Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Latina Leaders Demand Apology from ABC for Derogatory Remarks about Rosie Perez

Photo credit to: Joella Marano
#YoSoyRosie: LATINA LEADERS DEMAND APOLOGY FROM ABC FOR DEROGATORY REMARKS MADE ABOUT ROSIE PEREZ IN OPEN LETTER TO PRODUCERS OF “THE VIEW”

Press Release Received Via Email today:


New York, NY, January 20, 2015 – A group of high-powered Latinas from a wide range of professions – politicians, scholars, artists, business owners, activists, professors, authors – released an open letter to the producers of “The View” this morning demanding an apology to iconic actor Rosie Perez and all Latinas for derogatory comments made about Ms. Perez by one or more sources at the show.  New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, former New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, best-selling author Esmeralda Santiago, and award-winning playwright Josefina Lopez are among the signatories.

The group’s outrage stems from recent comments issued to the press saying that Ms. Perez “is not the sharpest tool in the box” and “can’t read a TelePrompTer.”  “Questioning a woman’s intelligence is an old stereotype that is sexist and in this case, also racist,” the letter states.  It goes on to say, “When you disparage the only Latina on “The View” you disparage all Latinas.”

The letter is signed #yosoyrosie, launching a viral campaign to collect comments from others on this “hot topic.”


A full copy of the letter with the full list of signatories follows.





January 20, 2015


Open letter to the Executive Producers of “The View”

We are outraged that in the past few weeks a source from “The View” has been dispensing derogatory information to the press about Rosie Perez, first telling a NY Daily News reporter that Ms. Perez “is not the sharpest tool in the box” and most recently, being quoted in the industry outlet, Variety, saying that Ms. Perez “can’t read a TelePrompTer.”

It doesn’t take a genius to read into the racist and sexist language hurled against Ms. Perez. Questioning a woman’s intelligence is an old stereotype that is sexist and in this case, also racist. The stereotype that Latinas are stupid is outrageous. There is no excuse for this behavior. Network officials should not tolerate this kind of racist conduct.

The fact that the leaks come from one of your staffers is deeply offensive. Implicit in the insider comments is that Ms. Perez is unintelligent and illiterate. Ms. Perez is a beloved community icon, an acclaimed author, director, a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV& AIDS, an Academy Award nominated actor, a Broadway stage actor, and a dedicated activist. Those close to her know her as a compassionate and generous woman—yet this cowardly insider has maliciously smeared her anonymously.

When ABC announced that it had named Ms. Perez to co-host “The View,” the Latino and Latina community was proud and enthusiastic with the choice. Though it took show executives eighteen years to cast permanent Latina representation on the show, as Latinos and Latinas, we were delighted that finally someone of such caliber was chosen. That the network named an award-winning entertainer with an impressive history of activism in education, the arts, and Latino causes, was even more impressive. In naming Ms. Perez as a co-host, ABC chose an intelligent, committed, and esteemed Latina role model. People magazine's critic Tom Gliatto acknowledged Ms. Perez as the “best thing about the new View” and a “keeper.” The fact that in less than four months someone from your staff and network is slandering her is not only outrageous but, unacceptable.

We are furthermore disappointed that industry leader, Variety, chose to go with a story quoting an anonymous insider and failed to give Ms. Perez and her management an opportunity to respond. This is shoddy journalism at its best. Your bland statement in response to Variety’s article that Rosie Perez’ “status with the show has not changed,” added insult to injury.

Ms. Perez, Latinas and the entire Latino community merits respect, not insults. We expect more from the staff of “The View” and ABC network.

When you disparage the only Latina on “The View” you disparage all Latinas. Rosie Perez and by extension, all Latinas, deserve an immediate apology.

Sincerely,
 #yosoyrosie

Dalia E. Almanza-Smith
Associate Publisher
LATINO Magazine

Carmen Alustiza-Mondesire
Artist

Marilyn Alverio
CEO
Latinas & Power Inc.

Clara Padilla Andrews
President, Padilla Media 

Rosi Amador
Amador Bilingual

Marcela Bailey
Chief Digital Officer
Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Dolores Batista 
Allstate Insurance Company
Agency Owner, Karma Group LLC

Juana Bordas
President
Mestiza Leadership International

Sarah R. Bisconte
Independent Publicist

Marisa Calderon
Chief of Staff/Deputy Executive Director
NAHREP – National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

Elba Cabrera
Arts Activist

Dr. Zulmara Cline
CSU Administrator
CEO Roots and Wings
Founder of Latina Gratitude Month

Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez
Former Secretary of State, New York

Evelyn Collazo
Artist

Lisa Trevino Cummins
President
Urban Strategies

Ingrid Duran
Co-Founder & Principal
D&P Creative Strategies

Gina Linn Espinoza
Founder /CEO, UpLatino,
Get Wise Latinas & Million Latina March

Dolores M. Fernandez
Professor
Hunter College, CUNY

Aurora Flores
CEO
Aurora Communications, Inc.

Honorable Lucy Flores
Senior Attorney
Maddox, Isaacson & Cisneros, LLP

Marisol Gómez-Mouakad
Producer, Director
Hormiga Cinema, LLC


Jessica González-Rojas
Executive Director
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Christine Gutierrez
Psychotherapist & Life Coach

Sandra Guzmán
Author, Journalist
Former Editor, Latina, heart & soul magazines

Bel Hernandez
Executive Producer, CBS2 Hola
Publisher, Latinheat.com

Rev. Carmen Hernandez
Founder
The NYCLGBTQS Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Amy Hinojosa
President and CEO
MANA, A National Latina Organization

Madeline LaSalle, LCSW
Founder & Executive Director 
Latinas Leading Tomorrow 

Dhalma Llanos Figueroa
Author

Tania M. Lambert
Writer Editor

Josefina López
Founding & Artistic Director
CASA 0101 Theater
Playwright, Real Women Have Curves

Ashley Love
Social Justice Activist, Journalist



Sandra E. Madrid, PhD
University of Washington Administrator 
Past Chair National Hispania Leadership Institute 
Founding Member, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington 

Azucena Maldonado
Founder/CEO
LGA - Latina Golfers Association

Melissa Mark-Viverito
City Council Member
Speaker, New York City Council

Loyda Martinez
Community Activist
Northern New Mexico

Rosa M. Melendez
Former U.S. Marshal for the Western District of WA
Retired Region 10 Director, USDOJ-CRS

Elisha Miranda
Writer, Director, Professor
Chica Sol Films

Marisol Morales
Director of Civic and Community Engagement
University of La Verne

Dr. Marta Moreno Vega
President & Founder
Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Center

Ivette Mayo
Founder & CEO
Yo Soy Expressions, LLC

Cecilia Mota
Founder
Coaching on the Go Network
Executive Director
Manny Mota International Foundation

Nancy Santiago Negron, Esq.
Opportunity Finance Network

Linda Nieves-Powell
Writer, Director

Maria F. Nieto
Writer, Producer

Catherine Pino
Co-Founder & Principal
D&P Creative Strategies

Kathy Quintana
Executive Vice President
HUB International Insurance Services Inc.

Sofia Quintero
Writer, Producer

Carmen Ramos-Watson
President/CEO
QMRI

Elianne Ramos
Principal, Speak Hispanic Communications
Founder, Border Kids Relief Project

Gladys Rivera
President, Puerto Rican Day Parade
Greater Hartford Region

Gina Rodriguez
Owner
Hecho con Cariño

Shirley Rodriguez
Founder & CEO
Create the Remarkable Inc.

Rosanna Rosado
Publisher Emeritus
El Diario La Prensa

Esmeralda Santiago
Author

Teresa Santiago, Chairperson 
Comite Noviembre 

Diana Shakti Contreras
Professor
CE Mesa College

Carmen Sierra
Director, Parent University

Dayanara Torres
Miss Universe 1993
Actor, Author

Jeannette Torres-Alvarez 
Mental Health Counselor-Early Childhood Expert 

Lydia Varela
Founder
LatinaXchange

Sandra Velasquez
Singer/Songwriter
Pistolera

CC:

Ben SherwoodPresident, Disney

David Sloan

Tom Cibrowski
Sr. Vice President ABC News Division


Bill Wolff
Executive producer, ABC's "The View"

Randy Barone, ABC’s The View
Executive Producer

Barbara Fedida
Executive Producer

Brian Balthazar
Senior Executive Producer, ABC’s The View

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