MTV has banned Public Enemy's new video "Give the People what they need" for showing a clip of political activist and death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Here's the petition:

http://www.petitiononline...ition.html

and more info on Mumia: http://www.freemumia.org

PLEASE forgive me if this issue has been dealt with before in this forum, but the search feature on the Org isn't working.

Oops...I forgot to add, that for you New York Orgers out there, there will be a protest outside MTV on Sept. 27, here's the info on that:

Press Release

For Immediate Release
September 19, 2002


We at YG, a non profit organization for political change, are calling for the boycott of ALL MTV endorsers, and all of MTV entities. MTV's violation of the first amendment right of Hip-Hop veteran Public Enemy has sparked international outrage amongst people from all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

MTV has chosen to prohibit Chuck D and Public Enemy, a well known artist, from showing a video because a political activist such as Mumia is shown briefly. We say to MTV, how HYPOCRITICAL! MTV continues to show videos that reek of lewd sexual nature, Black on Black violence, drugs, violence against women, in particular BLACK WOMEN. MTV played "Because I got high" over and over again, which subtly suggest that using drugs is not only OK, but humorous.

We are tired of the commercialism that goes on in the music industry, and the vain profits that are gathered at the expense of our youth, and community at large. We are calling on the community to meet YG, at Medgar Evans College in the Founders Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 at 7pm September 24th.

The protest includes Members of YG, the NOI, the New Black Panther Party, Free Mumia Supporters, Public Enemy Fans, and the Black Community at large. We will march against THIS MACHINE September 27th, 2002 at 9am when MTV goes to work, we will be there.

YG is a political action group geared toward motivating and inspiring the youth to be more socially, politically active, and effect change, particularly in inner cities.

Similar and related stories published about this injustice can be found online at Davey D's website: Chuck D Responds. http://www.daveyd.com/Ful...N1250.asp, In addition a petition launched by Shemia Muhammad can be found at : Petitions Online http://www.petitiononline...cgi?No2MTV


For Contact Information:
Ricky Muhammad, YG Director: 303-695-7837
Shemia Muhammad, YG Entertainment Consultant 303-695-7837
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 11:17:47 PDT 2002 by LadyCabDriver]

I support MTV, and not cop killers.

Well, let me rephrase that. I don't support MTV. But the rest still stands.
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 12:49:12 PDT 2002 by AaronForever]

I already boycott MTV. Cancelled cable 6 months ago.

Hrmmm...I smell a work here.

PE gets my support, but I'm wondering if this may be a bit of a publicity stunt.

Great song. Great video.

I really don't have an opinion on this issue either way (except to say that MTV does, in fact suck). Having said that, I suppose I should have worded the title of this thread differently, instead of "sign" the petition, I should've said "View and discuss" the petition. But, in any case, I just wanted to see this very debatable (sic?) topic discussed here on the Org. GD forums...that is all..

Umm yeah coz as we all know, web petitions work really well don't they?

Well, I'm happy to say that I don't watch MTV, or have it available to me. And I haven't watched it in years.

Personally, I'm with PE and Chuck on this issue... but I doubt signing a petition can accomplish anything. I don't want to come across as Mister Negative though - so instead of signing anything I say just vote with your remote control and stop watching MTV.

eMpTV has been hypocritical about what they'll air and not air for years now. This is par for the course.

MTV R some jiveass turkeys.
in the early 80's they would'nt play
any black artists until michael jackson
became so big that they would lose 2 much
money if they did'nt played it.
they're just a bunch of hypocrytes.
peace/manki

manki said:

whores, yes. but not hypocrites. they don't play stuff that's going to lose them money or cause too much commotion. it's that simple.

AaronForever said:

How in the world is a video showing a clip of Mumia causing too much commotion? I fail to see the logic in that. I mean, its okay for them to play mindless, booty shaking videos that trash young minds, but nothing with a message? I guess songs and videos with messages dont make MTV money these days.
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 18:53:22 PDT 2002 by LadyCabDriver]

LadyCabDriver said:

yes. pretty much. things with messages in them are risky and scary for MTV and cause an uproar with someone. mindless bootyshaking might get them a bad rep, but it's safe. compared to making political statements.

manki said:

FUNNY

PE sucks anyhow. Good job.

MTV has always been Racist.them Dumb MF's Cancelled YO!Mtv Raps still there Highest Rated Show.Public Enemy may not be on the Cutting edge any longer&whatnot but I tell you something they are easily Better than 99.9 Percent of the Garbage that goes for Rap/Hip-Hop that gets played on that Network IMHO.somehow I think&feel that if Kid Rock did a Video with David Duke or had CLips of Charles Manson in them nobody would say a Damn thing on MTV?

mistermaxxx said:

they cancelled Headbangers Ball too

mistermaxxx said:

yeah...they're so racist, that after they cancelled Yo!, they started to play nothing but rap videos all day...

and petition online is the Internet at it's worst. on the other hand, going there makes it easier to find all the self-described disadvantaged people bitching about everything...
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 22:32:37 PDT 2002 by twonabomber]

N.W.I.
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 23:54:57 PDT 2002 by Christopher]

Even if it is a publicity stunt, at least they didnt sink to doing pornos like Treach from Naughty By Nature did.

People should boycott MTV for the very fact that it is a piece of shit channel and it sucks. You don't need any more noble reason than that.

The networks only play what people want to see. The reason videos heavy with sex and drugs are plastered all over MTV is because people keep watching them and requesting them.

Look at television shows in comparison. No matter how much a network may try to hype a new show, if people don't watch it, it bombs and gets cancelled.

If MTV feels they're going to get too much negative feedback from the video, its reasonable for them to be apprehensive about showing it. No doubt tho, if PE was at the top of the charts right now and released the video, I'm sure MTV would reconsider.
[This message was edited Mon Sep 23 11:02:53 PDT 2002 by Tom]

MTV=HOT GARBAGE!!

manki said:

Exactly. It's all about the money. When convicted cop killers become a marketable commodity, MTV will be all over it. Let's hope that never happens, although some people are trying to see that it does.

mtv played a rage against the machine video that members had on a Free Mumia t-shirt on it... so what's the difference...I guess the revolution won't be televised on MTV huh?

tommyalma said:

---

Shut the fuck up. Do you know anything about the case !!!
Do you know anything the Philadelpia police and the way they and mayor Rizzo you to kick black people's asses.

Go read a book!!!

I remember seeing a video by Public Enemy on MTV back in 1991, called "Can't Truss it". Chock full of controversial images, including pictures of slaves, slaveowners, and a storyline that involved a white slaveowner raping one of his female slaves, getting her pregnant. Once the woman's husband found out about it, he confronted the slaveowner angrily, only to have been hung and lynched at the end of the video. MTV had no problem showing this video then (and they played it repeatedly). Which is why I can't understand why they won't play their current video.

twonabomber said:

Ed Lover&Dre,Fab Five Freddy should have never been let go.they didn't play Rap all Day.Rap had to fight to get it's voice Heard on there&finally it Broke some of the Glass Ceiling Down.but you have to see the Big Picture to understand where I'm coming from.

AaronForever said:

4 once I agree with Aaron. The guy killed him. Let's not glorify killers.

Neptune's Tuna will not place ads on MTV... MTV is too intellectual for the likes of Neptune.

laurarichardson said:

go read a book? go learn to write!