Read the transcript and follow the link to write a letter to MSNBC and WFAN expressing your protest of Imus' statements. We've made it simple!
The morning after Tennessee defeated Rutgers for the NCAA Division I National Women's Basketball Championship, WFAN radio's and MSNBC's “Imus in the Morning” (a simulcast) aired the following conversation:
Transcript from the April 4 edition of MSNBC's “Imus in the Morning”:
IMUS: So, I watched the basketball game last night between -- a little bit of Rutgers and Tennessee, the women's final.
ROSENBERG: Yeah, Tennessee won last night -- seventh championship for [Tennessee coach] Pat Summitt, I-Man. They beat Rutgers by 13 points.
IMUS: That's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos and --
McGUIRK: Some hard-core hos.
IMUS: That's some nappy-headed hos there. I'm gonna tell you that now, man, that's some -- woo. And the girls from Tennessee, they all look cute, you know, so, like -- kinda like -- I don't know.
McGUIRK: A Spike Lee thing.
IMUS: Yeah.
McGUIRK: The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes -- that movie that he had.
IMUS: Yeah, it was a tough --
McCORD: Do The Right Thing.
McGUIRK: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
IMUS: I don't know if I'd have wanted to beat Rutgers or not, but they did, right?
ROSENBERG: It was a tough watch. The more I look at Rutgers, they look exactly like the Toronto Raptors.
IMUS: Well, I guess, yeah.
RUFFINO: Only tougher.
McGUIRK: The [Memphis] Grizzlies would be more appropriate.
Perhaps the most unfortunate part of these statements is that it is simply part of an ongoing pattern, as Don Imus' radio show has been home to numerous racist and misogynistic remarks for years, including a reference to Venus Williams as “an animal.” What's more, he has consistently made such comments about some of the most gifted and talented members of our society, which truly exposes his near-sighted beliefs – he does not see past skin color or gender. It is time this pattern came to an end.
There needs to be a conversation about the treatment of women and women in sport in the media. As supporters and advocates of women's sports, we must not allow Don Imus to denigrate the champions who serve as the greatest role models for young girls and who have truly achieved through raw talent and grueling hard work.
Please join us in calling for Don Imus' removal from the airwaves by calling, writing or e-mailing the executives of WFAN, CBS Radio/Westwood One and MSNBC to do the right thing and stop promoting bigotry on their airwaves.