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| Photo credit to: Joella Marano |
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
Rev. Carmen Hernandez
Founder
The NYCLGBTQS Chamber of
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 Sherwood, President, 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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