OPEN LETTER TO ANDREW LACK, CHAIRMAN OF NBC NEWS AND MSNBC
For Immediate Release
June 13, 2017
Contact Info:
Po Murray
pmurray@newtownaction.org
OPEN LETTER TO ANDREW LACK, CHAIRMAN OF NBC NEWS AND MSNBC
Dear Mr. Lack:
We implore you to pull Megyn Kelly’s interview with Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on June 18th on Father’s Day.
The brutal and fatal shootings of 20 children and six educators here in our neighborhood elementary school in Sandy Hook on December 14, 2012 are a matter of fact. It was one of the most devastating events in the history of Newtown and one of the worst school shootings in America. This tragic incident of gun violence shattered our hearts and devastated our community.
Our community has been working on healing and recovery for the last four and a half years. Many families directly impacted by the shooting and thousands of community members have taken meaningful actions to honor the lives lost by promoting love and kindness; supporting youth, education, research and tolerance; and/or working to prevent gun violence in our nation.
After the tragedy, millions of Americans sent their love, prayers and support for our community. However, there were some delusional Americans who decided to publicly deny that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred and a few have threatened some of the families who lost their loved ones. Alex Jones from InfoWars is one of the conspiracy theorists who believes the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax carried out by paid actors. His views are false, hateful and dangerous for the families impacted by the Sandy Hook tragedy and all other tragedies.
We believe your decision to allow Megyn Kelly to interview Alex Jones and airing it on Father’s Day is beyond heartless and reckless. Many families directly impacted by the Sandy Hook tragedy have spoken out against your decision to use your national platform to spread the conspiracy theory propaganda for a morally bankrupt individual in our society. The Sandy Hook families and the Newtown community deserve respect and support to continue to heal. The 26 Sandy Hook fathers and husbands turning on the news on Father’s Day should not be subjected to Alex Jones denying that their children or wives were shot and killed.
Unless NBC makes a decision to pull the interview, we will be encouraging all corporations and entities advertising on NBC to join J.P. Morgan in asking NBC to remove all local television and digital ads from Ms. Kelly’s show and from all NBC news programming until after the show airs.
Since the Sandy Hook tragedy, nearly half a million Americans have been killed or injured by guns. It’s time for the media outlets to do more to use its national platform to “shine a light” on the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities across the nation rather than spreading conspiracy theory propaganda.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.
Po Murray,
Chairman
Newtown Action Alliance
Sandy Hook, CT
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The Newtown Action Alliance (www.newtownaction.org) is a grassroots organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It works to make America’s children, families, and all citizens safer through legislative and cultural change that will reduce gun violence in our nation.