Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999
Subject: “Judge Judy” Sees Death For Addicts As Justice
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #139 Wednesday December 8, 1999
“Judge Judy” Sees Death For Addicts As Justice
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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #139 Wednesday December 8, 1999
Judy Sheindlin, the former family court judge who now plays a judge on
TV (“Judge Judy”), was in Australia last month promoting her new book
when she made some outrageous comments that illustrated the depth of
the hate produced by the war on drugs.
According to the Australia Courier-Mail, Sheindlin made an appearance
in Brisbane, Australia on November 16 where she said the debate about
needle supply to heroin addicts is an indulgence lead by “liberal
morons.” The solution is simple, she said. “Give ’em dirty needles and
let ’em die. . .I don’t understand why we think it’s important to keep
them alive.”
(To read longer accounts, see http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a07.html
and http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a06.html)
Activists have taken note of Sheindlin’s barbarity, and calls and
letters to the producer of her television show seem to be having an
impact. Some carefully worded responses from Sheindlin’s
representatives do not deny that the “judge” made the “let ’em die”
statement. However, the attempt at spin control seems like more of an
effort to justify the comments, rather than admitting the stupidity
and cruelty of them.
Despite her effort at damage control, her death sentence for addicts
was not the first attack attempts at reform. In her 1996 book she
wrote about seeing “a TV profile about a woman in the South Bronx who
has devoted her life to rescuing drug addicts from infection by giving
them free needles in exchange for their old ones. She believes that
America has becomes callous to their plight. She says she is
discouraged and ashamed of the citizens’ inhumane response to
‘afflicted addicts.’ Well, forgive me for not dabbing my eyes. In the
TV show about her, I watched addicts dump a weekly supply of syringes
on her table, fifty or more apiece. What the hell did she think they
put in those needles – soda pop? They were all shooting heroin, which
is deadly and very expensive.”
Please write to the sponsors of Sheindlin’s show to express your
displeasure over her comments and her half-hearted responses to our
concerns.
Thanks for your effort and support.
WRITE A LETTER TODAY
It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do
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PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID ( Letter,
Phone, fax etc.)
Please post a copy your letter or report your action to the MAPTalk
list if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to
MGreer@mapinc.org Your letter will then be forwarded to the list with
so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit
This is VERY IMPORTANT as it is the only way we have of gauging our
impact and effectiveness.
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Cut and paste list of Email addresses of Judge Judy’s sponsors below.
Use this for a general letter expressing your concerns and copy all
the addresses below.
program@kcal.com feedback@conair.com IR-Hague@SI.shell.com
ItchRelief@aol.com mrrooter@dwyergroup.com prwebtv@corp.webtv.net
Alternate: If you wish to participate in our standard effort of writing a
letter to the editor please read the excellent Arianna Huffington column at
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1295/a02.html
and reply to the Fresno Bee at
letters@fresnobee.com
Judge Judy Sponsors – More CONTACT INFO NOTE: Thanks to Cliff Schaffer
for compiling this info.
For those who want to join in the campaign to respond to Judge
“let-em-die” Judy, here is some contact info for KCAL TV 9 in Los
Angeles which airs her show, as well as contact information for some
of the sponsors.
Please remember to do the following:
1) Act fast.
2) Make it clear that such talk — especially from a Judge —
especially from someone who is Jewish — is completely reprehensible
and inexcusable. Her remarks show that she isn’t fit to be a judge on
television or anywhere else.
3) Include the text, URLs or quotes from both articles, so it is clear
what you are talking about and so Judge Judy can’t lie about what she
said.
4) Make it clear to both TV stations and sponsors that you will stop
buying/viewing their products and that you are encouraging your
friends to do the same.
5) Close your letter by saying that you hope those sponsors will also
show their outrage against her remarks by cancelling their advertising
for her show. We don’t want to boycott or take other action against
people who feel the same as we do about it. (Give them a nice way to
join us.)
Twentieth Century Fox is likely to be especially sensitive to
complaints. They have one of their big movies in the theaters right
now “Anna and the King” and they will have a little more than thirty
days to make all the money in the theaters that they can make. If they
receive a number of letters/phone calls about Judge Judy’s comments,
along with a threat to picket or boycott, they will drop Judge Judy
like a hot rock. They can’t afford to wait a week to see if they have
a PR problem.
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Judge Judy and her sponsors
Judge Judy’s number 1-888-800-JUDY
Contact form for earnfreegas.com http://www.chase.com/chase/gx.cgi/FTes?evalpage=Chase/Href&urlname=contactus
/generalfeedback
KCAL 9 – Programming – 323-960-3610 Public Affairs – 323-960-3730
e-mail: program@kcal.com
Conair feedback@conair.com
(Anna and the King – movie)
Twentieth Century Fox
10201 West Pico Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 369-1000
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Secret Deodorant http://www.secret-deodorant.com use Feedback
form
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Sell Oil
New York
David Sexton
Shell Oil Company
GSDF Division
630 Fifth Avenue – Suite 1970
New York NY 10111, USA
Telephone: 1-212-218 3112. Fax: 1-212-218 3114
Information for private shareholders
If you have any questions or queries please contact the addresses
below
Royal Dutch Shareholders
Shareholder queries,
Shell International B.V
FHK Division
PO Box 162
2501 AN The Hague
The Netherlands.
E-mail: IR-Hague@SI.shell.com
Telephone: 31-70-377 4540. Fax: 31-70-377 3115
Royal Dutch USA Stockholders
Royal Dutch stockholders in the USA with inquiries about stock
ownership, changes of address or the payment of dividends may contact:
Stock Transfer and Paying Agent J P Morgan Service Center PO Box 8205
Boston MA 02266-8205.
Telephone:
1-800-556 8639 (USA only)
1-781-575-4328 (international)
Fax: 1-617-575 4083
Group Enquiries
Enquiries relating to activities of companies in the Royal Dutch/Shell
Group may be sent to:
The Shareholder Relations Office
Shell Centre
London SE1 7NA.
Telephone: 0171 934 6535. Fax: 0171 934 6625
For matters not covered above
Please write to:
The Company Secretary The Shell Transport and Trading Company plc
Shell Centre London SE1 7NA.
Telephone: 0171 934 3363. Fax: 0171 934 5153
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Shell Credit Cards
http://www.earnfreegas.com
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Lanacane ointment http://www.lanacane.com ItchRelief@aol.com
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Nissan Autos
1-800-NISSAN-1 (1-800-647-7261)
Nissan Motor Corporation
P.O.Box 47060
Gardena, CA 90248
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Web TV (airs Judge Judy in interactive mode) http://www.webtv.com
prwebtv@corp.webtv.net
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Mr. Rooter
http://www.mrrooter.com
1-800-298-6855 * Fax 254-745-5098
Email: mrrooter@dwyergroup.com
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Footlocker Shoe Stores
http://www.footlocker.com
1-800-991-6681
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Other Judge Judy Sponsors Nissan autos Coco’s Restaurants Ross Dress
for Less Dodge Ram Trucks Jet-Dry Blistex
The show is produced by Big Ticket Television
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SAMPLE LETTER (sent)
Dear [sponsor]
I understand that your company sponsors the “Judge Judy” television
show. As are probably already aware, the show’s star, Judy Sheindlin,
recently made some extremely offensive comments in regards to
intravenous drug users. Sheindlin said, “Give ’em dirty needles and
let ’em die. . .I don’t understand why we think it’s important to keep
them alive,” as she promoted her new book in Australia.
This “final solution” not only smacks of Nazism, it is completely
irresponsible. Sheindlin should know that IV drug users infected with
deadly disease don’t just sit in a corner and keep it to themselves.
The disease can be easily transmitted to unborn children, unknowing
sexual partners and others. Sheindlin has clearly let her intolerance
overpower any common sense she might have.
While Sheindlin is certainly entitled to her opinions, no matter how
mindlessly murderous and hateful, her opinions do reflect on her
sponsors. While I hope you don’t share her opinions, it’s hard to tell
as long as your company continues to financially support Sheindlin’s
show without calling on her to retract her statements.
Sheindlin is well aware of the controversy she has created, and while
she has made some attempt to justify her comments, she hasn’t done the
right thing: simply admitting that she was wrong. She obviously cares
little about those of us who have protested her comments, so we feel
as though we must bring the issue to your attention. I’m hoping this
can be resolved before I change my buying habits to consciously avoid
products from Sheindlin’s sponsors, but unless I get some satisfaction
from Sheindlin, I feel as if I don’t have any other choice.
Thank you for your consideration.
Stephen Young
IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone
number
Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it
at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the
same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work.
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ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing
efforts
3 Tips for Letter Writers http://www.mapinc.org/3tips.htm
Letter Writers Style Guide http://www.mapinc.org/style.htm
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Prepared by Stephen Young – http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus
Alert Specialist