Sarandon ‘disturbed’ by cancelled appearance Actress’ anti-war views
prompted cancellation by United Way
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Actress Susan Sarandon said she was
disturbed by a charity’s decision to cancel her appearance at a
fundraising event because of complaints about her antiwar views.
The United Way of Tampa Bay was to feature the 56-year-old actress
as keynote speaker at an April 11 women’s leadership event designed
to inspire volunteerism in the community.
But organizers this week scrapped the $75-a-plate event after the
charity got three dozen complaints about Sarandon’s selection.
Robin Carson, chairwoman of the board of directors, said the event
had the potential to become “divisive.”
“The focus of our whole meeting had shifted to whether or not we
were creating a political platform for Susan Sarandon,” Carson said
Wednesday afternoon, after going to see President Bush at MacDill
Air Force Base. (*** carson fails to tell everyone how her meeting
with Bush Jr went earlier in the day. I wonder why?
http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2003/03/27/TampaBay/Charity_calls_o
ff _eve.shtml***)
In a statement Friday, Sarandon said that “considering the depletion
of federal funds for community programs and the faltering economy,
it is disturbing to me that the United Way is letting partisanship
determine its support base.
“Once again, the shortsightedness of the powerful will end up
hurting those in need.”
Others disagreed with the decision, too.
Marty Petty, executive vice-president of Times Publishing Co., which
publishes the St. Petersburg Times, resigned as a member of the
United Way board of directors and chair of the 2003 campaign.
“This decision is grounded in my lifelong personal and professional
belief that our civic life is made stronger by the expression of all
views, including ones that are controversial,” Petty wrote in a
letter to Carson.
Sarandon’s brother, Terry Tomalin, outdoors writer at the St.
Petersburg Times, had asked Sarandon to participate six months ago.
Sarandon, who introduced the obituary segment of Sunday’s Academy
Awards show, flashed a peace symbol with her fingers while walking
on stage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.
She won a best-actress Oscar for 1995’s Dead Man Walking.
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Lipton Response to Criticism of their Muzzling of Dixie Chicks –
“While we respect the right to free speech for all Americans, we
believe it is important for artists such as the Dixie Chicks to
recognize the impact their points of view can have on their fans,
especially in these uncertain times.”
From: Lipton Tea
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