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AL SHARPTON SAYS 'WHAT SHAKEDOWNS?': Rev. challenges NY Post writers to debate after negative articles.
*Rev. Al Sharpton has released a statement condemning the New York Post for publishing articles that accuse him of shaking down corporate CEOs through threats of boycotts.
The most recent article, published Sunday by writers Isabel Vincent and Susan Edelman, claims that several companies donated thousands of dollars to Sharpton’s National Action Network after the civil rights activist threatened to accuse them of racist practices.
Anheuser-Busch, Macy’s and Colgate-Palmolive are among the companies cited by the Post that contributed over $50,000 to NAN in the past year.
Sharpton denies the newspaper's allegations in the following statement from his media rep, Rachel Noerdlinger, titled "Where's the Shakedown?"
"The New York Post continues its efforts to undermine the civil rights movement with articles that mislead the public. New York Post reporter Isabel Vincent writes an article entitled "Sharpton Shakedown; Boycotted CEOs write checks to Rev. Al," even though the article had no evidence of shakedowns or corporations claiming that their contributions to NAN were in any way coerced or intended to buy silence.
To the contrary. Ms. Vincent conceded that every corporation she spoke with had nothing but positive things to say about NAN, even if they did not agree with every NAN program or effort. None mentioned feeling "shaken down," either on or off the record.
Further, the Post, in its typical fashion, omitted facts that contradicted the article's shakedown premise. Most notably, Ms. Vincent did not include one example of when Reverend Sharpton and NAN spoke out critically against companies after they had contributed to NAN, such as corporations from the music industry whose offices were marched on for their promoting indecent music lyrics, or criticizing Pepsi for its use of a rapper in an ad campaign whose lyrics were offensive, or Comcast who had a reporter who made an offensive statement. In addition, notwithstanding the fact that NBC has long sponsored NAN events and has been honored in the past, Reverend Sharpton led the charge against them to fire Don Imus.
Further, the Post skillfully omitted that most corporate contributions to NAN are made in connection with sponsoring an event, such as a convention or dinner, and their contribution is made in exchange for corporate sponsorship, promotion and advertising; not much different than when Macys places an ad in the Post. Obviously, neither the Post with its advertising revenues, nor civil rights organizations or other charities with their events supported by corporations, could fully function without receiving financial support from those where there are disagreements.
I have spoken with Reverend Sharpton about this article and he has informed me that he will be extending an invitation to Ms. Vincent to defend her article on his national radio show program tomorrow or Tuesday so people can judge for themselves whether she had any facts to substantiate her misleading headline and article in today's New York Post, or whether this was simply a hatchet job consistent with those made by individuals who are at odds with the civil rights movement. A newspaper or reporter who had nothing to hide should jump at the chance to promote their story if true. Only those allergic to discussing the truth would duck such an invitation"
The 8 companies the Post highlighted in its "Shakedown" story are dealt with below, Noerdlinger continues:
• Fact 1: Colgate Palmolive was never threatened with a race rally and reporter Vincent admitted to NAN that in her view there was no pressure placed on Colgate Palmolive to contribute.
• Fact 2: MGM Mirage. Ms. Vincent admitted that the Post had no information that NAN received funds from MGM Mirage. NAN is unaware of any funds received from this corporation.
• Fact 3: General Motors. Ms. Vincent omitted that Reverend Sharpton had been critical of General Motors, including threats of boycotts for years prior to NAN receiving minimal support from GM.
• Fact 4. Chrysler. Ms. Vincent omitted that Chrysler was actually a defendant in a class action lawsuit where it was alleged that the company was discriminating against African Americans applying for car loans. Neither Reverend Sharpton nor NAN were plaintiffs in that case or in its settlement. When the case was settled, Chrysler was obligated to contribute to charities.
• Fact 5. Forest City Ratner. Ms. Vincent misleadingly writes that, 4 years after Reverend Sharpton blasted Forest City Ratner for "low wages," he made a "dramatic flip flop" and supported them. Rather than stating the objective facts that Forest City's practices have changed dramatically, she resorts to using subjective quotes by Reverend Sharpton to defend the shift, which obviously could be interpreted as self serving, and therefore a weaker defense.
• Fact 6. PepsiCo. Although Reverend Sharpton made clear to Ms. Vincent that he has been critical of Pepsi as recently as last year, she did not include that as a fact in her report.
• Fact 7. American Honda. Ms. Vincent failed to make clear that Reverend Sharpton and NAN send such letters to all corporations based upon their performance, and not whether they contribute to NAN, thereby giving the false impression that American Honda was shaken down in exchange for a donation. Further, there is no evidence whatsoever, as the Post headline suggests, that there was a threat of a race rally or boycott against them.
• Fact 8. Macys. Reverend Sharpton has been critical of Macys before, during and after NAN received financial support from Macys to offset event costs.
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