Washington D.C. | January 25, 2007 | Three leading Arab and Muslim American advocacy organizations have joined together to take action and voice their opposition over the decision of ABC’s “Good Morning America” to hire Glenn Beck.
The executive leadership of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Arab American Institute (AAI), and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) sent a letter to ABC/Disney expressing dismay and requesting a meeting to discuss their concerns. They have also each launched membership action campaigns, through which supporters have been calling and emailing ABC News to express dismay over “Good Morning America’s” decision.
During his tenure at CNN Headline News and as a talk-radio host, Beck has demonstrated an obvious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice in his broadcasts through threats and blatantly inaccurate statements.
“[Glenn Beck’s] addition to ‘Good Morning America’ would disseminate his prejudiced, openly-hostile and ignorant commentary to an even broader national audience, and diminish the credibility of your reputable and highly-rated news show,” said the organizations’ letter to ABC/Disney. “To provide a platform for his hateful speech is dangerous and irresponsible, and we strongly and urgently implore you to reconsider this move.”
ABC News has initially responded to the organizations and expressed willingness to discuss their concerns, although it added that it does still intend to hire Beck.
A list of some of the disturbing comments made by Beck during his television and radio broadcasts as well as the full text of the organizations’ letter to The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger, ABC News President David Westin, and “Good Morning America” Senior Executive Producer Jim Murphy is available online at https://www.adc.org/index.php?id=3037.
The media contact information for ADC, AAI, and MPAC is:
Laila Al-Qatami: laila@adc.org, ADC, (202) 244-2990, www.adc.org
Jenn Kauffman: jkauffman@aaiusa.org, AAI, (202) 429-9210, www.aaiusa.org
Edina Lekovic: Communications@mpac.org, MPAC, (213) 383-3443, www.mpac.org