Background of YAMA #BoycottNYPost Campaign:
On April 10, 2019, Fox News’s Fox & Friends Brian Kilmeade along with Steve Doocy smeared Congresswoman Omar, questioning her loyalty to the American people and the U.S. Constitution. Congresswoman Omar’s words were taken out of context from an event she attended in March for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and falsely stated that she described the 9/11 terrorist attack as “some people did something.” Fox News as well as President Donald Trump continue to spread propaganda to divide the nation and provoke hate speech.
The following day after Kilmeade’s attacks on Rep. Omar, the New York Post front page featured the terrorist attacks of 9/11 with flames in the background provoking fear on the streets of New York City and across the US. It incites violence against Rep. Omar and the American Muslim community as a whole
We, at the Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA), received calls from our merchants disturbed by this coverage. The merchants reported they we going to stop selling the NY Post. Upon their request to support them, YAMA’s president communicated with 10 influential business owners across the city to galvanize support. The idea was welcomed by everyone. On April 12, 2019, YAMA sent out a press release announcing the NY Post Boycott effective April 13, 2019. YAMA and its merchant members strongly condemn this editorial decision. The Post’s decision to take this editorial position undermines national unity and incites violence and hate for the sole purpose of circulation and sales.
On April 14th, YAMA held a press conference in front of News Corpannouncing the 30 day boycott of the New York Post and demands for change. YAMA invitedCAIR-NY, MPower Change, and MDCNY.
YAMA believes in free speech, but we will not accept the incitement of violence against Muslims or any other group of Americans. We are calling on everyone to join us in boycotting the New York Post. YAMA calls out those who buy ads in the New York Post – everyone from Mercedes to Nordstrom – you are directly subsidizing hate. Do you really want your brand and business associated with hate? We will make you choose between your customers around the world, and this agent to hate and violence.
This rhetoric threatens the safety and wellbeing of Rep. Omar, Muslim leaders, and the larger Muslim American community at a time when Islamophobia is at an all-time high. We will continue to reach out to every store and hang a boycott NY Post poster in storefronts until the NY Post adheres to the following demands:
1
We demand a public apology to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Muslim Americans, and minorities who have been persistently victimized by the New York Post’s propaganda that spreads nothing but hate and fear to the streets of New York City.
2
We demand more responsible and nuanced reporting that takes racism and Islamophobia into professional consideration and accountability for sensationalist stories that undermine national unity and incite violence and hate against minority communities for the sole purpose of circulation and sales.
3
We demand the firing of New York Post’s editor in chief Stephen Lynch who has demonstrated clear viciousness and intent to spread racism and hysteria that leads to violence against our communities, especially in times when Islamophobia is at its highest levels.
4
We demand elected officials/government officials stop giving the New York Post any platforms to spread hate and racism in this multicultural city and across the nation at large!
This rhetoric threatens the safety and wellbeing of Rep. Omar, Muslim leaders, and the larger Muslim American community at a time when Islamophobia is at an all-time high. We will continue to reach out to every store and hang a boycott NY Post poster in storefronts until the NY Post adheres to the following demands:
HERE IS WHY YOU SHOULD BOYCOTT THE NY POST!
For far too long, the NY Post has engaged in racist and bigoted reporting that has victimized communities of color for decades. On April 11th, the New York Post published its front page with the Twin Towers in flames and Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments taken out of context from a speech she gave in March. This coverage created hysteria nationally inciting death threats to Rep. Ilhan Omar as well as fear among American Muslims across the US. This kind of journalism is an attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar who is Muslim, Black, and a refugee; Rep. Omar is a reflection of communities of color nationally and we cannot allow a paper to victimize our communities any longer.
The Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA), called for the boycott of the NY Post after it received calls from its merchants disturbed by this coverage. The merchants reported they we going to stop selling the NY Post. The idea was welcomed by other merchants across the city. On April 12, 2019, YAMA sent out a press release announcing the NY Post Boycott effective April 13, 2019. YAMA and its merchant members strongly condemn this editorial decision. The Post’s decision to take this editorial position undermines national unity and incites violence and hate for the sole purpose of circulation and sales.
The NY Post has targeted President Obama, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Central Park 5 Youth, Japanese NY Yankees player and many others. Here are examples of their racist reporting.
We believe in free speech, but we will not allow the incitement of hate and violence in our communities by the NY Post.
We call on all businesses to stop selling the hate and bigotry manufactured by the NY Post NOW!
We call on all citizens to boycott by discontinuing to buy and read the NY Post online!
For #BoycottNYPost posters to display in your store front, please call YAMA at 718-213-0030 or email us at info@yamausa.org to pick up posters or have them delivered to your business.
Become a
#Boycott
NYPost
Coalition
member
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact YAMA at 718-213-0030 or email us at info@yamausa.org