-----Original Message-----
From: Green, Tonya [mailto:tgreen@novoste.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:08 PM
To: Alicia (E-mail); Alisa (E-mail); Dawn (E-mail); Kelsey (E-mail);
Lashun (E-mail); Nedra (E-mail); Rachelle (E-mail); Tanisha (E-mail);
Toshia (E-mail); Ted (E-mail); Green, Tracey; Brown, Contrina; Houston,
Brian; Jones, Alethia; Claiborne, Nona
Subject: FW: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott


Please read.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ford, Taras (MAN-Corporate) [mailto:Taras.Ford@cox.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:48 PM
To: 'tgreen@novoste.com'
Subject: FW: Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott




>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	Maull, Robert (MAN-Corporate)  
> Sent:	Tuesday, November 27, 2001 4:46 PM
> To:	Ford, Taras (MAN-Corporate)
> Subject:	Joint Position Statement Regarding BET Boycott
> 
> Dear Mr. Johnson: 
> > 
> > We write as a follow up to the meeting held on 
> > September 27, 2001. The Council of Presidents of 
> > the African- American Greek Letter organizations 
> > that consist of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha 
> > Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 
> > Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, 
> > Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho 
> > Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Omega Psi 
> > Phi Fraternity, collectively have over 1.4 Million 
> > members. It is our intent to call for a national 
> > boycott of Black Entertainment Television (BET). 
> > 
> > As discussed with you and your staff , we believe 
> > that BET does not operate in the best interest of 
> > the African American community. Your responses to 
> > our concerns were not only unacceptable but were 
> > also insulting. We raised concerns with you about 
> > the type of videos shown on BET that have negative 
> > influences on our community, particularly our youth. 
> > We believe that these videos are an exploitation of 
> > African American youth. We discussed with you our 
> > concerns about BET's failure to advertise with and 
> > support African American businesses and 
> > institutions. BET's lack of reciprocity with the 
> > African American community is woefully insensitive 
> > and unfair. Further, we discussed with you that 
> > BET's failure to communicate with community leaders 
> > is unacceptable. 
> > 
> > Your response made it clear to us that your priority 
> > is to increase profits without regard to the 
> > negative impact on the African American community. 
> > You made it clear that the concerns we raised would 
> > not increase the profits of BET and therefore BET 
> > would not alter its business practices or 
> > programming to address these concerns. 
> > 
> > It is our intent to communicate this boycott to all 
> > African-American organizations and seek their 
> > support. Additionally, it is our intent to 
> > communicate this boycott to Viacom and all BET 
> > advertisers. This boycott shall remain in effect 
> > until our concerns are satisfactorily resolved. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > 
> > Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq. 
> > Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 
> > 
> > __________________________________ 
> > Harry E. Johnson, Sr. 
> > General President Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Norma Solomon White Supreme Basileus Alpha Kappa 
> > Alpha Sorority, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Howard L. Tutman Grand Polemarch Kappa Alpha Psi 
> > Fraternity, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Gwendolyn E. Boyd National President Delta Sigma 
> > Theta Sorority, Inc. 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Arthur R. Thomas, Esq. 
> > National President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Barbara Carpenter, Ph.D. 
> > National President Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Helen J. Owens International Grand Basileus Sigma 
> > Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 
> > 
> > ___________________________________ 
> > Steve Birdine Grand Polaris Iota Phi Theta 
> > Fraternity, Inc. 
> 
> 
> ===== 
> Office of the District KRS 
> Gregory E. Ackles, Sr. 
> P.O. Box 1284 
> Burlington, NJ 08016 
> H: 609-835-9655, O: 609-532-3971 
> 
> Marvin C. Dillard, Asst DKRS, Home: 201-567-9819, Work: 732-420-3900 
> 
> 
>