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Saturday, June 5, 2010
They Apologized! Your Letters Made a Difference! - Letter from NCLR
Friday, June 4, 2010
Press Release - LULAC Highlights Strength of Diverse Community Effort, Gains 2nd Seat on Clear Channel Advisory Board
Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 365-4553 mobile
June 4, 2010
Radio Station General Manager Apologizes for the Insensitivity of the Promotion
| Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, called on Ohio radio station WTVN-AM and its parent company Clear Channel Communications to apologize for the distasteful contest held last week urging callers to win a free trip to Arizona and “spend a weekend chasing aliens and spending cash in the desert.” LULAC along with other national organizations will file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A coalition of Columbus community members including LULAC Ohio joined together in rejecting the insensitive promotion and advertisement on Clear Channel's WTVN 610 Radio Station, which depicted Mayor Coleman on a Green Card in a trip giveaway to Phoenix, Arizona last week. Organizations that came out against this action include: LULAC Ohio, LULAC – Columbus Councils, NCLR, Reform Immigration for America, Empleos y Employment, Ohio Hispanic Coalition, Casa de la Cultura Hispana, Colombianos en Ohio, The Horn of Africa Rescue Committee (SomaliCommunity), Victoria Motors, University Area Enrichment Association, DJVU Latin Fusion, Jewish Family Services of Columbus and Latino LeaderShift Initiative. On June 2nd, Station Manager of WTVN, Brian Dytko, went on air to publicly state, "We do not condone violence of any kind. We apologize for our actions here. We are always striving to engage our community on important issues of the day and sometimes we do a better job than others, but we always take the input of our community seriously." “We stood up to racial profiling and bigoted messaging inferred by WTVN’s promotion,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “This is clearly the chilling effect of what is happening in Arizona with SB 1070. We believe that our community must respect and protect all people. We will file a complaint with the FCC and ensure that threats made against the community are dealt with urgently.” “LULAC will continue to engage and develop our long-term relationship with Clear Channel” said Ohio State Director Jason Riveiro. “We have an advisory board with Clear Channel in Cincinnati and we will now be present on the advisory board in Columbus. This will help to ensure that these types of hurtful and insensitive issues do not reoccur in the future.” LULAC will have a meeting with Brian Dytko, General Manager of the station next week. |
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now
By Ezra Escudero
Published on Friday, Jun 04, 2010
Akron Beacon Journal
I am an American. More than that, I am also a first-generation American, born to parents of Mexican origin. Most important, I am an individual who loves his country and his heritage and feels deep pride in both. Unfortunately, the politics surrounding our nation's immigration policy now threatens to drive a wedge between the two.
While it is important to re-establish a system of law and order in regard to illegal immigration, it is equally important that all immigrants, regardless of legal status, are treated with dignity and respect. During the terms of two governors, Bob Taft and Ted Strickland, I had the honor of serving as the director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. In this position, I worked to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the legislative mandates that directly influence their day-to-day lives. However, my experience has also given me a distinct perspective on the challenges of tackling a difficult issue that has only worsened.
The current immigration system is broken. Individuals outside of our country want to pursue the American dream, but our immigration process makes that goal impossible. As a result, many enter our country illegally, some through extreme measures. However, these undocumented workers often do not find a promised land. Unscrupulous employers across the United States are creating a sub-class of workers — actually, modern-day indentured servants — who only continue to struggle. Additionally, this illicit labor force means that American citizens, who also face increasing tough economic times, are denied a fair chance at jobs.
Immigration policy is not an issue that can be decided on a state-by-state basis. During my service as Ohio's director of Latino Affairs, I also provided leadership and counsel for Latino affairs agencies in 17 other states. That experience solidified my belief that our fractured immigration process affects all of the states in our nation and that it will take all of our lawmakers working together to truly accomplish meaningful reform. Without action at the federal level, however, any effort on a state-by-state basis will only serve to further fragment an ineffective and worsening system.
The federal government must choose to tackle immigration reform now and in a way that allows the varied passionate beliefs on all sides of the issue to voice their questions and concerns. The answer is not to blindly accept illegal immigration through blanket amnesty, nor is it to eject all immigrants from our country.
The solution lies somewhere between the two, and it is the responsibility of our federally elected officials to work together to balance the need to protect American livelihoods while at the same time ensuring the ability of those who simply wish to provide a better life for their families to do so within the framework of the American legal system.
Our law enforcement resources are spread thin enough without extraneous expenditures on prosecuting possible illegal immigrants on every corner of America's streets. Common-sense solutions must prevail over knee-jerk reactions. Immigrants are not the enemy. Instead, they deserve the opportunity to seek American citizenship — according to our laws. But, in order to do so, our laws must first be just.
Being a U.S. citizen is a privilege. And it's one that Americans take for granted every day. The immigrants who try so desperately to cross our borders do so because they believe that our country will provide them with a better life than the one they left behind. Their dedication should be a lesson to all of us to truly appreciate the situation into which we were born.
I have a profound belief in the rule of law and a profound belief that our society should allow each individual to achieve his or her true potential. Unfortunately, our current immigration policy undermines the former and diminishes the latter. As an American, I believe the system must be changed. As an individual whose political loyalties tend toward the Republican side of the political divide, I hope and pray the partisan politics will not stand in the way of needed reform.
My personal motto is ''Don't ever be satisfied. Always look for ways to make things better and don't be afraid to take risks.'' I hope our federal elected officials of both parties are up to that challenge and choose to address comprehensive immigration reform yet this year.
Comprehensive immigration reform will help to secure our borders, reflect our current economic realities and enable immigrants to earn their place in our country.
The time to act is now.
Escudero was the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs from September 2003 to December 2009, and served as the founding chairman of the United States Council on Latino Affairs from 2008 to 2009.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New Report Shows NE Ohio suffers for a Lack of Immigrants
June 3
Article By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer
With the region's cultural diversity at its lowest point in 100 years, Northeast Ohio's economy lags the nation's. That's no coincidence, according to a report that highlights a missing ingredient. High-skill immigrants, mighty drivers of the New Economy, are conspicuously absent.
"Today, only five percent of the residents in Greater Cleveland are foreign-born," compared with about 33 percent in 1920, when the city was booming, notes the report commissioned by the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland. A lack of diversity places Cleveland in sharp contrast with America's rising cities, where immigrants play key roles as innovators and job creators, according to the analysis by researcher Becky Gaylord, a former editorial writer for The Plain Dealer.
Gaylord's report details steps the region can take to regain its lost status, including welcoming the world. It suggests creating an international welcome center that would help attract new talent and investment.
A sense of urgency threads the 75-page report. Cleveland is bleeding population and jobs and faces missing out on the global economy. With an average age near 40, Northeast Ohio is one of the oldest, least diverse, least educated regions in America.
"If Greater Cleveland could get and keep more immigrants, it would boost brain power, create businesses, revive neighborhoods and incite youthful innovators," the report states.
You can find the full report on the federation's homepage, jewishcleveland.org.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
UPDATE: WTVN Apologizes On-Air
The Ohio Action Circle has been awaiting an apology from 610 WTVN in response to the community reaction against their offensive promotional contest "Win a Trip to Phoenix, Arizona."
A short time ago, an apology aired during a commercial break in which General Manager Brian Dytko addressed the situation.
The OAC would like to hear from you, the community members.
What is your opinion of the apology? What do you think is the appropriate response? Please leave your comments below.
Below you'll find the audio and the transcript of WTVN's apology. The .mp3 file is also available for download here.
Transcript:
This is Brian Dytko, Station Manager of WTVN with a message regarding our station’s recent “Win a Trip to Phoenix, Arizona” promotional contest. Our contest was meant as a humorous response to a City of Columbus ban on travel to Arizona by city employees. In fact, a key element of the promotion was that city employees were specifically invited to enter the contest. We regret that our promotional copy has been characterized as condoning violence. This was not our intent, and we do not condone violence of any kind. We apologize for our actions here. We are always striving to engage our community on important issues of the day and sometimes we do a better job than others, but we always take the input of our community seriously.
A short time ago, an apology aired during a commercial break in which General Manager Brian Dytko addressed the situation.
The OAC would like to hear from you, the community members.
What is your opinion of the apology? What do you think is the appropriate response? Please leave your comments below.
Below you'll find the audio and the transcript of WTVN's apology. The .mp3 file is also available for download here.
Transcript:
This is Brian Dytko, Station Manager of WTVN with a message regarding our station’s recent “Win a Trip to Phoenix, Arizona” promotional contest. Our contest was meant as a humorous response to a City of Columbus ban on travel to Arizona by city employees. In fact, a key element of the promotion was that city employees were specifically invited to enter the contest. We regret that our promotional copy has been characterized as condoning violence. This was not our intent, and we do not condone violence of any kind. We apologize for our actions here. We are always striving to engage our community on important issues of the day and sometimes we do a better job than others, but we always take the input of our community seriously.
BREAKING NEWS: WTVN TO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE
As you may know since Wednesday - May 26, we have been trying to contact Brian Dytko, General Manager of Clear Channel Communications in Columbus, to demand an apology for the insensitive WTVN promotion.
We organized with a clear and concise message to WTVN and Clear Channel: this promotion is offensive and we demand an apology.
As you saw here at the OAC blog, we made several attempts to get in touch with Mr. Dytko.
Less than an hour ago, Mr. Dytko apologized for the insensitivity of the promotion, saying that he has heard from hundreds of people locally and nationally, including "supporters of WTVN and Clear Channel" (sponsors).
Today, Wednesday at 5:00PM, he will go on the WTVN airwaves and make a public apology! Set your dial to 610 WTVN AM to listen in.
This is indeed a victory for all. It demonstrates the power of people and organizations uniting and organizing, using creative tactics and actions while staying on message and demonstrating in a peaceful manner. When we do this in an organized manner, we win.
Please, let your networks know of this victory. There will be other follow-up actions to this, so keep an eye here for upcoming announcements!
Mil gracias to all...
iHasta la proxima victoria!
Today, Wednesday at 5:00PM, he will go on the WTVN airwaves and make a public apology! Set your dial to 610 WTVN AM to listen in.
This is indeed a victory for all. It demonstrates the power of people and organizations uniting and organizing, using creative tactics and actions while staying on message and demonstrating in a peaceful manner. When we do this in an organized manner, we win.
Please, let your networks know of this victory. There will be other follow-up actions to this, so keep an eye here for upcoming announcements!
Mil gracias to all...
iHasta la proxima victoria!
Rubén Castilla Herrera
State Director
Reform Immigration For America
Students Unite to Fight for their DREAM, Demand Education Reform
Columbus, Ohio
May 27, 2010
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Columbus Councils, The Ohio Hispanic Coalition, and the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), through their Youth Program, Dream Talks! have united a group of high school students to hold a rally at 4:00pm on June 6, 2010 at John Bishop Park in Whitehall to demand Education Reform and be given access to their DREAMs.
June 6th marks graduation day for several Whitehall students. For many of them, it also marks the last day they will have ease of education. Today's most important civil rights issue is being played out in America's high school classrooms. Every year, more than one million students drop out, meaning almost one of every three freshmen will not have a high school diploma four years later. While roughly 70 percent of all high school students graduate on time, only about half of African American and American Indian and Alaska Native students do, and just about 55 percent of Hispanic students graduate.
“Every student, regardless of their background, deserves an education. It goes beyond finishing high school; we must provide a pathway to further education. Catering to every student’s DREAMs will ease a transition to college and this can only be done in unity” advocates Fernando Bergas-Coria, VP for Youth Development for a Columbus LULAC Council. Mr. Bergas-Coria, a Whitehall graduate and community activist, leads a program called Dream Talks! where he meets with high school students at their school and speaks to them about the importance of attending class everyday and maintaining high grades. His first group of students consisted of approximately 58 youth who expressed their desire to host a rally to make others aware of the broken education system and to get their parents involved in the process.
The Rally will begin at 4:00pm on June 6th and many of the students will be arriving in their graduation cap and gown to further illustrate their desire to continue learning. Speakers at the event include Claudia DeLeon from LULAC in Columbus, Josue Vicente from the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, Jesus Ovalle coordinator for CHSE in Columbus, Fernando Bergas-Coria for Dream Talks!, Charleta Tavares who is a strong supporter, as well as two leading students and their supporting parents. Enrique Infante, a well known artist, songwriter and community activist, will present live with his band DJVU Latin Fusions.
CONTACT:
Claudia Y. De Leon, (956) 463-0655, Deleon.claudia@gmail.com
Fernando Bergas-Coria, (614) 887-6357 fernandoGBC@live.com
Claudia Y. De Leon, (956) 463-0655, Deleon.claudia@gmail.com
Fernando Bergas-Coria, (614) 887-6357 fernandoGBC@live.com
ABOUT LULAC ‐ The League of United Latin American Citizens, better known as LULAC (www.lulac.org), the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community‐based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
ABOUT The Ohio Hispanic Coalition ‐ The Ohio Hispanic Coalition (OHCO) was founded in 1990 as an advocacy agency; today it has grown into a multi‐service agency serving the growing Latino/Hispanic community in Ohio. The Mission of OHCO is to improve the well being and quality of life of all Latinos through advocacy, education, training and access to quality services.
ABOUT Campaign for High School Equity ‐ The Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) is a coalition of leading civil rights organizations representing communities of color that is focused on high school education reform. It was formed to address the unequal American public education system, which does not provide high‐quality education to students of color and youth from low‐income neighborhoods.
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