100 signatures reached
To: The Young Turks
Tell The Young Turks To Stop Racial Discrimination
1)Young Turks leadership has referred mockingly to African Americans as “po' black people" Now a black reporter has come forward with complaints of racial discrimination. TYT should apologize and take concrete actions to comply with the Civil Rights Act and treat all employees of color with dignity.
2) TYT should start cultivating- not silencing- black talent.
2) TYT should start cultivating- not silencing- black talent.
Why is this important?
Andrew Jones joined The Young Turks believing he'd have a platform to report issues important to working-class minorities. Instead he’s come forward with the following: Jones says he was sidelined in favor of Caucasian colleagues. Coworkers confided that his supervisor Jonathan Larsen demeaned him when Jones was out of earshot, saying Jones was “only hired because he’s black.” While Caucasian reporters with less experience were routinely given choice assignments and travel budgets, Jones was prohibited from travel, told there was no budget for him - but then reprimanded when that prevented him from investigating national news. His editor/supervisor would give his entire team assignments without deadlines. He would then reprimand only Jones, claiming a story without an assigned deadline was late, even when Jones submitted within hours. The Editor would “lose” or “forget” Jones’ work- then accuse Jones of poor performance. When Jones tried to arrange meetings to resolve issues with the editor, he was sent on wild goose chases. Jone's editor/supervisor would change meeting dates and times without notifying Jones.
Eventually, Jones turned to Young Turks’ founder, Cenk Uygur. When Jones pleaded for a transfer away from discriminatory behavior, Uygur responded by telling Jones that his old boss would've said to “Shut the f*ck up” and that Jones should just deal with it. Uygur also threatened that complaining about discrimination was a “fireable offense.” Jones was almost immediately placed on “probation."
This kind of retaliation is a direct violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Next, members of The Young Turks leadership tried to get Jones to resign, telling him that if he didn’t go quietly they’d force him to work with the same person committing the discriminatory acts. Jones was fired days later. He describes his experience at The Young Turks as “humiliating.” Jones was repeatedly pushed to sign an agreement with a gag order that would strip him of his civil rights to file racial harassment complaints.
The Young Turks must complete an honest review of their own attitudes and behaviors, then provide formal protections for minority journalists hired in the future.
TELL THE YOUNG TURKS THERE'S NO ROOM FOR RACISM OR SILENCING BLACK VOICES IN PROGRESSIVE MEDIA. DO THE RIGHT THING!
Eventually, Jones turned to Young Turks’ founder, Cenk Uygur. When Jones pleaded for a transfer away from discriminatory behavior, Uygur responded by telling Jones that his old boss would've said to “Shut the f*ck up” and that Jones should just deal with it. Uygur also threatened that complaining about discrimination was a “fireable offense.” Jones was almost immediately placed on “probation."
This kind of retaliation is a direct violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Next, members of The Young Turks leadership tried to get Jones to resign, telling him that if he didn’t go quietly they’d force him to work with the same person committing the discriminatory acts. Jones was fired days later. He describes his experience at The Young Turks as “humiliating.” Jones was repeatedly pushed to sign an agreement with a gag order that would strip him of his civil rights to file racial harassment complaints.
The Young Turks must complete an honest review of their own attitudes and behaviors, then provide formal protections for minority journalists hired in the future.
TELL THE YOUNG TURKS THERE'S NO ROOM FOR RACISM OR SILENCING BLACK VOICES IN PROGRESSIVE MEDIA. DO THE RIGHT THING!