Hurricane Katrina: Is Looting a Question of Skin Color? (BlackElectorate.com, 09-01-2005)
Courtesy NuBuzz Photo
NEW YORK ((FinalCall.com) – Black Entertainment Television (BET) announced at a September 1st noon-time press conference held in the Manhattan headquarters of the American Red Cross of Greater New York that they are partnering with the National Urban League, American Red Cross, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network chairman, Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles and the Warner Music Group, Essence Communications and numerous “concerned” celebrities to raise money for ‘Hurricane Katrina’ victims.
Debra Lee, president and CEO of BETsaid the press conference was called to announce that a telethon will be held from 7:30pm-10pm on September 9, after a special benefit episode of “106 & Park” and the BET Top 10 Live show. Ms. Lee said that celebrities from across musical and entertainment genres will be involved as performers, hosts, presenters and guests. Ms. Lee added that telethon viewers can call designated toll-free phone numbers to make financial pledges to the Red Cross relief efforts.
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For information to help the Nation of Islam’s coordinated efforts in assisting hurricane victims from the New Orleans area, please call Southwest Regional Headquarters in Houston, Texas at: 713-741-2747. Atlanta, Georgia (Southern Region Headquarters) hotline: 404-629-0172.
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“We urge all BET viewers to dig deep and sacrifice financially to help our own people at a level that has never been seen before,” Ms. Lee said.
National Urban League president and CEO, Marc Morial, also a former New Orleans, Louisiana mayor, said the telethon will be an effort to focus the eyes, hearts and minds of the viewers of BET and the nation on the need to contribute money for food, for water and for shelter for the thousands of evacuees. “We now have our own citizens who are refugees in their own country,” Mr. Morial stressed.
Russell Simmons said that there will be a lot of artists coming forth to participate in the telethon. “I just got off the phone with ‘Puffy’ (Sean Combs) and Jay-Z, and they have assured me that they are on-board with the telethon to help make it a success,” Mr. Simmons said. It was announced that Stevie Wonder has asked to be a part of the telethon.
Other artists who have shown interest in participating in the telethon are comedian Chris Rock, trumpeter Winton Marsalis, a New Orleans native and rappers Master P and Juvenile, also New Orleans natives. “If we do not help the millions of people in Mississippi, Alabama and New Orleans this country will be destroyed,” Chris Rock emphasized.
“Can’t nobody tell you about New Orleans the way I can,” Master P said. He said there were a lot of great people in New Orleans, and right now they are hurting.
For information to help the Nation of Islam’s coordinated efforts in assisting hurricane victims from the New Orleans area, please call Southwest Regional Headquarters in Houston, Texas at: 713-741-2747. Atlanta, Georgia (Southern Region Headquarters) hotline: 404-629-0172.
We specifically need more of the following items that can be sent to the address below:
- Non-perishable food
- Diapers
- Personal hygiene items
Muhammad Mosque No. 45
4443 Old Spanish Trail, Houston TX 77021
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