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Subject: Re: [AtheistMedia] Please distribute -- The Star Jones Protest
Continues


ADSN Continues to Decry Star Jones' Point of View
by Margaret Downey

On January 22, 2001 panelist Star Jones made her feelings known about
Atheists on the talk-show The View. Admitting that it was not the first time
she said negative things about
Atheists, she is quoted as saying, "Everyone was mad when I said on the
television that I
wouldn't vote for an Atheist, but it's interesting that the Oath of office
of the President is with 'so help me God.'"
On March 4, 2001, the Anti-Discrimination Support Network (ADSN) wrote
to Jones
requesting that she cease demeaning the Atheist community and apologize for
making harmful negative stereotyping statements. ADSN also wrote to each
panelist of The View asking them to help convince Jones that prejudice and
hatred directed at a minority was unprofessional. All letters were ignored
even though it is standard practice for The View staff to acknowledge
correspondence received.
On February 12, 2002 ADSN conducted a protest rally at The Playhouse
Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware where Jones was scheduled to speak. Jones
received advance notice of the hour-long rally (6:30 PM - 7:30 PM) via a
press release. A member of her staff was also provided with a copy of our
protest literature (an article published in the March/April issue of the
Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia's newsletter, The Greater
Philadelphia Story, "ADSN Decries Star Jones' Point of View"). Jones knew
exactly why five members of ADSN were protesting her appearance that night.
During the question/answer period of Jones' speech, I was able to
confront her with ADSN concerns. She responded defensively to my query
saying, "I never said that you can't run for public office. I just said..."
She stopped short and appeared to think carefully about her next statement.
Jones instead went on to say how much she loved God and that he died for her
and she wasn't going to change her mind about that.
Even though Jones stopped herself from saying that she would never vote
for an Atheist it was obvious that she simply did not want to understand why
ADSN wrote to her and conducted the protest rally that night. We don't care
about her religious beliefs and have no desire to change them. Our focus is
on changing her bigoted point of view. We object to her prejudice and
negative stereotyping, not her belief in a supernatural God.
Jones talked about the protest rally the following day on The View. I
was shocked and
disgusted at the way she twisted the facts. Keep in mind that ADSN's March
2001 letter was sent to Jones to complain about the statements she made on
January 22, 2001. Below is a transcript of the show which aired on February
13, 2002:

Star: Last night, can I share with you. I'm so humiliated. I go to give a
speech in Wilmington,
Delaware and there was a little communiqué sent out and Bill Geddy got it --
that there was
going to be a protest.

Meredith: At your speech?

Star: At my speech. The Atheists were mad at me.

Bill: I was concerned about security.

Star: And he was concerned about security. So I called...

Meredith: For who, the Atheists or...

Star: For me. So I called down. We get the hotel all involved and the people
giving the speech and they've got security. Three Atheists showed up to
protest. I said, "Well wait a minute. I'm a half a celeb. I can't even get a
real protest going on."

Lisa: I know. She was so disappointed today.

Star: I was disappointed in there weren't more people protesting.

Meredith: Why only three?

Star: Because, you know, this security guard went out and said, "Well, you
know, just want to make sure you are in the right place." They go, "Oh it's
OK we'll be leaving by 7." I didn't even start 'till 7:30 -- cause they had
something else to do.

Joy: Atheists don't have a lot of time to demonstrate because they don't
have as many days off as the rest of us.

Star: It was really funny. The woman. I want to tell you they had someone in
the audience who asked me a question and they were very, very nice and very
open and I...

Lisa: The Atheist?

Star: The Atheist lady. And she was a very, very nice lady but um you know
me, I don't back
down.

Joy: What was she mad about?

Star: Well, because around September 11, I had stated on the air that I was
very, very happy that President Bush was someone who had a relationship with
God. As you remember that. And I said that I would never be comfortable
voting for...

Joy: Voting for an Atheist.

Star: No, no no. Voting for an Atheist for President. That's what I said.

Joy: But not Senator or Congressman?

Star: I hadn't even thought about that. But I know what I said - for
President. Well, they were very up in arms and, as I explained to them; I
respect your opinion, I respect what your position is, but God died for me
and I'm standing for him and you've got a problem, it's your problem. So
that's what I said.

Joy: It is interesting though - you know most people - most people in
America agree with you, but if you had said I will not vote for someone who
believes in God, you would have had millions protesting.

Star: Isn't it interesting. And I guess it's because our country still, for
the most part, has a belief system in a higher being. But it would make you
too depressed to think that this was it. You know. Don't you want there to
be something else?

Joy: Well, Shirley MacLaine, she's coming back.

Star: Oh, please.

The following is the text of my follow-up letter to Jones regarding the
comments she made on February 13, 2002:

Dear Ms. Jones,

The Anti-Discrimination Support Network (ADSN) receives and acts on
reports of negative stereotyping of the Atheist community. This is our
second letter to you concerning remarks you have made on The View. The first
letter we wrote to you on March 4, 2001 was ignored. Please do not continue
to ignore our correspondence.
On February 13, 2002 you purposely misrepresented the facts of ADSN's
concerns. On
March 4, 2001 we objected to the negative stereotyping of the Atheist
community by you on January 22, 2001. We clearly indicated at that time that
you should, as a media personality, convey messages of tolerance not
messages of bigotry and prejudice.
We explained our position by quoting you as saying on January 22, 2001
"But everyone was mad when I said on the television that I wouldn't vote for
an Atheist," and "I mean you could be a nice person - you could baby-sit my
kids - possibly - but that doesn't mean you would get my vote because you
got your finger on the button. I want you to feel like there are long term,
everlasting ramifications."
We asked that you reassure us that you would cease making disparaging
remarks against the Atheist community. To this date, you have not
acknowledged our request.
The protest rally ADSN conducted on February 12, 2002 at The Playhouse
Theatre in
Wilmington, Delaware was an attempt to bring attention to our issue.
As stated in ADSN's press release of February 11, 2002, we are sure
that if the Anti-
Defamation League had complained about bigoted remarks you made against the
Jewish community (i.e. you wouldn't vote for a Jewish person or you might
let a nice Jewish person baby-sit your kids - possibly.), you surely would
have apologized in public.
Instead, you have made matters worse by fabricating a story during the
airing of The View on February 13, 2002. On that date you said that ADSN
complained to you "around September 11, 2001." That is simply not true. You
know full well that ADSN contacted you on March 4, 2001 regarding
anti-Atheist comments you made on January 22, 2001. This is completely
verifiable through taped copies of The View, ADSN's letter to you, the ADSN
protest rally press release, and the literature ADSN distributed at the
protest rally.
It is obvious to ADSN that your purposeful misrepresentation of contact
dates was intended to make it appear that Atheists are not patriotic. This
is despicable behavior, Ms. Jones.
ADSN demands an immediate public correction of the facts and an
apology. ADSN
members and the Atheist community at large will not rest until this matter
is satisfactorily
resolved.
You will be hearing from a variety of people who want you to become
sensitive to what it is like to be a member of a misunderstood minority in
America. Please open your heart and mind to those who live courageously in a
world surrounded by prejudice and unwarranted bigotry.
ADSN realizes that you have the right to your opinion and in America
you have every right to express that opinion. As a high-profile media
personality, however, you must make every attempt to help end negative
stereotyping, hate speech, and bigotry. And most importantly, you have the
responsibility to present the facts truthfully, without twisting details to
suit your purposes. It is your moral duty to rise above prejudice not only
as a representative of ABC, but also as a national spokesperson for Payless
ShoeSource.

Sincerely,

Margaret Downey
Anti-Discrimination Support Network
Founder and President

cc: Payless ShoeSource, Barbara Walters, Lisa Ling, Joy Behar, Meredith
Vieira.

In a continuing effort to extract a retraction and apology from Jones,
ADSN is announcing a "Walk A Mile In My Shoes, Star Jones" campaign. Details
of this campaign can be found below or provided upon request.
Please participate in this campaign as it will be a disaster unless
Jones hears from hundreds of Atheists. She will make a mockery of small
Atheist representation, just as she did after the February 12, 2002 protest.
Please put your best foot forward and help stomp out Star Jones prejudiced
point of view.

Protesting the Bigotry of Star Jones

In March 2001, the Anti-Discrimination Support Network (ADSN) wrote a letter
to Star Jones, who for the second time in less than a year, had expressed
prejudice against Atheists on the talk show, "The View" (see "ADSN Decries
Star Jones' Point of View" in the March/April issue of The Greater
Philadelphia Story).

Jones never acknowledged ADSN's demand for an apology. On February 13, 2002,
she made matters worse by making fun of the small number of Atheists who
were concerned about her bigoted views. Jones intimated that Atheists are
unpatriotic, while falsely claiming that our complaint had been in response
to patriotic remarks she made on September 12, 2001. On February 13, 2002,
Jones said that in her opinion Atheists are unqualified to hold the office
of President of the United States.

While Jones is entitled to her opinion, she has a moral duty to present the
facts truthfully. She should also be held accountable for spreading hateful
and negative stereotyping of a minority community. Had Jones made the same
remarks about the Jewish community, the Anti-Defamation League would have
demanded and received a public apology. Atheists must demand and receive the
same type of respect.

A clever attention-getting campaign is in order. Please participate in the
"Star Jones, Walk A Mile In My Shoes!" campaign. Please see the details in
the form below. When you send the form to Jones, please send it with a pair
of used shoes. This will help make our point. Jones is a national
spokesperson for Payless ShoeSource so the inclusion of a pair of shoes is
very appropriate.

Participants in this campaign must not belittle the religious beliefs of
Jones or any other religious belief. She, like all Americans, can believe
anything she likes. We are only objecting to her bigotry - not her belief in
a supernatural God. Please keep this in mind when you write to her. The
following mailing labels are provided for your convenience:

Star Jones
c/o The View
320 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023

Protesting Star Jones Bigotry
Payless ShoeSource
P. O. Box 1189
Topeka, KS 66601

Protesting Star Jones Bigotry
ADSN
P. O. Box 242
Pocopson, PA 19366

Star Jones, Walk A Mile In My Shoes!

I am an Atheist who is offended by the demeaning remarks you have been
recorded as having said on January 22. 2001 and February 13, 2002 during the
airing of "The View." While I support freedom of speech, I strongly object
to media personalities spreading hateful rhetoric, negative stereotyping,
and disrespectful treatment of a minority.

In February 2001, the Anti-Discrimination Support Network (ADSN - a national
organization that represents the interests of the Atheist community)
requested a public apology from you. You have not had the courtesy to
respond. I am, therefore, asking you to educate yourself on what it is like
to be a mistreated minority in America.

Attached or on the reverse side of this form is my personal story of the
type of discrimination I have suffered at the hands of bigoted people such
as yourself. Please take the time to read my correspondence. As a
spokesperson for Payless Shoes and a talk show host, you should know what it
is like to walk a mile in the shoes of a misunderstood minority. You may
find that my words will open your heart and make you more compassionate and
sensitive - qualities that all media personalities should possess.
Acknowledgment is expected.

My name is: ___________________________________________________________

My street address is: _____________________________________________________

My city, state, and zip code
are:____________________________________________

Signed: ______________________________________________________________

A copy of this form and my personal story are being sent to Payless
ShoeSource and ADSN.

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Will a pair of sandals with a spike hole* in each do?


*Makes walking on water pretty tricky, what with leaks and all.

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