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The media are abuzz with news of radio talk show host Don Imus's latest racist-sexist comment, when he referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos".Freedom of speech is one thing; but should the First Amendment protect this kind of hate speech, racism, and sexism?
Lots of people are rising up and saying, "No!"
That includes the National Organization for Women (NOW), which issued the following action alert by the group's president, Kim Gandy:
It's Time to Dump DonI'm not entirely convinced that Imus should lose his job for this. Yes, he's racist. Yes, he's offensive. Yes, his employer should ensure that he is publicly reprimanded. But he is known for his outrageous comments, and it's my understanding that this latest thing isn't unusual.
Does "Imus" rhyme with "Disgust"? Well, not quite. But it oughta.
I tuned in to the NCAA women's college basketball championships mostly to see a great game between Rutgers and Tennessee, but also to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Title IX, the law that required equal opportunities for women and girls in educational institutions, including sports as well as academics.
But on sports radio station WFAN in New York, and broadcast all over the country by CBS Radio and MSNBC Television, host Don Imus wasn't talking about the game. He was talking about the players, and so was WFAN's Executive Producer Bernard McGuirk, who called the Rutgers players "hard-core hos."
Imus, who had already commented that the players were "rough girls," added "nappy-headed hos" to his description of the second place team in the country. Read the transcript or watch the video.
Take action by sending messages to General Manager Chuck Bortnick of radio station WFAN, which produces Imus' show, to Karen Mateo, Communications VP of CBS Radio which owns WFAN, and to MSNBC television which airs and promotes the show.
Your message to WFAN, CBS Radio and MSNBC? Tell them "You don't have to let Don Imus keep peddling racism and sexism on your airwaves. It's time to Dump Don!"
You can use our letter, modify our letter, or write one of your own.
If you also want to call your local station, you can find the stations that carry Imus in the Morning.
Thanks for taking action with NOW!
But what kind of role model is Imus setting for any young people who might hear his show?
So, has he finally crossed the line?
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