PHOTOS & VIDEO: Protest Outside Fox News HQ Demands Network Fire Bill O’Reilly for Sexual Harassment
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 1:30 PM ET
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com | (516) 841-1105
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Protest Outside Fox News HQ Demands Network Fire Bill O’Reilly for Sexual Harassment
Planes Flies Over NYC With Banner Reading “FOX: DROP OREILLY, THE SEXUAL PREDATOR,” Signs Throughout Midtown Ask: “HAVE YOU ALSO BEEN HARASSED BY BILL?”
NEW YORK — Earlier today, survivors of sexual assault joined by local members of UltraViolet, a leading women’s advocacy group, protested outside Fox News HQ demanding the network fire Bill O’Reilly and take steps to end the dangerous culture of sexual harassment at the news network.
At the protest, survivors of sexual harassment and assault were joined by Letitia James, Public Advocate for the City of New York, where they spoke out about why it is so important that Fox News hold sexual abusers accountable. Members of UltraViolet and Color of Change also delivered more than 480,000 signatures to Fox News HQ calling for Bill O’Reilly to be fired.
VIEW PHOTOS OF THE PROTEST, PLANE AND POSTERS HERE: (photos will be uploaded into the album throughout the afternoon)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/
VIEW VIDEO HERE: https://www.facebook.
In addition to the protest, UltraVIolet commissioned a plane to fly around Manhattan with a banner reading “FOX: #DROPOREILLY, THE SEXUAL PREDATOR.” Members of UltraViolet also placed posters around Fox New’s midtown HQ asking “Have you also been sexually harassed by Bill?” with the message to Fox News that it is time to #DropOReilly.
Faced with a boycott by advertisers, the pressure is mounting for Rupert Murdoch and his sons to make a decision about whether to fire O’Reilly.
“Fox News has a problem with sexual assault – and it’s bigger than just Bill O’Reilly. For years, Fox News executives have provided cover for Bill O’Reilly’s systematic harassment and abuse of other Fox New’s employees – making it hard to take their promises to investigate such crimes seriously.” said Shaunna Thomas, Co-founder of UltraViolet. “Fox News needs to prove to the public – and its advertisers – that the era of covering up sexual assault is over. That means – firing Bill O’Reilly immediately and conducting a comprehensive and independent investigation into sexual abuse at the network – firing anyone involved in, or complicit in covering up, those crimes.”
Since August 2016, UltraViolet has called for Fox News to fire Bill O’Reilly and launch a full investigation into sexual harassment and abuse at the network.
- Nearly 500 survivors of sexual assault signed onto an UltraViolet letter to 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch demanding accountability for sexual harassment and assault at Fox News urging Murdoch to fire Bill O’Reilly.
- Earlier this week, UltraViolet renewed online ads asking Fox News employees, “Have You Been Sexually Harassed by Bill?”
- In August 2016, following claims that Andrea Tantaros was sexually harassed by Bill O’Reilly, UltraViolet called for the O’Reilly Factor host to be immediately suspended, and a full investigation launched into sexual harassment and abuse at the news network.
- In January 2017, after the New York Times reported that Roger Ailes secretly settled sexual harassment claims against O’Reilly, UltraViolet demanded the network fire O’Reilly.
- UltraViolet launched and maintains an online ad campaign targeting Fox News employees with an ad reading: “Have You Been Harassed by Bill?”
- More than 79,000 UltraViolet members have signed onto a petition calling on 21st Century Fox to fire Fox News CEO Bill Shine and Fox News host Bill O’Reilly over their role in taking part in and covering up abuse at Fox News.
- More than 60,000 UltraViolet members have signed onto a petition calling on advertisers to the O’Reilly Factor and Fox News to cut ties with the network over the lack of accountability for sex crimes.
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