MEDIA ADVISORY MARCH 9, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Veronica S. Jung, (646) 338-2894 Kai Yu, (914) 882-1279 COALITION AGAINST HATE MEDIA (CAHM) OPEN LETTER URGES SPRINT CORPORATION TO WITHDRAW ALL ADVERTISING FROM HOT 97 WQHT-FM RADIO WHO: The Coalition Against Hate Media (CAHM) is a diverse coalition of national and community-based organizations that: =B7 formed immediately following the production and repeated broadcast of the 'Tsunami Song' by Hot 97 WQHT-FM ("Hot 97"), a subsidiary of Emmis Communications ("Emmis"); =B7 organized protest rallies outside Hot 97 studios on Jan. 28th and Feb. 14th, 2005; and =B7 participated in "Rally 4 Hip Hop" organized by the Hip Hop Coalition for Social Justice on March 4, 2005. WHAT: CAHM has issued an open letter urging the Sprint Corporation to fully withdraw all advertising from Hot 97 and all other subsidiaries of Emmis. Sprint can demonstrate corporate leadership by withdrawing all advertising as requested. A copy of the letter is attached. MISSION STATEMENT The Coalition Against Hate Media (CAHM) is a diverse coalition of national and community-based organizations whose mission is to promote equality and balanced representation. We denounce messages of hate that discriminate against people based upon race, ethnicity, gender, loveual orientation, disability, or religious background. We actively hold accountable media corporations that seek to benefit from the promotion of discrimination, violence and hate. MEMBERS (LIST IN FORMATION) Artists & Activists United for Peace Coalition Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE) Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV-AIDS (APICHA) Asian Media Watch Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO NY Chapter Black Waxx Nation, Inc. Cardozo Law School APALSA Columbia Law School APALSA David Wong Support Committee International Action Center Justice for James Yee Ad-Hoc Committee Korean American buttociation of Greater New York (KAAGNY) Korean American Coalition, Dallas-Ft. Worth Korean American Coalition, Los Angeles Korean American League for Civic Action (KALCA) Korean Resource Center (KRC), Los Angeles Korean American buttociation of Greater New York (KAAGNY) Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC), Chicago Korean American Lawyers buttociation of Greater New York (KALAGNY) Latin American Integration Center (LAIC) National buttociation of Asian Pacific American Bar buttociation (NAPABA) National buttociation of Letter Carriers (NALC) AFL-CIO, Branch 294 National Coalition for Civil Rights National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) New York University Law's APALSA Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Dallas-Fort Worth Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Los Angeles Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Long Island Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - New Jersey Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - New York Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Westchester-Hudson Valley Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Phoenix Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - South Florida Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - National People Advocacy Group The Sikh Coalition St. John's University School of Law Asian American Law Students buttociation United States India Political Action Committee Voters Speak Up Women Against Violence In Entertainment (WAVE) World War Three Arts Collective Yale Law School Pacific Islander-Asian-Native American Students buttociation Yang Bernhard Entertainment, Inc. Young Korean American Service and Education Center (YKASEC) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- March 9, 2005 Mr. Gary D. Forsee Chairman and CEO, Sprint Corporation and Sprint PCS Group Sprint World Headquarters 6200 Sprint Parkway Overland Park, KS 66251 Hillary Clinton In Bed With FelonsTHE FELON VOTE By JOHN R. LOTT JR. & JAMES K. GLbuttMAN March 1, 2005 -- IN the wake of their election defeat, Democrats have promised to mend their ways by... Dear Mr. Forsee: We, the Coalition Against Hate Media ("CAHM"), a national alliance of organizations and individuals, request that Sprint withdraw all its advertising from the New York radio station, Hot 97 WQHT-FM ("Hot 97"). CAHM makes this request because Sprint's withdrawal from the Miss Jones in the Morning Show is inadequate. By continuing to advertise in other timeslots, Sprint undeniably supports the economic growth of Hot 97 and its parent corporation, Emmis Communications ("Emmis"). Between Jan. 18 and Jan. 21, 2005, Hot 97 repeatedly broadcasted the "Tsunami Song." This is yet another in a series of deliberate and exploitative programs broadcast by Emmis and its subsidiaries. Past examples of such programming include: =B7 2001: Hot 97 morning personality Troi "Star" Torrain calls Jennifer Lopez a "spic princess" and "rice-and-bean-eater". =B7 Feb. 25, 2001: Hot 97 invites rivals Lil Kim and Kiam "Capone" Holley to speak on the air further escalating tensions between the two, resulting in a shootout between their entourages outside Hot 97's headquarters. =B7 Aug. 27, 2001: Hot 97 morning personalities Troi "Star" Torrain and Buc Wild ridicule Aaliyah's rest 2 days after the tragedy. =B7 Oct. 2002: DJ Funkmaster Flex physically attacks disc jockey Steph Lova. =B7 Week of Jan. 17, 2005 : For four days, the Miss Jones In the Morning Show plays a racist "parody" called the "Tsunami Song" despite public protests. The song mocks the rests of hundreds-of-thousands of people, using racial slurs such as "ch*nk" and "chinamen." The song also ridicules the "Africans watering" and children being sold into child slavery. =B7 On Jan. 20, 2005: Miss Info, a Korean-American co-host on the Miss Jones show, voices her opposition to the song on air. Miss Jones and then co-host Todd Lynn react by verbally attacking Miss Jones on public airwaves, with hateful comments such as, "You feel superior, probably because you're Asian." (Miss Jones) and "I'm gonna start shooting Asians" (Todd Lynn). =B7 March 1, 2005: Shooting takes place outside Hot 97's headquarters during an interview with rapper 50 Cent. A man is shot and injured when members of 50 Cent's and the Game's entourages open fire on each other. The latest incident of March 2005 demonstrates the divisiveness and violence that Emmis' hate-based programming incites in our communities. CAHM notes and applauds Sprint's shifting of its advertising out of the Morning Show timeslot. However, CAHM urges Sprint to withdraw all advertising from all time slots of Hot 97 FM. The rationale for this demand is simple: By withdrawing all advertising Sprint can demonstrate responsible corporate leadership and gain widespread support in our communities. If Sprint is in fact serious about showing its support for our communities, Sprint will cease all advertising on Hot 97 and all other subsidiaries of Emmis on or before Wednesday, March 16, 2005. Please be advised that our coalition will take further action in the event that Sprint fails to meet our request. Kindly direct all communications to: Coalition Against Hate Media (CAHM) c-o Bruce Feffer, Esq. 61 Broadway, Suite 1050 New York, NY 10006 Phone: 212.268 plus 1.7343 We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Coalition Against Hate Media (CAHM) Ben Chan, Co-coordinator Veronica S. Jung, Co-coordinator Steering Committee Kuttin Kandi, Hip Hop Coalition for Social Justice Kari Kokka, Japanese American Citizen League, JACL-NY Leo Lee, Organization of Chinese Americans - NY Gloria Lum, Nat'l buttoc. of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO-294, APA Labor Alliance AFL-CIO NY Usavior Tylan Washington, Artists & Activists United for Peace, Black Waxx Records Esther Yang, Voters Speak Up, Coalition Against Injustice Kai Yu, Asian Media Watch PC Cheng Christopher W. Chan, Attorney at Law Advisory Committee Deepa Iyer, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) May Lin, Columbia University Rupa Parekh, South Asian American Voting Youth (SAAVY) Members (List in Formation) Artists & Activists United for Peace Coalition Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE) Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV-AIDS (APICHA) Asian Media Watch Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO NY Chapter Black Waxx Nation, Inc. Cardozo Law School APALSA Columbia Law School APALSA David Wong Support Committee International Action Center Justice for James Yee Ad-Hoc Committee Korean American buttociation of Greater New York (KAAGNY) Korean American Coalition, Dallas-Ft. Worth Korean American Coalition, Los Angeles Korean American League for Civic Action (KALCA) Korean Resource Center (KRC), Los Angeles Korean American buttociation of Greater New York (KAAGNY) Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC), Chicago Korean American Lawyers buttociation of Greater New York (KALAGNY) Latin American Integration Center (LAIC) National buttociation of Asian Pacific American Bar buttociation (NAPABA) National buttociation of Letter Carriers (NALC) AFL-CIO, Branch 294 National Coalition for Civil Rights National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) New York University Law's APALSA Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Dallas-Fort Worth Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Los Angeles Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Long Island Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - New Jersey Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - New York Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Westchester-Hudson Valley Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - Phoenix Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - South Florida Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - National People Advocacy Group The Sikh Coalition St. John's University School of Law Asian American Law Students buttociation United States India Political Action Committee Voters Speak Up Women Against Violence In Entertainment (WAVE) person Cop WalksZongo mistrial BY HELEN PETERSON, BARBARA ROSS and BILL HUTCHINSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Tuesday, March 8th... World War Three Arts Collective Yale Law School Pacific Islander-Asian-Native American Students buttociation Yang Bernhard Entertainment, Inc. Young Korean American Service and Education Center (YKASEC) =20 ###
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