Immigrant Bashing on Talk Radio brings calls to Boycott Sponsors

Some groups that support immigrants are starting to fight back aginst the ignorance, intolerance and hate on some radio stations. They're even talking about boycotting the sponsors of immigrant bashing radio stations.

Hispanic News requested that other organizations join with Hispanic News in beginning a national boycott of anti-migrant conservative talk radio sponsors.

http://www.bluedogs.us/...

And New Jersey Immigrant leader threatened to boycott after a radio show promoted "la cucaracha gotha" campaign encouraging people to turn in undocumented residents.

http://www.northjersey.com/...

http://www.hispanictips.com/...

I guess there are those who think boycotts contribute to censorship. To be honest, I am very concerned with protection of free speech. But when you are being attacked (being call a cockroach) or there is vigilante justice directed at the Latin American community, maybe it's justified to defend yourself against the hate campaign. I don't think hate speech by private citizens should be censored, but we don't have to support those that financially support the hate speech.

I've been waiting for the progressive community to have as much fervor in defending the immigrants as the conservatives have in attacking them. 4% of the population of the U.S. is estimated to be undocumented. They're not just going away. They're part of what makes America great.

•  It's about time

  Colorado Media Matters did a petition drive last year against the anti-immigrant falsehoods being promoted by local radio host Peter Boyles, and later on ProgressNowAction promoted pressure against advertisers of another local radio host, "Gunny Bob" Newman, who demanded that the government require Muslims (citizens and non-citizens alike) wear GPS tracking devices.  Hopefully this kind of pressure can go nationwide, because honestly anti-immigrant nuttery is the bread and butter of right wing radio these days.

  by Colorado Luis on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 09:18:58 AM PDT

•  A boycott

  seems to be a mild reaction to this type of hate. It would be nice for a little leadership. I'm for free speech but these folks are yelling fire in a crowded theater.

  by Paul Ferguson on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 10:02:24 AM PDT

•  Hi there!

  Putting pressure on the sponsors of anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic RW radio talk shows is a great idea.

  I hope the leaders of this movement will consider focussing the pressure (i.e. boycotts) on one or two prominent sponsors, rather than distrubuting it across all sponsors large and small. Makes it easier to remember who we're boycotting, and easier to see the results. The radio stations will definitely get the message.

  I read up a little on the Blue Dogs of the Democratic Party, at the link provided in the diary. Disappointing to find that the organization opposes gay marriage and the right of women to control their own fertility. Honestly, my reaction is that it makes this part of the immigrant rights movement seem sentitive to the pain and injustice that it's own members experience, but uncaring about (or even in favor of) pain and injustice inflicted on others. Hard to see how the movement will win many allies that way.

  Nonetheless I will continue to support the immigrant rights movement, because it's just the right thing to do. Every step in the right direction helps the whole world.

  by DBunn on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 10:15:05 AM PDT

  •  Every Little Bit Helps...

    ...Perhaps just Latinos boycotting on thier own isn't enough, but in (independent) combination with outher organized boycotts and protests to sponsors.  Well...

    by redtravelmaster on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 10:27:22 AM PDT

•  sound like censorship to me

  by mike4bears on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 10:30:44 AM PDT

  •  clearly you have no idea

    what censorship is.

    by mariachi mama on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 10:39:41 AM PDT

  •  Boycotts are not censorship

     Censorhip is an action by the government to prohibit speech or publication.
     A boycott is an action by private citizens who decide individually or collectively not to patronize a business because of its policies or practices.
     When the government enacts a law prohibiting a radio host from using the word "ho" to describe women, it is censorhip.
     When citizens decide not to listen to that radio host or buy products from businesses advertising on that show, they are boycotting.
     Can people get carried away with boycotts?  Sure.  Does it have an air of "tyranny of the majority" about it? Sure.  Does that mean boycotts are always wrong?  Absolutely not.  At the very least, a boycott is a way a person can say, "I will not participate in this unjust practice or support teh expression of these unjust views.  I will not shut down the radio station, but I will not help it pay to be broadcast."

    by Augustine on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 11:16:02 AM PDT