The show John and Ken in KFI 640 AM is a radio station that was involved in a controversy for making discriminatory comments. The speakers, who are John and Ken, would constantly make racist comments against African Americans and Latinos such as calling them “uncivilized”. They did not stop there, but continue by criticizing the dream act. They said immigrant children, or illegal kids as they call them, were stealing the American kids’ money. John and Ken criticize all of those who supported the Dream Act because they were being “traders” to their nation and its’ people.
When Latinos heard this, many got upset and they wanted to do something about it. The organization CHIRLA, a nonprofit immigrant rights organization, was one of those people who decided to contact them. Jorge Mario Cabrera, a spokes man of this organization, tells us about his experience trying to talk to them, and the actual outcome he obtain from their part. He decided to contact them by leaving them his numbers, but instead of contacting him, John and Ken decided to joke around with Jorge’s numbers and personal information by giving it to their audience. In addition, John and Ken did not only give out Jorge’s personal information, but they told their audience to call him and thank him for stealing their tax money. After that incident Jorge started to get treats from the people who were listening to the show. John and Ken did not only discriminate Latinos, but influence others to do so as well; they portrait Latinos as robbers who do not belong in the Unites States. John and Ken defend themselves by saying that they were expressing their freedom of speech. However after all the controversy and people’s complains they decided to speak up in the Latin media to apologize and say that they did not really mean everything they said. They discriminated against the Latinos, but the Latinos were not going to allowed that. Companies such as Ralphs, Vons, Verizon and AT&T, supported the Latino community and decided to take away their ads from John and Ken’s show. We, Latinos, are here to work not to rob.
This is disappointing. Being the fact that they are radio show hosts, they should be more professional about their work. They should know better even if it's what they call "freedom of speech" because the public is listening to what they are saying. Out of this they grew many people who disliked them, and honestly, that's what they get. The only reason they apologized was because all of the hate they were receiving.
ReplyDeleteI have actually listened to these radio hosts before, and i must say I am quite disappointed. To say what you believe and to have your freedom of speech is one thing, but the way they discriminated the Latino culture is just rude and uncalled for. People listen to these radio hosts as a guide and source for information, and the way they talked down about the Dream Act as being wrong for our country is a way of drawing negative attention to themselves. They deserved to have their sponsors not support them.
ReplyDeleteI will no longer listen to John and Ken if they ever come on the radio I will instantly change it. I am apalled at their comments and behavior.
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