Turn
Off 10 continues to target station advertisers over Sinclair propaganda
Nick Cardi, the "NI" in "NIROPE," meets with protest leader Dr. Patricia Ricci |
The plan is to protest outside the businesses that advertise on the station, since Sinclair has not responded to the complaints of viewers.
However, when the group learned that Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses at 1681 Quaker Lane in West Warwick was teaming with WJAR/10 for a Shred-It event, the opportunity was seen as too good to pass up.
Previous Turn Off 10 events brought out over 30 people, this one brought out 12
dedicated protesters.
In response to the protest, people representing both WJAR
and Cardi’s were gracious.
A representative from WJAR offered hot coffee to the
protesters and Nick Cardi introduced himself to
everyone holding signs, offering the use of the bathrooms inside the furniture
store, if needed.
Nick Cardi told Dr Patricia Ricci, who heads up these protests, that he
and his brothers are not happy with the propaganda being broadcast on WJAR, and
that they are continuing to talk to the station about the situation.
Unfortunately, as RI Future reported last
month, Cardi’s does have a contract with the station that prevents them from
pulling out.
During the protest at Cardi’s,
some of the group headed to Speedcraft Nissan, which is a short walk from
Cardi’s and another advertiser on WJAR/10.
After representatives
from WJAR/10 ended the Shred-It event, the protesters reconvened at noon
outside Tasca Automotive Group in Cranston, yet another advertiser. The
management of Tasca made no attempt to engage with the protesters, and had
armed security parked in the lot.
The Rhode Island Kent
County ReSisters say that, “Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns Channel 10, is
forcing anchors to surrender their journalistic integrity, read forced scripts,
and air commentaries as though they were hard news.
"We believe in the integrity
of the free press and stand adamantly against forced propaganda which
imminently threatens our very democracy! Rise Up and join us for this protest.
Bring your large signs and all of your principled friends!”
There will be future
protests targeting other WJAR/10 advertisers.