July 17th, Hollywood.
Some 40 anti-racist Activists gathered outside the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on Highland Blvd. in Los Angeles to protest against the FOX network and it's broadcasting of the racist, anti-Asian television show, "Banzai!"
The protest was held outside of the annual Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, and the presence of a noisy picketline in front of the Hotel at 8 in the morning certainly embarrassed the racist executives at FOX. Those attending the Television Critics Association tour at the Hotel had to pass right by the picketline, where they could plainly see the protest signs that read; "RACISM IS NOT FUNNY!", "BAN BANZAI", and "FOX SOLD US OUT FOR RATINGS."
While most of the protestors were Asians, a small number of Latinos, Anglos, African Americans and Native Americans came to express their solidarity. A bullhorn was passed around and a loud chant went up... "STOP THE HATE, DOWN WITH FOX, DOWN WITH RACISM." Quite a few people passing along in the heavy rush hour traffic honked their horns and waved in approval.
A few reporters from L.A.'s Asian media came to cover the protest, but sadly the mainstream press did not. FOX "News" definitely was not there! (surprise, surprise)
Most demonstrators seemed to be independent and just wanted to show their outrage over a deeply offensive television show, but members of Asian Civil Rights organizations like The Korean Resource Center, Korean Immigrant Workers in America (KIWA), Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Korean American Coalition (KAC), The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), The National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCON), and The Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), were also involved in the rally.
Everyone expressed a determination to forge ahead with building an anti-racist movement that would target FOX's stupidly racist program and force them to cancel it. Plans are underway to enlarge the "Ban Banzai" campaign by way of flyers, protests, boycotts of station sponsors, and other actions.
This is NOT an "Asian issue" but one of whether or not you will tolerate racism in major mainstream media. I'm not Asian... but I will stand side by side with my Asian Brothers and Sisters when they are under attack. Get involved... keep up the pressure... we are going to win this!
Links for anti-racists:
http://modelminority.com http://www.manaa.org/