FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 15, 2012
CONTACT: Inez Gonzalez igonzalez@www.nhmc.org (213) 718-0740
Pasadena-Foothill Valley YWCA Recognizes NHMC's Campaign Against Hate Speech
Pasadena, CA - Today, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) received the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley Racial Justice Award at the 10th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast held at the Hilton in Pasadena, CA. The event was attended by over 300 individuals and community leaders committed to the YWCA's mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The event included a keynote address by civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of United Farm Workers. NHMC Board Member and Secretary, Pete Gomez, received the award on behalf of the organization and its work on fighting hate speech in media. "On behalf of NHMC, I thank you for recognizing the important work that NHMC is doing to address the increase of hate in media. Media has a powerful impact on peoples' perceptions of others and we must all be willing to stand up for what is just and against hateful rhetoric." The award comes at a significant time when hate speech, bullying and negative media portrayals are under public scrutiny. Earlier last month, the NHMC released the results of a national poll showing that media portrayals of Latinos and immigrants are fueling rampant negative stereotypes among non-Latinos. Beginning in November 2011, NHMC and the UCLA Chicano Research Studies Center released three academic studies detailing the role of the media in breeding hate. The poll results and studies can be found here. By focusing on hate speech, NHMC has become not only an expert on the issue but a force to be reckoned with. NHMC recently experienced a victory in its anti-hate campaign against "Jose Luis Sin Censura," a Spanish Language television program produced and broadcast by Liberman Broadcasting, Inc (LBI). The show promoted anti-LGBT, anti-female and anti-Latino hate speech. This past August after an 18 month dual effort from NHMC and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), LBI announced the show had been permanently removed from the broadcast schedule. NHMC continues to combat hate speech with its current campaign to take KFI radio duo John and Ken off the air. For years, John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, hosts of "The John and Ken Show", have terrorized Los Angeles' Latino, Asian-American and African-American communities, among others, creating an atmosphere of hate and intolerance and seemingly legitimizing violence and discrimination against members of these groups. Additionally, NHMC participates in a national anti-hate coalition that brings together civil rights groups to push back on the hateful rhetoric surrounding the immigration reform debate. "NHMC is honored to have our work recognized by the YWCA. Hate speech is a rampant issue in our society, just turn on the radio or television. Something must be done to tone down the hateful rhetoric and we have found that the key is responsible advertisers taking a stand against hate speech and pulling their advertisement from hateful talk shows," said Alex Nogales, NHMC President & CEO.
Dolores Huerta and NHMC Board Member Pete Gomez at the YWCA Racial Justice Awards Breakfast
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