Press Release

November 19, 2004

LULAC Disappointed over Return of Racist Radio Commentator
Belling Should be Permanently Removed

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is alarmed that Clear Channel has permitted the return of Mark Belling - a conservative radio talk-show host - to the air after referring to Latinos as Wetbacks on his program.  LULAC joins our Wisconsin State Director and the Presidents of our Wisconsin Councils in their demands that Clear Channel immediately and permanently remove Mark Belling from the airwaves.

Clear Channel has an ethical responsibility to the Latino community given its past efforts to commercially control Spanish-language airwaves.  When it became an owner of HBC Corporation - a Spanish radio conglomerate - it also made a de facto commitment to the Hispanic community. 

"We trust that Clear Channel will dialogue with the community and ensure that bad behavior and inflammatory remarks on its English language airwaves are not tolerated.  Clear Channel has an opportunity to implement initiatives to improve and promote ethnic diversity. If it does not do so, it risks breaking its bond of trust with the community.  Clear Channel promotes itself as a company committed to educating its listeners about ethnic diversity, but by not removing Mr. Belling from the air, the company contradicts itself," said Hector Flores LULAC National President. 

In 2003, Univision and HBC Corporation a Spanish radio conglomerate worth more than $3 billion of which Clear Channel owns 26 percent merged together to become the largest Spanish-language media consortium. 

"Clear Channel cannot expect to seek out the Latino market while at the same time allowing racist, bigoted commentary from nationally recognized talk-show hosts," added Flores. "We expect that Clear Channel will redress this grievous offense against our community by removing Mr. Belling from the air permanently. We look forward to working with them on this issue."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

 

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LULAC  l  2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610  l  Washington, DC 20036  l  (202) 833-6130  Fax: (202) 833-6135