Protesters gathered around Fox News' headquarters on April 18, 2017, with one clear message to send: Bill O'Reilly needs to go.
<br>1. On April 18, 2017, some pretty damning warnings began circulating outside Fox News' offices in New York City as a demonstration against Bill O'Reilly began to build.
We're handing out 1000 of these fliers in front of @foxnews HQ. #droporeilly http://pic.twitter.com/Utlv3Q10Iv
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) April 18, 2017
The demonstration, organized by women's rights group UltraViolet, is a reaction to an explosive New York Times report from earlier this month in which it was revealed that about $13 million had been paid to five women throughout the years by either 21st Century Fox or O'Reilly to settle lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate workplace behavior.
O'Reilly has denied wrongdoing. Nevertheless, demands for the host's firing have reached a fever pitch in recent days.
2. Demonstrators swarmed the cable network's midtown headquarters with one clear message: Fire Bill O'Reilly.
#DropOReilly protest outside NewsCorp building has victims of sexual assault speaking now. Cops complaining about sidewalk being blocked. http://pic.twitter.com/4L3VcveqKa
— Ash J (@AshAgony) April 18, 2017
3. The hashtag #DropOReilly became a rallying cry for both people at the protest and on Twitter to express outrage at the TV host and network.
Many demonstrators were survivors of sexual assault themselves and chose to speak up about how abuse has affected their lives.
Our own Melissa Quesinberry is speaking on her experience of the rampant nature of sexual harassment. We demand that @FoxNews #DropOReilly. http://pic.twitter.com/JfdbSOfwMy
— NOW-NYC (@NOW_NYC) April 18, 2017
4. Even the Women's March, the group responsible for the global anti-Trump rallies in January, threw its weight behind the protest.
At 1:30pm EST today, our sisters at @UltraViolet will lead sexual assault survivors in a #DropOReilly protest at Fox News HQ in NYC. #SAAM
— Women's March (@womensmarch) April 18, 2017
5. "Real men respect women and see them as equal," one supporter chimed in.
Get him @womensmarch. Real men respect women and see them as equal. No mercy. Make a statement loud and clear. Get him. #DropOReilly #SAAM https://t.co/7afjNjPhnH
— Humanity Strong ™ (@HumanityStrong) April 18, 2017
6. As the rally unfolded, an open letter signed by 450 survivors of sexual assault began making waves online.
The open letter, organized by UltraViolet, serves as a petition to 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, asking him to fire O'Reilly.
450 Sexual Assault Survivors Draft Letter Demanding Fox News Fire Bill O’Reilly https://t.co/muv9pazknx http://pic.twitter.com/zZyv05rQ0w
— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) April 18, 2017
7. By early afternoon, the sidewalk was jammed with demonstrators.
.@FoxNews -- we're on your doorstep! Bill O'Reilly is a sexual predator that needs to be fired immediately! #DropOReilly http://pic.twitter.com/kPhWOFPx4f
— UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) April 18, 2017
8. Letitia James, public advocate for the City of New York, joined the chorus of folks demanding O'Reilly be fired, too.
NYC Public Advocate Letitia James delivers speech outside Fox News HQ, calls for TV host Billy O'Reilly to be fired. #DropOReilly http://pic.twitter.com/AFUyvRsh2Z
— Rachel Dzanashvili (@rachel_dz) April 18, 2017
9. And as things tend to do at protests, things got a little heated between demonstrators and some passersby.
The atmosphere is tense between #DropOReilly protestors and male passersby http://pic.twitter.com/m9Uw3yjvNh
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) April 18, 2017
10. The big takeaway from the afternoon was that most people really have had enough of O'Reilly getting a pass for his behavior.
Very much here for #DropOReilly. He promotes racism and sexism, discourages polite discourse, and is a (alleged) sexual predator. Dump him.
— Olivia Truffaut-Wong (@iWatchiAm) April 18, 2017
11. Like, really — enough.
Join us at 48th & 6th. #DropOReilly http://pic.twitter.com/AWsYY86AR9
— NOW-NYC (@NOW_NYC) April 18, 2017
12. Because if a predator gets away with inexcusable behavior and is protected by his employer, what message does that send — to men and women?
Fox News needs to grasp the message being presented to both women & men when there is no accountability for sexual harassment. #DropOReilly
— Nicki (@nickiknowsnada) April 18, 2017
13. Some Twitter users also pointed out that President Donald Trump — who was caught bragging about sexual assault during the 2016 election — has staunchly defended O'Reilly.
Which, to many people, is not a good look on either of them.
“…and when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Am I right or what?"
— Hunter (@huntrgathrr) April 18, 2017
They're both pigs. Fire them both. #DropOReilly http://pic.twitter.com/FGAHtdAJDU
14. As the demonstration drew to a close on Tuesday, protesters had literally left their mark outside Fox News' headquarters.
#droporeilly http://pic.twitter.com/lCN3flkyQi
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) April 18, 2017
Their point had been made — loud and clear.
Things likely won't be getting any easier for O'Reilly and Fox News — and the tide could be turning. Fast.
In lieu of The New York Times' report and a call to action by alarmed readers, dozens of brands have pulled their advertising from the top-rated cable news show.
As evidenced in a tweet from New York Magazine's Yashar Ali on April 6, the number of ads shown during the "The O'Reilly Factor" has dwindled significantly. It could turn into a major headache for executives thinking long-term for the network.
O'Reilly Ad Count
— Yashar (@yashar) April 7, 2017
Monday Night: 31
Tuesday Night: 28
Last Night: 23
Tonight: 7@TomKludt @BraddJaffy @JuddLegum @brianstelter @DylanByers
Tuesday afternoon, as demonstrators marched outside Fox News, sources close to the Murdoch family revealed the network could very soon be pulling the plug on O'Reilly's on-air presence.
It's looking like petitions, hashtags, and some old fashioned protesting may soon do the trick.
Note: This article may be updated as the story develops.
<br>
No comments:
Post a Comment