Post by brandon on Mar 22, 2007 9:58:30 GMT -5
The name of this kills me!
Hispanics steamed by shock radio stunt
Thursday, March 22, 2007
By ELIZABETH LLORENTE
AP STAFF WRITER
Hispanic political and community leaders are up in arms over a New Jersey radio show that is exhorting listeners to report suspected illegal immigrants to 101.5 FM or federal authorities.
The leaders say the radio station's campaign -- named "La Cuca Gotcha" -- is clearly anti-Hispanic and may encourage racial profiling and other bias incidents against Hispanics.
"It's a despicable campaign and clearly slanted at Hispanics," said Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. "The campaign describes us as bugs that have to be stamped out."
Hispanics, including some from North Jersey, are demanding that the station end the on-air campaign, and that the hosts -- Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, aka "The Jersey Guys" -- apologize publicly to New Jersey's Hispanics.
Carton, who along with Rossi has been mired in other controversies, said the campaign is not anti-Hispanic and that they want listeners to help authorities track down illegal immigrants "of any origin."
Caraballo, a Democrat, said the campaign "encourages a vigilante movement against illegal immigrants, or people who look different."
Hispanic leaders plan to voice their concerns at a news conference today at Caraballo's district office in Newark.
Caraballo said he plans to obtain a list of the show's sponsors and ask Hispanics to boycott their products if the hosts don't apologize and end the campaign.
In a letter he wrote to the station, Caraballo said the campaign uses a slogan -- "La Cuca Gotcha" -- that "insults the Hispanic community through a play on the Spanish word for cockroach – "cucaracha."
In an e-mail to The Record, Carton said the campaign focuses on a valid concern – illegal immigration – and encourages listeners to help through legitimate channels.
"Any suggestion that this is motivated by racism is a crock and offensive," he said. "We have never condoned any type of violence or other immoral act against illegal immigrants. We have nothing against Hispanics at all and have never suggested that the only illegal immigrants in New Jersey are Hispanic."
Carton also dismissed speculation among Hispanic leaders that the campaign was a ratings ploy. "I don't need any more attention nor help with the ratings," Carton said of the well-known show.
Groups that favor strict immigration enforcement are lauding Carton and Rossi.
"The Jersey Guys are a bit like Howard Stern," said Carmen Perez, a Middlesex County resident who belongs to "You Don't Speak for Me," a national group of Hispanics who favor strict immigration policies. "They say what other people are terrified to say because of the sensitivity of our Hispanic friends, Muslims and etc."
Carton and Rossi, based in Trenton, launched the campaign in February, but many Hispanics statewide heard about it only this week through NJLatinoissues.com, a "listserv" for subscribers. The Spanish-language media this week have heavily covered the controversy.
New Jersey 101.5 can be heard in much of the state, including parts of North Jersey, and by anyone online.
"We cannot ignore this," said Gustavo Ramirez, the executive director of the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization, based in Passaic. "We as a community have to be much more active in rejecting positions that foment hate. The public cannot be deputized as immigration agents; it goes against an orderly, civilized society."
While most of the dozen Hispanics interviewed said a strong response is needed, the executive director of the Paramus-based Hispanic Institute for Research and Development said the campaign should be ignored.
"They want this attention," Emilio Fandino said. "I don't think most Americans agree with them or will participate. I think Americans are more fair and decent than that. [The hosts] are shock talk radio, so their objective is to offend and shock."
Hispanics steamed by shock radio stunt
Thursday, March 22, 2007
By ELIZABETH LLORENTE
AP STAFF WRITER
Hispanic political and community leaders are up in arms over a New Jersey radio show that is exhorting listeners to report suspected illegal immigrants to 101.5 FM or federal authorities.
The leaders say the radio station's campaign -- named "La Cuca Gotcha" -- is clearly anti-Hispanic and may encourage racial profiling and other bias incidents against Hispanics.
"It's a despicable campaign and clearly slanted at Hispanics," said Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. "The campaign describes us as bugs that have to be stamped out."
Hispanics, including some from North Jersey, are demanding that the station end the on-air campaign, and that the hosts -- Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, aka "The Jersey Guys" -- apologize publicly to New Jersey's Hispanics.
Carton, who along with Rossi has been mired in other controversies, said the campaign is not anti-Hispanic and that they want listeners to help authorities track down illegal immigrants "of any origin."
Caraballo, a Democrat, said the campaign "encourages a vigilante movement against illegal immigrants, or people who look different."
Hispanic leaders plan to voice their concerns at a news conference today at Caraballo's district office in Newark.
Caraballo said he plans to obtain a list of the show's sponsors and ask Hispanics to boycott their products if the hosts don't apologize and end the campaign.
In a letter he wrote to the station, Caraballo said the campaign uses a slogan -- "La Cuca Gotcha" -- that "insults the Hispanic community through a play on the Spanish word for cockroach – "cucaracha."
In an e-mail to The Record, Carton said the campaign focuses on a valid concern – illegal immigration – and encourages listeners to help through legitimate channels.
"Any suggestion that this is motivated by racism is a crock and offensive," he said. "We have never condoned any type of violence or other immoral act against illegal immigrants. We have nothing against Hispanics at all and have never suggested that the only illegal immigrants in New Jersey are Hispanic."
Carton also dismissed speculation among Hispanic leaders that the campaign was a ratings ploy. "I don't need any more attention nor help with the ratings," Carton said of the well-known show.
Groups that favor strict immigration enforcement are lauding Carton and Rossi.
"The Jersey Guys are a bit like Howard Stern," said Carmen Perez, a Middlesex County resident who belongs to "You Don't Speak for Me," a national group of Hispanics who favor strict immigration policies. "They say what other people are terrified to say because of the sensitivity of our Hispanic friends, Muslims and etc."
Carton and Rossi, based in Trenton, launched the campaign in February, but many Hispanics statewide heard about it only this week through NJLatinoissues.com, a "listserv" for subscribers. The Spanish-language media this week have heavily covered the controversy.
New Jersey 101.5 can be heard in much of the state, including parts of North Jersey, and by anyone online.
"We cannot ignore this," said Gustavo Ramirez, the executive director of the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization, based in Passaic. "We as a community have to be much more active in rejecting positions that foment hate. The public cannot be deputized as immigration agents; it goes against an orderly, civilized society."
While most of the dozen Hispanics interviewed said a strong response is needed, the executive director of the Paramus-based Hispanic Institute for Research and Development said the campaign should be ignored.
"They want this attention," Emilio Fandino said. "I don't think most Americans agree with them or will participate. I think Americans are more fair and decent than that. [The hosts] are shock talk radio, so their objective is to offend and shock."