ACTION ITEM (04/30/95)

ACTION ITEM

We've got to keep the pressure on and keep up our protests against the defamatory CBS segment "The Ugly Face of Freedom." But our actions need to be specific and focused. Our ultimate goal is to convince CBS to retract and apologize for the allegations made by Morley Sater during "The Ugly Face Of Freedom" broadcast ("60 Minutes," October 23, 1994). In the short term it's up to us to prevent a rebroadcast (rerun) of "The Ugly Face Of Freedom."

Many of you have written to CBS "60 Minutes," and its corporate sponsors. Their responses were varied. Two corporate sponsors, General Motors (GM) and Toyota, present a stark contrast. GM responded that "we understand the sensitivity of the subject presented by the program and, therefore, provided that General Motors is notified that CBS is scheduling to re-air this broadcast, we will make every attempt to pull any scheduled advertising from this program."

By comparison, Toyota responded that the company "does not hold a position either way concerning the content of the '60 Minutes' program..." Despite follow-up letters to Toyota questioning how it could remain neutral when "60 Minutes" repeated the blatantly racist allegation that Ukrainians are "genetically anti-Semitic," Toyota did not respond.

Toyota has ignored us. What do we do? We're asking for a commitment from Toyota identical to the one made by General Motors: that Toyota will pull its advertising from any rerun of "The Ugly Face Of Freedom." To help make this happen, we need you to:

1. Call Toyota headquarters in Torrance, Calif. Indicate your displeasure over sponsorship of "The Ugly Face Of Freedom." Ask Toyota for a written commitment that it will not sponsor any re-broadcast of "The Ugly Face Of Freedom." (Toyota's phone number is listed below.)

2. Write and fax Toyota. (Toyota's address and fax number are listed below.)

3. Contribute to our effort. Make out checks to "Ukrainian Culture Center." Under memo please note: "Anti-Defamation Fund."

Phone, write and fax to:
Jon Bucci, National Advertising Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc.
Torrance, CA 90509-2991.
fax: (310) 618-7814
phone: (310) 618-4000

- submitted by Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles

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