NAPABA Denounces Racially Offensive 'Tsunami Song'

January 28, 2005

NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
___________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2005
CONTACT: Grace E. Yoo
(202) 421-9039

NAPABA Denounces Morally and Racially Offensive Radio Programming in NYC
Washington, DC—The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association expressed its outrage regarding recent anti-Asian material aired on HOT 97, WQHT in New York City.  From January 13, 2005 to January 21, 2005, the station’s morning show “Miss Jones in the Morning” played the highly offensive “Tsunami Song,” a station-produced parody that mocked the deaths of over 200,000 tsunami victims using anti-Asian racial slurs.  The song specifically refers to its Asian and African victims, describing the manner in which they died to the tune of “We are the World.”

In a letter sent to HOT 97 and its parent company Emmis Communications on January 27, 2005, NAPABA and other national Asian Pacific American organizations denounced the show’s tasteless and offensive exploitation of the recent tsunami tragedy:

Not only does the “Tsunami Song” attempt to make a mockery of one of the most tragic natural disasters in history, it also directly attacks Asians and Asian Americans through its use of racial slurs and epithets.  The “Tsunami Song” not only offends victims of the tsunami and their families, it is an outright affront to the laws of this nation that aim to protect listeners from verbal attacks.

To make matters worse, before the January 18th broadcast of the song, one of many broadcasts over a one-week period, Miss Jones, the show’s host, verbally abused an Asian American co-host named Miss Info.  When Miss Info expressed her objection to the song, Miss Jones yelled on live radio “I know you feel you’re superior because you’re Asian, but you’re not.” In the midst of this interchange, co-host Todd Lynn interjected “I’m gonna start shooting Asians.”

The song’s mockery of a human tragedy is offensive enough in itself.  When combined with the hosts’ threatening comments—raced-based hate speech—and the racial slurs used in the pre-recorded song, those responsible must accept the necessary consequences. 

Appropriately, NAPABA has requested the permanent cancellation of the “Miss Jones in the Morning” show and the immediate firing of Miss Jones and Todd Lynn.  NAPABA, together with other national APA organizations, has also requested additional measures be taken by the parent company Emmis Communications, including a thorough investigation of the parties responsible for the production and airing of the “Tsunami Song”; a full and public apology by the station; the development of clear written station policy against slurs, bigotry, and hate speech; mandatory staff diversity training; and continued dialogue with national APA organizations.

In response to public outrage, HOT 97 has suspended the “Miss Jones in the Morning” show, but has not stated whether or not the show’s co-hosts will be employed in another capacity.

NAPABA believes that measures taken by the station thus far are positive but insufficient and will continue to pursue this matter until it is favorably resolved.

NAPABA is the national voice of the Asian Pacific American legal profession, promoting justice, equity and opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans as well as all Americans.  The membership consists of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students.  With a national network of 47 affiliates, NAPABA advocates for the legal needs and interests of the Asian Pacific American community and represents over 45,000 attorneys nationwide.