Posts Tagged: protests/boycotts

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Trash piles up on NYC streets as sanitation workers protest vaccine mandates

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Garbage bags pile up on streets all over Manhattan as sanitation workers blame NYC's mandatory Covid-19 mRNA vaccination mandates.

A source told the New York Post, garbage collectors are "engaging in a rule-book slowdown" by returning to their garages for things like gloves or gas to delay the garbage collections.

Supervisors have been warning about threats to vandalize garbage trucks, according to the source.

The strict mandates were imposed by Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio who reportedly said 24,000+ unvaccinated city workers will get their shots or lose their jobs.

He seems to think the city can manage just fine without thousands of essential workers.

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Teamsters Local 831 President Harry Nespoli, whose union represents the sanitation workers, said the workers are engaged in a rule-book slowdown.

"I'll tell you straight out: I disagree with the mandate because of one reason. We have a program in place right now in the department, which is, you get the vaccination or you get tested once a week."

However, Mayor de Blasio has required all city workers to get the mRNA vaccines. Weekly testing is not an option.

At least 26 NY fire departments were shuttered in the city due to a shortage in firefighters who refused to get the vaccines.

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Dave Chappelle Caves, Says He’s Open to Sitting Down with Netflix Transgender Group

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Dave Chappelle has agreed to sit down with transgender employees at Netflix who staged a walkout near the company's Los Angeles headquarters on Wednesday.

Chappelle, 48, came under fire for transgender jokes in his Netflix comedy special, The Closer.

He remained silent as LGBT+ activists on both sides protested and defended his comedy special.

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Dave now says he is willing to sit down at the table with Netflix employees who feel he caused harm to transgender people with his off-color jokes.

The comedian's rep tells TMZ that Dave is open to dialogue if Netflix employees reach out to him for a discussion.

Dave's camp says no one from Netflix has approached Chappelle or his team about setting up a meeting, which conflicts with what Netflix employees claim.

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Activist Ashlee Marie Preston (pictured) claims Chappelle rejected an invitation to meet with the transgender employees.

As TMZ reported, Preston invited Chappelle to come to the table to talk about the damage he's inflicted on the LGBTQ+ community, but "Dave chose not to show up."

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Dave's camp says he's open to dialogue with any group, as he points out in his Netflix special jokes.

Dave made the point in his special, that empathy should go both ways and that transgenders should stop "punching down" on his people.

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Netflix Trans Employees Walk Out in Protest of Dave Chappelle Comedy Special

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The Netflix employee walkout is happening now outside Netflix's Los Angeles headquarters in protest over Dave Chappelle's comedy special.

Hundreds of employees walked out of Netflix's headquarters on Wednesday, Oct. 20. The protesters are angry over Chappelle's transgender jokes in his comedy special The Closer.
 

 

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"Transphobia is not a joke," said Ashlee Marie Preston (pictured), who organized the walkout.

"We're up against the emergence of hate economy. And there is this manipulation of algorithmic science that distorts the way that we perceive ourselves and others. And I think that companies like Netflix, Facebook, and Instagram, they play into it, and they monetize on it. And so I think that this is important to show up today."

Preston invited Chappelle to meet with them before the walkout, but he refused.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Chappelle's transgender supporters tried to disrupt the protest.

Counter protesters held up signs reading "Jokes Are Funny," and "Netflix Don't Cancel Free Speech."

"We are protesting this walkout. They have the right to do it, but we have the right to standup for Dave Chappelle and his freedom of expression," said Gigi LaRoux, a transgender Chappelle supporter.

"This boils down to equality, and if people want equality they need to be put on the same level as anybody else. Comedians are equal opportunity destroyers. You can't pick and choose who you're going to make fun of."

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos walked back memos he sent to staff in support of Chappelle.

"I can tell you I screwed up those two communications, but my stance hasn't changed," Sarandos said in a phone interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Sarandos said he should have acknowledged that "a group of our employees were in pain" and "hurt" by the company's decision to air the special.

"I'd say those emails lacked humanity, in which I like to and I do generally communicate with our teams," he added.
 

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Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Apologizes for Memos About Dave Chappelle Ahead of Employee Walkout

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Ted Sarandos apologized for internal memos to his staff about Dave Chappelle ahead of a planned walkout by 1,000 Netflix employees on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

Sarandos previously insisted he wouldn't remove Chappelle's hit comedy special, The Closer, despite outrage from transgender employees over Chappelle's transgender jokes.

"I can tell you I screwed up those two communications, but my stance hasn't changed," the Netflix co-CEO said in a phone interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Sarandos said he should have acknowledged that "a group of our employees were in pain" and "hurt" by the company's decision to air the special.

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"I'd say those emails lacked humanity, in which I like to and I do generally communicate with our teams," said Sarandos who is married to Nicole Avant, former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.

"...this is the problem when you have a leaked email out of context, is it's part of a conversation already in progress, and that line of causing harm in the real world was way over simplistic and talking about something very specific that we were talking about earlier that day."

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Sarandos reiterated that Chappelle's comedy special - for which the comedian was paid $24.1 million - was in line with Netflix's stringent policy on harmful content.

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The Netflix chief (right) said he didn't think it would be "appropriate" for him to add a disclaimer about harmful content before airing Chappelle's special.

"The content is age restricted already for language, and Dave himself gives a very explicit warning at the beginning of the show, so I don't think it would be appropriate in this case."

He continued:

"But I do think that the inclusion of the special on Netflix is consistent with our comedy offering, it's consistent with Dave Chappelle's comedy brand and this is ... one of those times when there's something on Netflix that you're not going to like."

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NeNe Leakes calls out Porsha Williams for not supporting her Bravo boycott

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NeNe Leakes called out her former colleague Porsha Williams for not supporting her Bravo TV boycott after she was unceremoniously let go last year.

The mom-of-two urged her fans to boycott the network after she was forced off The Real housewives of Atlanta for insubordination.

NeNe is bitter after being ousted from the cast of the reality TV show that she helped develop in the early days.

Now she is calling out Porsha for not supporting her boycott (screengrabs by RhymeswithSnitch).

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NeNe Leakes organizing protest outside Bravo’s ‘racist studios’

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Instagram/@neneleakes

NeNe Leakes is still bothered by her wrongful termination from Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. The 53-year-old, who was let go for being insubordinate, is calling on her fans to join her in protest outside Bravo's Atlanta studios.

RHOA's first million-dollar contract holder tweeted: "Be Smart and DO NOT SUPPORT count down shows TONIGHT that aren’t supporting or respecting BLACK WOMEN creativity/equality and blacklisting us from working if we speak the truth abt their wrong doings [sic]."

She added: "Don't believe me, believe your eyes... In 2021, we will form a March outside these racist studios #blackwomenmatter."

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Earlier, NeNe asked her followers to sign a petition and repost boycott flyers. She also asked fans to "turn off your TVs" and boycott the show.

NeNe retained the services of civl rights attorney Ben Crump in a bid to sue Bravo to get her job back.

During an Instagram live, the former stripper explained why she's accusing Bravo of racism and age discrimination. She said her white counterparts on other 'Housewives' shows were paid more and "elevated" while she was "demoted."

"It's not so much about me having my own show... When you work at any company you want elevation. It's about leveling up. Whether I'm an actress or an executive, everybody wants to level up on their opportunity or their job... as an original Housewife, a lot of these girls were being elevated, I was being demoted.

"I was given less and less episodes and these girls were given more and more episodes. I was given less. Original housewives across the board in different states, Beverly Hills, New Jersey, other places – they were given full seasons and I was given less episodes every season."

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Trump plans to meet with Jacob Blake’s family today; Mocks the NBA’s low TV ratings

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Getty Images, Twitter

President Donald Trump criticized the "highly political" National Basketball Association and mocked the NBA's low television ratings in a tweet on Tuesday.

Trump said the ratings are low because sports fans are tired of millionaire athletes mixing politics with sports.

"People are tired of watching the highly political @NBA. Basketball ratings are WAY down, and they won't be coming back. I hope football and baseball are watching and learning because the same thing will be happening to them. Stand tall for our Country and our Flag!!!"

NBA players boycotted 2 games to protest the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

But their anti-racism protests have rubbed sports fans the wrong way. According to The Athletic, network television ratings for the playoffs plunged 45% and 20% on ESPN.

Trump tweeted that he was heading to Kenosha Tuesday morning, where he plans to meet with Jacob Blake's family members, according to the White House.

Blake, 29, was shot 7 times in the back by a Kenosha police officer, and is paralyzed from the waist down.

Twitter suspended the account of a woman who said she was the aunt of Blake's girlfriend.

"Soph" tweeted: "Jacob raped my niece. The cops were called because he came back to her house, took her keys, and he's not supposed to be there."

When a Twitter user noted Blake should not have been shot in the back 7 times, Soph responded, "Should have been 50 times for what he did to my niece. but hopefully he survives so we can put him in jail."

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Liberals claimed her tweets were fake. But she later confirmed she wrote the tweets.

Twitter users dragged Trump for his divisive tweets during ongoing Black Lives Matter protests in Democratic cities around the country.

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Lakers and Clippers voted to boycott remainder of NBA season

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The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers are so emotionally drained over the shooting of an unarmed Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin that they voted to boycott the remainder of the NBA playoffs.

According to reports, the Lakers and Clippers were the only teams to take such drastic action after Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the other teams voted to continue the playoffs. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted, "The Clippers and Lakers voting on perhaps not continuing with the season was considered more of a polling, than a final vote, sources tell ESPN. The resumption of the playoffs remains still up in the air."

NBA insider David Aldridge tweeted, "Told the players’ meeting ended "ugly," per a source, with uncertainty about what will happen tomorrow. The union will be present at the special Board of Governors meeting, per a source." It appears that the games slated for Thursday will be postponed as well. "Discussions on continuing season will extend into tomorrow, sources tell ESPN, but appears unlikely the three playoff games on Thursday will be played. "Everyone is still too emotional," one high-ranking source tells ESPN. "There needs to be more time to come together on this," tweeted Woj.

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Muslims boycott Kanye West’s new Adidas sneaker line

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Kanye West outraged Muslims after naming his new Yeezy Boost sneaker line after the religious faith's archangels of music and death.

The 43-year-old rap producer has been accused of "disrespecting Islam" by unveiling his new line - the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Israfil and Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Asriel.

"Very disrespectful," one Twitter user wrote. "Adidas is disrespecting Islam. Israfil is one of the four angels in Islam. Shame on @adidasoriginals and @kanyewest."

Another user added: "Dear @Adidas I am gonna STOP buying and using your products if those Kanye West’s newest shoes' names aren’t changed because it IT DOES NOT RESPECT Islam (sic)."

Another critic accused West and Adidas of "making mockery of Islam."

A petition has been launched calling for Adidas bosses to change the name of the leisure shoes.

"Until further notice, we request all Muslims to boycott adidas products, cease all sale of adidas products by any Muslim owned 3rd party retail shops until adidas ceases the production of this commodity," the petition reads.

The sneaker launch comes amid the rap star's unlikely run for the White House. Kanye plans to challenge current U.S. leader Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden for America's top office in November. But his goal is falling short, as more states boot him off their ballots.

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Grocery Stores Remove Goya Products from Shelves as Boycott Picks Up Steam

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Grocery stores in Florida and Georgia removed Goya products from store shelves amid calls to boycott the company after the CEO heaped praise on President Trump.

Prominent Latinos expressed their outrage after Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue appeared in the Rose Garden and praised President Trump's for his support of Hispanic companies.

"We are so blessed to have you as our leader," Unanue told Trump on Thursday at the White House. Unanue was invited to the White House as part of the president's effort to court Latino supporters.

But prominent Latinos such as Julian Castro called for a boycott of Goya products under the hashtag #Goyaway on Twitter.com this week.

Goya Foods "has been a staple of so many Latino households for generations. Now their CEO, Bob Unanue, is praising a president who villainizes and maliciously attacks Latinos for political gain," Julian Castro, a former Democratic presidential candidate and an Obama administration Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said on Twitter.

"Americans should think twice before buying their products," he added.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is Mexican, added: "Oh look, it's the sound of me Googling 'how to make your own Adobo.'"

Goya Foods donates millions of dollars worth of food to charities and also employees hundreds of workers in its factory.

Unanue said he is not backing down despite the boycott, which he called a "suppression of free speech."

He noted that he also praised former President Obama when he was invited to the White House during Obama's term in office.

"When you're called by the president of the United States, you're going to say, 'No, I'm sorry, I'm busy, no thank you?'" he said. "I didn't say that to the Obamas, and I didn't say that to President Trump."

He said he previously worked with Michelle Obama to help include Goya in nutritional guidance to minority communities.

Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads Trump by 39% with Hispanics in national polls.

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Liberals meltdown on Twitter after Hallmark Channel pulls 4 same-sex ads

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Hallmark's decision to pull a commercial showing 2 lesbians kissing triggered outrage on Twitter.com.

The family-oriented network pulled four same-sex commercials after conservative groups launched petitions signed by thousands of concerned parents.

In one ad, two brides kiss after exchanging vows at the altar. One woman wears a wedding dress, the other wears a men's tailored suit.

The commercials were paid for by Zola.com, an inclusive wedding planning company that purchased six ad spots. Four of the 6 ads feature same-sex couples.

A petition created by the conservative group One Million Moms (1MM) garnered over 25,000 signatures. The group's mission is to "fight against indecency".

The organization pleaded with Bill Abbott, CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, Hallmark's parent company.

"Please reconsider airing commercials with the same-sex couples, and please do not add LGBT movies to the Hallmark Channel. Such content goes against Christian and conservative vaults that are important to your primary audience. You will lose viewers if you cave to the LGBT agenda."

The group said the Zola commercials made Hallmark Channel unsafe for family viewing.

A similar petition on Christian website LifesiteNews.com garnered over 50,000 signatures.

It didn't take long for Hallmark to realize the error of its ways.

"We are not allowed to accept creatives that are deemed controversial," said an account rep.

Liberals on Twitter vented their outrage under the hashtag #BoycottHallmarkChannel.

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Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Valerie Jarrett, who served as the senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, was among the vocal critics.

"Controversial? Really, ?@Hallmark?? What a horrible message you are sending not just to all of the same sex couples and their loved ones, but to everyone. #lovemeanslove."

Television personality Baker Machado tweeted:

"he declined to comment on why a nearly identical ad featuring a bride and groom kissing was not rejected."

Another Twitter user said critics of the ads are "okay with voting for a guy who had sex with Stormy Daniels while his third wife was nursing his infant child..."

But others were pleased with Hallmark's decision.

One user tweeted: "I will not be boycotting Hallmark Channel or their cards. They have [every] right to make their own decision."

Another user tweeted:

"It's the only channel that moms and dads don't have to monitor for sex or violence or 4 letter words. Leave Hallmark alone, same sex couples are a fact of life."

 

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Outrage After P&G Removes Feminine Symbols From Always Menstruation Pads

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Feminists are outraged after Proctor & Gamble removed feminine symbols from packages and pad wrappers of Always menstruation products.

Procter & Gamble, makers of Always, announced the change on Monday after transgender activists demanded the removal of the female Venus symbol from all menstruation products.

The company took action after a few female-to-male (FTM) transgenders complained about the Venus symbols on the pads.

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"To ensure that anyone who needs to use a period product feels comfortable in doing so with Always, we updated our pad wrapper design," P&G said in a statement.

The company will remove the signs from all packages and pad wrappers as soon as December 2019 in the United Kingdom, with plans for the new package design to be distributed worldwide beginning next year.

Angry feminists called for all women and girls to boycott the company in response to what they say is a concerted effort by corporations to erase women.

P&G was unbothered by the calls for a boycott.

"For over 35 years, Always has championed girls and women, and we will continue to do so,” a Procter & Gamble official said in response to the public backlash.

"We're also committed to diversity and inclusion, and after hearing from many people across genders and age groups, we realized that not everyone who has a period and needs to use a pad identifies as female.
 

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Protesters cancel their memberships after Equinox founder Stephen Ross announces $100K/plate fundraiser for Trump

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A petition urging members of Equinox Fitness Centers to cancel their memberships is gaining momentum on Change.org. The controversy began when Equinox parent owner Stephen Ross announced he was planning a $100K/plate fundraiser for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.

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Open Post: 50 Cent Sets Fire to $500 Gucci T-Shirt

50 Cent

50 Cent continued his protest against Gucci by setting fire to a $500 Gucci t-shirt on camera.

A video uploaded to Fiddy's Instagram.com account on Wednesday shows the outspoken 43-year-old rapper using a lighter to torch a plain white t-shirt with the word "Gucci" on the front.

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Open Post: 50 Cent Responds to Floyd Mayweather Jr Saying He Won’t Boycott Gucci

Floyd Mayweather Jr

50 Cent responded to champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr saying he would continue to shop at Gucci despite the uproar in the Black community over blackface allegations.

Outraged Twitter users retweeted images of the $900 black balaclava sweater from Gucci's 2018 Fall/Winter collection.

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