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Announcement :: Protest Activity

Boycott the sponsors of Bill Bennett's show .. Pier 1 and NAPA Auto Parts

Bill Bennett said that crime would go down if Black babies were aborted. This statement was made on Bennett's radio show. We are calling for a boycott of the sponsors of that show ... NAPA Auto Parts, and Pier 1.
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The Lynching of Bill Bennett

Who is Bill Bennett?

Bennett served as Reagan's chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1981-1985, and as Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988. He was “drug czar” for President Bush from 1989 to 1990.

A caller to Bennett's radio show had argued that had there not been 45 million abortions since Roe v. Wade, there might be enough young workers today to prevent Social Security from heading for insolvency.

Bennett cautioned his caller against relying on economic arguments to settle moral issues. Noting that the bestseller "Freakonomics" tied legalized abortion to the drop in the number of young males and falling crime, Bennett, in rebuttal, tossed out this:

"If you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and our crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."

Of more interest is the lynch-mob reaction to Bennett's remarks. Rep. Melvin Watt, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, declared:

"These kinds of outrageous comments will continue unless there are economic consequences to those who make them. I therefore call on all radio station owners who carry Bill Bennett's show to immediately terminate the show, and if they fail to do so, I call on his sponsors and advertisers to withdraw their advertising dollars."

Boycotting Pier 1 Imports, Inc., and NAPA Auto Parts.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR) reported that sales for the five-week period ended October 1, 2005 aggregated $162,166,000, a decline of 7.7% from $175,602,000 last year, and comparable store sales declined 10.6%. Year-to-date sales of $1,006,467,000 were down 5.0% from $1,059,900,000 last year, and comparable store sales declined 9.9%.

Marvin J. Girouard, Pier 1's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "September's comp store sales were in-line with our expectations. Customer traffic remained below last year for the month, average ticket sales were higher and conversion rates were slightly below the year-ago period.

The Leadership at Pier 1: (800) 245-4595 (their phone number)

Pier 1's executive management team:
Marvin J. Girouard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Charles H. Turner, Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
J. Rodney Lawrence, Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs,
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
E. Mitchell Weatherly, Executive Vice President of Stores
Jay R. Jacobs, Executive Vice President of Merchandising
Phil E. Schneider, Executive Vice President of Marketing
David A. Walker, Executive Vice President of Logistics & Allocations
Greg Humenesky, Executive Vice President of Human Resources

Below is the letter that we would like for you to mail or to Pier 1 regarding the boycott of Pier 1 products. You can also call Pier 1 at their toll free number (800) 245-4595.

=========================================
Mr. Marvin Girouard
Chairman and CEO
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
100 Pier 1 Place
Fort Worth, TX 78102

Re: Former Education Secretary William J. Bennett

Dear Mr. Girouard:

I am boycotting your product because of your sponsorship of former Education Secretary William J. Bennett's "Morning in America" radio program on KRLA radio in Los Angeles, California. During the week of September 25, 2005, Mr. Bennett made the following statement about African Americans on his show: "But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime would go down."

The above is one of the most vicious statements that has ever been uttered in the media about African Americans. In spite of the fact that many American leaders, both Black and White, have called for an apology from Mr. Bennett, he has refused.

Please be advised that I do not buy products from any company that sponsors anyone who insults or maligns Black people. Therefore, I am boycotting your products, and I am advising all of my friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers an the members of my church to do the same.

Sincerely,

========================================

Please send the same letter to NAPA Auto Parts. Please address your letter to:

Mr. Steve Handschuh
President and CEO
NAPA Auto Parts
2999 Circle 75 Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339

You can call NAPA with your complaint at 1-877-805-6272, from 8:00 a.m. EST to 8:00 p.m, Monday - Friday.
 
 

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