Chinese immigrants hold mass protest against alleged defamatory TV report

Source: Xinhuanet | 02-27-2007 14:06

Thousands of Chinese immigrants on Monday gathered in Upper Eastern Manhattan to protest against a TV report last month which said a Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn served a customer mouse meat in a takeout order.

"This is news fabrication and racial discrimination," an organizer shouted and was echoed by thousands.

Holding signs reading "Boycott CW11," the angered protesters lined the pedestrian sidewalk in front of the news building on East 42nd Street where the CW11 office is located.

Steven Wong, acting chairman of the United Federation of Chinese Associations, urged people not to watch CW11. "Let's show them the power," he said.

Chinese American John Liu, member of the New York City Council, told the rally: "I'm here for the same reason as you are. If somebody did something wrong, they should say sorry. Simple like that."

On Jan. 29, CW11 aired a news story about the New Food King restaurant in Brooklyn which it said served alleged mouse meat in a takeout meal box to Brooklyn's Deisha Dodd.

The report contained slanderous words such as "disgusting find," "sickening surprise," "nasty dinning experience," "rodent slathered in garlic sauce."

On Jan. 31, the television station aired a follow-up news story, inviting a biologist instead of the New York City Department of Health to test whether the meat was mouse or chicken and proved the station's earlier allegation.

The New Food King restaurant has filed a lawsuit to the Supreme Court of the State of New York against CW11, its parent company the Tribune Company, reporter Chris Glorioso and anchor Kaity Tong on charges of defamation and slander and asked for 2 million U.S. dollars in compensation for damages and costs of the lawsuit. CW11 has not responded yet.

New York's CW11 is the flagship station of the CW Television Network, and is seen in over 10 million homes through over-the-air and satellite distribution in New York City, the State of New York, and portions of the States of New Jersey and Connecticut.

Attorney Robert J. Fishman said: "People in charge of report must be responsible. They should verify the news before they air it."

Mr. Du, member of the U.S.-China Lawyers Society, considered the mass protest a good thing. "The Chinese community in the United States used to be a silent minority, but this time it is outshouting. I think it is very good."

During the two-hour peaceful demonstration, no accident or conflict occurred. When the protesters were to leave, they picked up all the trash from the ground and left nothing behind.

Editor:Du Xiaodan