islamerica
1 Ummah under God
Advertisers back away from new reality show about Muslims at urging of conservative groups
By Meghan Keneally - 10th December 2011
A national hardware chain pulled its advertising from a planned reality show that depicts the lives of Muslims in America after folding under pressure from family groups.
Retail giant Lowe's announced Friday that it would not be advertising during the TLC show titled All-American Muslim, which premièred in mid-November.
This decision came after a conservative group, the Florida Family Association, released a statement urging companies to drop their scheduled advertisements because the show threatens the group's beliefs.
'All-American Muslim is propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law,' the Florida Family Association statement read.
'The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to the liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.'
The show is based in Dearborn, Michigan, follows the lives of a number of Muslim families. One of the stars is a police officer, another a football coach, and the show chronicles their family's daily lives.
'Clearly this program is attempting to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to influence them to believe that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show,' the Florida Family Association said on its website.
The group emailed companies that advertised during the first episode of the series on November 13, and claims that 65 of those companies did not run further advertisements during later episodes. They list those companies on the group's website and they include McDonalds, Ikea, and General Motors.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...m-Advertisers-away-TLCs-new-reality-show.html
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Backlash for Lowe's as ads pulled from Muslim show
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER - 12/12/2011
Lowe's Home Improvement has found itself facing a backlash after the retail giant pulled ads from a reality show about American Muslims.
A state senator from Southern California said Sunday he was considering calling for a boycott.
Calling the Lowe's decision "un-American" and "naked religious bigotry," Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, told The Associated Press he would also consider legislative action if Lowe's doesn't apologize to Muslims and reinstate its ads. The senator sent a letter outlining his complaints to Lowe's Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Niblock.
"The show is about what it's like to be a Muslim in America, and it touches on the discrimination they sometimes face. And that kind of discrimination is exactly what's happening here with Lowe's," Lieu said.
The Florida group sent three emails to its members, asking them to petition Lowe's to pull its advertising. Its website was updated to say that "supporters' emails to advertisers make a difference."
Lieu said. The senator vowed to look into whether Lowe's violated any California laws and said he would also consider drafting a senate resolution condemning the company's actions.
"We want to raise awareness so that consumers will know during this holiday shopping season that Lowe's is engaging in religious discrimination," Lieu said.
Besides an apology and reinstatement of the ads, Lieu said he hoped Lowe's would make an outreach to the community about bias and bigotry.
Lieu's office said a decision was expected Wednesday or Thursday on whether to proceed with the boycott.
Lowe's said company officials are trying to make arrangements to talk directly to Lieu about his concerns and clarify the company's position.
Suehaila Amen, whose family is featured on "All-American Muslim," said she was disappointed by the Lowe's decision.
"I'm saddened that any place of business would succumb to bigots and people trying to perpetuate their negative views on an entire community," Amen, 32, told The Detroit News on Sunday.
Dawud Walid, Michigan director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group felt "extreme disappointment" at Lowe's "capitulation to bigotry."
Walid said he has heard expressions of anger and calls for a boycott by Muslims but said a key to resolving the Lowe's advertising controversy will be how non-Muslim religious leaders and others react to Lowe's decision.
"I will be picking up the phone tomorrow to some of our friends and allies to explain the situation to them," Walid said Sunday.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/backlash-for-lowes-as-1257911.html
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National Lowe's Boycott Network Launched
The National Lowe’s Boycott Network is a grassroots effort and campaign started by activists across the country in wake of the Lowes decision to pull advertising from the TLC show “All American Muslim.” Those involved in the campaign come from a broad spectrum of religious, ethnic and professional backgrounds – one thing they do have in common is their united stand against hate and bigotry.
http://lowesboycott.com
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...5CZZoehHcoUa3dzAxkUITJ5ip1CXL0q1Df7l_X-Qz3Us=
By Meghan Keneally - 10th December 2011
A national hardware chain pulled its advertising from a planned reality show that depicts the lives of Muslims in America after folding under pressure from family groups.
Retail giant Lowe's announced Friday that it would not be advertising during the TLC show titled All-American Muslim, which premièred in mid-November.
This decision came after a conservative group, the Florida Family Association, released a statement urging companies to drop their scheduled advertisements because the show threatens the group's beliefs.
'All-American Muslim is propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law,' the Florida Family Association statement read.
'The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to the liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.'
The show is based in Dearborn, Michigan, follows the lives of a number of Muslim families. One of the stars is a police officer, another a football coach, and the show chronicles their family's daily lives.
'Clearly this program is attempting to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to influence them to believe that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show,' the Florida Family Association said on its website.
The group emailed companies that advertised during the first episode of the series on November 13, and claims that 65 of those companies did not run further advertisements during later episodes. They list those companies on the group's website and they include McDonalds, Ikea, and General Motors.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...m-Advertisers-away-TLCs-new-reality-show.html
----------------------------------------
Backlash for Lowe's as ads pulled from Muslim show
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER - 12/12/2011
Lowe's Home Improvement has found itself facing a backlash after the retail giant pulled ads from a reality show about American Muslims.
A state senator from Southern California said Sunday he was considering calling for a boycott.
Calling the Lowe's decision "un-American" and "naked religious bigotry," Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, told The Associated Press he would also consider legislative action if Lowe's doesn't apologize to Muslims and reinstate its ads. The senator sent a letter outlining his complaints to Lowe's Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Niblock.
"The show is about what it's like to be a Muslim in America, and it touches on the discrimination they sometimes face. And that kind of discrimination is exactly what's happening here with Lowe's," Lieu said.
The Florida group sent three emails to its members, asking them to petition Lowe's to pull its advertising. Its website was updated to say that "supporters' emails to advertisers make a difference."
Lieu said. The senator vowed to look into whether Lowe's violated any California laws and said he would also consider drafting a senate resolution condemning the company's actions.
"We want to raise awareness so that consumers will know during this holiday shopping season that Lowe's is engaging in religious discrimination," Lieu said.
Besides an apology and reinstatement of the ads, Lieu said he hoped Lowe's would make an outreach to the community about bias and bigotry.
Lieu's office said a decision was expected Wednesday or Thursday on whether to proceed with the boycott.
Lowe's said company officials are trying to make arrangements to talk directly to Lieu about his concerns and clarify the company's position.
Suehaila Amen, whose family is featured on "All-American Muslim," said she was disappointed by the Lowe's decision.
"I'm saddened that any place of business would succumb to bigots and people trying to perpetuate their negative views on an entire community," Amen, 32, told The Detroit News on Sunday.
Dawud Walid, Michigan director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group felt "extreme disappointment" at Lowe's "capitulation to bigotry."
Walid said he has heard expressions of anger and calls for a boycott by Muslims but said a key to resolving the Lowe's advertising controversy will be how non-Muslim religious leaders and others react to Lowe's decision.
"I will be picking up the phone tomorrow to some of our friends and allies to explain the situation to them," Walid said Sunday.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/backlash-for-lowes-as-1257911.html
---------------------------------------------
National Lowe's Boycott Network Launched
The National Lowe’s Boycott Network is a grassroots effort and campaign started by activists across the country in wake of the Lowes decision to pull advertising from the TLC show “All American Muslim.” Those involved in the campaign come from a broad spectrum of religious, ethnic and professional backgrounds – one thing they do have in common is their united stand against hate and bigotry.
http://lowesboycott.com
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...5CZZoehHcoUa3dzAxkUITJ5ip1CXL0q1Df7l_X-Qz3Us=