Detroit Free Press: Lowe's faces increasing backlash for pulling ads from 'All-American Muslim'

[marmar]

A decision by the retail chain Lowe's to pull its ads from a TV show based on Dearborn's Muslim community has sparked an intense outcry from Muslim-Americans and their supporters.

The unfolding controversy has gained attention worldwide, as media news outlets including NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the BBC, and Time magazine, reported on it today.

Over the past few days, Muslims have launched an online campaign against the home improvement store, urging it to apologize and start running ads again on TLC’s “All-American Muslim,” a reality TV series that showcases the lives of five Lebanese-American Shia Muslim families.

Lowe's stopped running commercials during "All-American Muslim" after a conservative group known as the Florida Family Association e-mailed companies to ask them to stop advertising on the show. The group said the program is "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values." ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20111212/NEWS02/111212022/Lowe-s-faces-increasing-backlash-pulling-ads-from-All-American-Muslim-retailer-apologizes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[Stuart G]

1. Thanks For Posting, k and r..

[Old and In the Way]

2. As well they should.

Disgusting that they'd allow a small, shrill group of Islamophobes to dictate their ad placements aimed at an entire population. They deserve the backlash for not ignoring these anti-American teabaggers.

I wish there was a link to a petition I can sign. I've used Lowes instead of Home Dept...I really hope I don't have to find yet another place to shop.

[DCKit]

3. What you said. There are no longer a lot of good options.

However, I've been looking for hard for locally owned lumber yards.

[jdadd]

4. I really hate to hear this......

Guess I'll be driving the additional ½ mile to Menards now.....

[Scuba]

5. Here's the CEO's email, and the message I sent him....

[e-mail]




Mr. Niblock,

This message is in response to your decision to pull advertising from the television show All-American Muslim.

By bending to the will of a few anti-Muslim bigots you have further enabled their prejudice. At the same time, you have offended millions of Americans - Muslim and otherwise - who understand real Muslims don't support terrorists acts being carried out in their name any more than all Lutherans and Republicans support Timothy McVeigh's terrorist actions in Oklahoma City (McVeigh was Lutheran, and Republican).

I'll no longer be shopping at Lowe's until you have atoned for this action. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Sincerely,

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. thanks for posting -- knr

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Its not clear that the FL fundie group was the cause

Yes they are claiming it, but it seems unlikely.

The reality is that advertisers/retail businesses do not seek controversy. Lowes is not different. This attracted it, and they are screwed. Their media buyer is most likely fired by now for it.

I don't think Lowes cares one way or the other except to be non-controversial, and they clearly have failed.