob turned on me and I was threatened. I am one of the lucky ones who survived that night without injury or loss of property. But let’s be honest. What Mr. Mass wrote in his blog is absolutely correct. Seattle does look like city just after Kristallnacht, the “night of broken glass.” And the rioter did behave just like the German anti-Jewish rioters of the 1930s. Mr. Mass had the courage to speak the truth. You fired him for it. 

Growing up in the Everett area in the 1960s, my mother taught us the importance of standing up for unpopular minorities and going out of our way to honor those who were subject to political community persecution. It was a time when tolerance towards others was just becoming part of the American dialogue. During my life, I have been more open about my ancestry and who I am as a person. I have chosen to speak up when I see injustice. Unfortunately, my mother’s fears were realized fifty years later when I became a victim of the very Seattle mob Mr. Mass describes. 

I started a small construction business in Seattle. Holding true to the lessons my mother taught me, I built housing for the working class, the poor, immigrants and built them in the most economically challenged neighborhoods of our community. I wanted to contribute to the diversity and equality of my Seattle. I am proud of the business I created. But that all came crashing down when I got caught in the crosshairs of Kshama Sawant, Nick Lacata and the angry, violent mob they control. My business was targeted. They sent hundreds of their followers to harass my tenants and staff. They came to my home to harass me. They held rallies and press conferences on my property—calling me vile names. They sent an army of bureaucrats to hurt my business. In essence, they acted exactly like the fascists Mr. Mass describes. 

In was not surprising then, that I could relate to every word Mr. Mass wrote. He spoke to me and my personal experience of living in fear in Seattle. This once flourishing city, teeming with tolerance, diversity and openness has descended into a place of fear, violence and repression. You sir, are contributing to that fear and oppression. You cowered before the mob instead of standing up for what is right. You sacrificed an innocent man to save yourself. You fed the intolerance of the mob by silencing dissent. 

As I close let me remind you of another lesson from 1930s Germany. Appeasement doesn’t work. Eventually, the mob will turn on you. It is my hope that thousands of people will rise up and join the boycott against your radio station. I know that I will never donate. I will encourage others to do the same. Maybe the Twitter mob will come for you just like you came for Mr. Mass. 

Sincerely,

Carl Haglund

Chairman, Carl Haglund Foundation

Owner, Columbia Modern Living

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