Bay Area Residents Protest Hate Speech

In 2007, the NHMC joined forces with Dr. Marcos Gutierrez, a radio and TV personality in the Bay Area for the last 25 years, in the fight against hate speech in the media.  In San Francisco last summer, Gutierrez assembled a group of American Latino community leaders, Human Rights organizations, pro-immigrant groups, volunteers and radio "Hecho en California” 1010AM/990AM listeners in a large protest against Clear Channel, “The Savage Nation” radio show, and its host, Michael Savage.     

Below are excerpts from the original complaint document that the newly formed “Hispanic Anti-Defamation Coalition” put together in July/August 2007 and sent to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), among other elected officials representing the San Francisco region, to illustrate their frustrations and concerns about the anti-Latino rhetoric and racist remarks that aired on “The Savage Nation.”

"HATE SPEECH ON RADIO – A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY"
 
A formal complaint by Bay Area Residents, representing American Citizens, Minorities, Immigrants and Civil Organizations:
 
The country's civil safety and harmony is increasingly being disturbed and stirred up by extreme, racist agendas.  Based on hatred, falsehoods, abysmal ignorance, and arrogance devoid of any moral conscience or respect to another human being.

No, we are not talking about Adolf Hitler; in fact, we are accusing Michael A. Weiner (aka Michael Savage) and his Talk Radio Show "The Savage Nation" based in San Francisco, and other radio hosts like him of using the same Nazi Xenophobic speech against Hispanic undocumented and documented immigrants, minorities in general and against the Gay community.  Savage also uses extremely disrespectful and vile language against our female Democrat Representatives and that also is not acceptable!
 
A sample of his (Savage’s) hateful rhetoric aired on July 5, 2007.  During that week, a group of Honor College Graduates were fasting for several days as a peaceful way to request for the approval of the DREAM act that would enable them to become legal residents and thus pay State's tuition instead of the higher out-of-State tuition fees.  On this subject, Savage said "LET THEM FAST UNTIL THEY STARVE TO DEATH, THEN THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM! Because then we won't have a problem about giving them green cards, because they're illegal aliens; they don't belong here . . . they're criminals!."  The students asked themselves: "Criminals for what?  For studying hard?  For wanting to become Doctors and Engineers for the good of America?"
 
Michael Savage has crossed the line ONE TOO MANY TIMES!  We refuse to tolerate this any longer!  He threatens the life of our children!  Michael Savage and others like him are responsible for the DIRE PERIL of racism and discrimination in which an entire community of hard-working Hispanic families and talented students find themselves in present times.  The First Amendment does NOT extend to include HATE SPEECH in public civil discourse on the airwaves, WHICH THE PEOPLE OWN.   Furthermore, we call for IMMEDIATE consequences for ALL radio hosts under full license who utter such hateful speech!  For the sake of our country, we are respectfully asking for your support.
          
          
The following is an update from the “Hispanic Anti-Defamation Coalition”:

• On August 14th, 2007 the newly formed Hispanic Anti-Defamation Coalition held a Press Conference on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, informing the public about the campaign against Clear Channel/The Savage Nation Show/Michael Savage.
  
  
• On August 15th, 2007 almost 500 people participated in a well organized and orderly rally/protest in front of Clear Channel building at 340 Townsend St., San Francisco.  On that date Dr. Marcos Gutierrez gave a formal letter to Clear Channel management. In that letter the group expressed its discontent with the type of dangerous and xenophobic anti-Hispanic-immigrant hate speech that it is allowed through Clear Channel’s broadcasting of “The Savage Nation” radio show. 
  
  
• A few weeks later Clear Channel contacted Dr. Marcos Gutierrez, informing the group its interest in having discussions with the activist group. Dr. Gutierrez, along with representatives from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, plan to make contact with Clear Channel very soon.