NOW Joins Protest of Racist Comments on Airwaves

Bill Bennett's On-Air Bigotry is Hurtful, Destructive

October 4, 2005

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could-if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."-Former Education Secretary William Bennett, on his radio show, "Morning in America," Sept. 28, 2005

In a word: appalling.

Bill Bennett's suggestion that aborting "every black baby" would reduce crime is horrifying in its dangerous combination of racism and ignorance. Instead of understanding how poverty, not race, fuels crime (and grappling with the disproportionate poverty of women and people of color), not to mention the unassailable fact that far more crime is committed by whites than by African-Americans, Bennett would prefer to sit behind a microphone and spew bigotry to 1.25 million listeners.

Bennett's comments reveal a deep disdain for African-American families, and the cavalier attitude of a Bush crony who is more concerned with assigning blame than recognizing the racism behind these hateful stereotypes.

Author of "The Book of Virtues" and a proponent of "traditional, family values," Bennett was the Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan and drug czar under the first President Bush. He has seen firsthand the inequalities in this country that hurt African-Americans the most. Instead of being a source of vitriol, he should be among the first to condemn this kind of hate. The mere mention of abortion by race raises the question whether Bennett and his conservative supporters value some lives over others.

NOW leaders will join Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus-a coalition of political, social and community organizations promoting leadership and involvement among young people-in a protest on Wednesday in front of Salem Radio Network while Bennett is taping his show.

What:	Protest at Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" radio program
When:	Wednesday, Oct. 5, 8:30 a.m.
Where:	Salem Radio Network, 1901 N. Moore Street, Arlington, Va. (Metro: Rosslyn stop on Blue/Orange lines)

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906

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