FW: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott

-----Original Message-----
From: Green, Tonya [mailto:tgreen@novoste.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:08 PM
To: Alicia (E-mail); Alisa (E-mail); Dawn (E-mail); Kelsey (E-mail);
Lashun (E-mail); Nedra (E-mail); Rachelle (E-mail); Tanisha (E-mail);
Toshia (E-mail); Ted (E-mail); Green, Tracey; Brown, Contrina; Houston,
Brian; Jones, Alethia; Claiborne, Nona
Subject: FW: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott

Please read.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ford, Taras (MAN-Corporate) [mailto:Taras.Ford@cox.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:48 PM
To: 'tgreen@novoste.com'
Subject: FW: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott

< -----Original Message-----
< From: Maull, Robert (MAN-Corporate)
< Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:46 PM
< To: Ford, Taras (MAN-Corporate)
< Subject: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott
<
< Dear Mr. Johnson:
< <
< < We write as a follow up to the meeting held on
< < September 27, 2001. The Council of Presidents of
< < the African- American Greek Letter organizations
< < that consist of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha
< < Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
< < Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity,
< < Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho
< < Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Omega Psi
< < Phi Fraternity, collectively have over 1.4 Million
< < members. It is our intent to call for a national
< < boycott of Black Entertainment Television (BET).
< <
< < As discussed with you and your staff , we believe
< < that BET does not operate in the best interest of
< < the African American community. Your responses to
< < our concerns were not only unacceptable but were
< < also insulting. We raised concerns with you about
< < the type of videos shown on BET that have negative
< < influences on our community, particularly our youth.
< < We believe that these videos are an exploitation of
< < African American youth. We discussed with you our
< < concerns about BET's failure to advertise with and
< < support African American businesses and
< < institutions. BET's lack of reciprocity with the
< < African American community is woefully insensitive
< < and unfair. Further, we discussed with you that
< < BET's failure to communicate with community leaders
< < is unacceptable.
< <
< < Your response made it clear to us that your priority
< < is to increase profits without regard to the
< < negative impact on the African American community.
< < You made it clear that the concerns we raised would
< < not increase the profits of BET and therefore BET
< < would not alter its business practices or
< < programming to address these concerns.
< <
< < It is our intent to communicate this boycott to all
< < African-American organizations and seek their
< < support. Additionally, it is our intent to
< < communicate this boycott to Viacom and all BET
< < advertisers. This boycott shall remain in effect
< < until our concerns are satisfactorily resolved.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< <
< < Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq.
< < Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
< <
< < __________________________________
< < Harry E. Johnson, Sr.
< < General President Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Norma Solomon White Supreme Basileus Alpha Kappa
< < Alpha Sorority, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Howard L. Tutman Grand Polemarch Kappa Alpha Psi
< < Fraternity, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Gwendolyn E. Boyd National President Delta Sigma
< < Theta Sorority, Inc.
< < ___________________________________
< < Arthur R. Thomas, Esq.
< < National President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Barbara Carpenter, Ph.D.
< < National President Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Helen J. Owens International Grand Basileus Sigma
< < Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
< <
< < ___________________________________
< < Steve Birdine Grand Polaris Iota Phi Theta
< < Fraternity, Inc.
<
<
< =====
< Office of the District KRS
< Gregory E. Ackles, Sr.
< P.O. Box 1284
< Burlington, NJ 08016
< H: 609-835-9655, O: 609-532-3971
<
< Marvin C. Dillard, Asst DKRS, Home: 201-567-9819, Work: 732-420-3900
<
<
<