This article was first Published on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at – :
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2008/02/cair-hate-hurts-america.html
Mike Ghouse :: I am pleased to see that the corporations understand the social responsibility and encourage those who promote peace. Something must be done to discourage hate speech without curbing the freedom of speech. The Muslims in Canada and the United States have done well in self-regulating the hate sermons from their pulpits and hope Muslims around the globe realize their own faith and that hate should have no place in religion or religious activity. I commend CAIR’s efforts in contributing to peace in America.
Hate Hurts America Campaign
SAM’S CLUB DROPS ‘SAVAGE NATION’ RADIO SPOTS
Growing list of companies reject host’s rhetoric
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/15/08) – The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition (HHA) today announced that Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart and one of the nation’s largest warehouse clubs, has joined a growing list of companies that have stopped advertising or refuse to place their ads on Michael Savage’s “Savage Nation” radio program.
HHA, a group of religious and civic organizations seeking to challenge hate speech on talk radio, was formed as a result of Savage’s rhetorical attacks on religious and ethnic minorities. Coalition members are calling on advertisers nationwide to stop airing commercials on his nationally-syndicated program.
SEE: Hate Hurts America
Advertisers that have already stopped airing or refuse to air commercials on “Savage Nation” include ITT Technical Institute, Chattem, Inc. (owners of Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and Selsun Blue), Union Bank of California, Intuit (parent company of TurboTax and QuickBooks), and GEICO Insurance, US Cellular, Sprint Nextel, Sears, Universal Orlando Resorts, AutoZone, Citrix, TrustedID, JCPenney, OfficeMax, Wal-Mart, and AT&T.
Late last year, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on radio listeners of all faiths to contact Savage’s advertisers to express their concerns about the host’s anti-Muslim bigotry. CAIR is a member of the Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition.
SEE ALSO: National Radio Host Goes on Anti-Muslim Tirade (CAIR)
Savage has a long history of rhetorical attacks on a variety of minority groups. He says he has lost at least $1 million in revenue because of the advertiser campaign.
For example, last month Savage said on air: “Bring them in by the millions. Bring in 10 million more from Africa. Bring them in with AIDS. Show how multicultural you are. They can’t reason, but bring them in with a machete in their head. Go ahead. Bring them in with machetes in their mind.”
SEE: Michael Savage (Media Matters)
The Hate Hurts America Community and Interfaith Coalition includes public officials and civil rights advocates, as well as representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Latino, and Asian communities.