DEFEND OUR AMERICAN VALUES: TELL THESE COMPANIES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BIGOTRY AND FEAR-MONGERING BY PUBLICLY REPUDIATING CALLS TO STOP ADVERTISING DURING TLC’S “ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM”
To be delivered to: Kristen Kurtz, Media Relations Contact, SWEET’N LOW, William P. Lauder, CEO, CLINIQUE, William J. Gentner, CEO, JOHN FRIEDA HAIRCARE WORLDWIDE, Michael Duke, CEO, WAL-MART, K-MART, Robert F. Moran, CEO, PETSMART, James Dyson, CEO, DYSON VACUUMS, Steven C. Lieberman, VP & Managing Director, AMWAY, Carl Schlicker, CEO, STOP & SHOP, Jamie Dimon, CEO, JPMORGAN CHASE, Robert Dotson, CEO, T-MOBILE, HTC RADAR PHONE, CENTRUM, Frank Blake, CEO, HOME DEPOT, J. Clifford Hudson, CEO, SONIC, Glenn A. Britt, CEO, TIME WARNER CABLE, Adam Miller, Executive VP, Corporate Affairs, NBC NEWS, Lauren Knapp, Senior Vice President, NBC News Marketing & Communicaitons, NBC NEWS, PRO-ACTIV, AIRBORNE SUPPLEMENTS, THE LION KING, KETTLE CHIPS, TRUE BLUE TEST, KAYAK.COM, KAHLUA, TRUMOO, KINECT, Edmond J. English, CEO, BOB’S FURNITURE, FREE COUNTRY CLOTHING, NORTH SHORE/LIJ HOSPITAL and Melissa Danforth, Senior Director, Communications and Membership, LEAPFROG
•We the undersigned, as concerned Americans and as your consumers, call for your continued advertising support during TLC’s unscripted series, “All-American Muslim”.
•While no television program can possibly fully represent an entire community, “All-American Muslim’s” portrayal of five American families in Dearborn, Michigan has deeply positive repercussions and results - reinforcing shared values of family, friendship, community, and coexistence that are universal to all of us - whether we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or of any other belief system represented in the United States.
•We ask that you work to stand up against the bigots of the anti-Islam/Islamophobia industry, whose most concerning complaint is that the show is intent on humanizing American Muslims - as though humanization were not an American value.
•These bigoted viewpoints reek of self-interest, and far from represent the American mainstream, nor do they speak for any political party.
•The visible aim of those who have threatened the show’s supporters is to propagate hatred against fellow Americans because of their religious beliefs, while increasing the success of their own bigoted industries. Ultimately, it is these same critics who have often touted the question: “where are the mainstream Muslims?” We believe that “All-American Muslim” portrays just that - mainstream American Muslims - and that these critics should celebrate an effort like this, not condemn it. Yet their reactions leave no more proof necessary of their actual, hate-mongering intentions. And we believe that America and our American companies are above that.
•To date, Lowe’s has been the only company that has allegedly caved in to bigoted pressure, going on record to state that it would not continue to advertise during “All-American Muslim” because the TV show “did not meet its advertiser guidelines. [Lowe’s] will pull [its] advertising on shows if [it] learn[s] there are issues raised from a broad spectrum of customers and viewers who represent multiple perspectives, which Lowe’s understands was the case in this situation with this particular show.” As yet, it is unclear as to which “multiple perspectives” were represented in the complaints, and such information has not been made available to the public eye. This raises grave concerns about the integrity behind the decision.
•Lowe’s Chairman, Robert A. Niblock, recently pointed out that “while leadership is always important, it’s even more critical in challenging times.” He’s right. We ask that you show true leadership by ensuring that you do not cave in to support for this bigotry, and by letting the public know that your company will not bow to the demands of any bigoted interests, but will instead defend our cherished American values of pluralism, respect, a prevention of discrimination based on race and religion, and an openness to learn about the other without the flawed industries of fear, hatred, and intimidation reigning over us as a society.
•As concerned Americans and as your consumers, we request that you stand up for our American values, and fight back against bigotry and fear-mongering, by publicly repudiating calls to stop advertising during TLC’s “All-American Muslim”.
