Uhuru candidate protests Fox29, wants into mayoral debate
Diop Olugbala, a.k.a Wali Rahman, just wrapped up a protest outside Fox29's television studios on Market Street. Olugbala, a member of the International Peoples' Democratic Uhuru Movement, is on the Nov. 8 general election ballot as an independent candidate for mayor. He wants to participate in the debate Fox29 will tape Tuesday to air on Friday.
Uhuru candidate protests Fox29, wants into mayoral debate
Chris Brennan
Diop Olugbala, a.k.a Wali Rahman, just wrapped up a protest outside Fox29's television studios on Market Street. Olugbala, a member of the International Peoples' Democratic Uhuru Movement, is on the Nov. 8 general election ballot as an independent candidate for mayor. He wants to participate in the debate Fox29 will tape Tuesday to air on Friday.
Olugbala says Fox29 has not responded to his request. He added that the station sent out a security guard to greet his protest. The guard gave Olugbala some phone numbers he could call to contact station officials.
"I represent an entirely different kind of politics that needs to be heard," Olugbala told us.
Getting into the debate isn't the only fight on Olugbala's hands this week. He circulated nominating petitions using his legal name, Wali Rahman, but asked a Common Pleas Court judge to issue an order changing that to Olugbala on the ballot. That request was denied last week and again this week. Olugbala said he may appeal.
Olugbala was arrested in March 2009 for scuffling with police while protesting at a budget address in City Council's chambers by Mayor Nutter. He was sentenced in October to two years on probation and anger management classes.
UPDATE, 2:50 pm: A Fox spokeswoman in New York just emailed us this statement: “Diop Olugbala will not be a part of FOX 29's mayoral debate.”
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Hmm, perhaps we should vote for him, I only need one more reason to leave this city. He might be doing me a favor.— MotorCityN8
Let him in to the debate. It would be fun to watch.- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Is the Uhuru movement any relation to the Pastafarians? I hear their Pirate Party did well in Europe.— psyrus
- Olugbala has alot of impressive credentials and a solid platform for his campaign for mayor. Lets see, he's black.......uh, uhm, well, I guess that sums it up. If you dont vote for him, you racist!— s1360m
- If the Tea Party is allowed to run candidates as independents for office, then why can't Uhuru? Both are equally irrelevant, misguided, racist and represent the most fringe of their main demographic. I see absolutely no difference.— Whatjugot
- The Tea Party runs their candidates through the Republican Party, so its not an apples for apples comparison. Just get over it that most people only want to hear from real candidates — s1360m
- I didn't imply that people want fringe candidates. I personally don't want to hear from fringe candidates, so Mr. Olugbala isn't someone I have much sympathy for. My point is that if fringe Tea Party candidates are being given legitimacy in the process then why wouldn't this guy? Tea Party, Uhuru... two fringe groups with little coherence, blatantly racist views, and absolutely no concept of how to lead in American government. — Whatjugot
- Whatjugot - He is on the ballot - He just wants to be part of the debate now.— mikegdj
He sounds more valid than the Rhino they have running versus Nutter.— tiger- He sounds more valid than the Rhino they have running versus Nutter.— tiger
- He should go back to Olugbala Land and run for King! Or maybe have a mental checkup!— thepaguy
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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