- Target:
- WBZ-AM, WTKK-FM, The Boston Globe, WCVB-TV, WHDH-TV, WGBH-TV, NECN, WBUR, Gatehouse Media
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- democracydays.com
On September 14th and September 16th, two Massachusetts gubernatorial radio debates are taking place that unfairly, arbitrarily, and anti-democratically exclude Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein from the democratic process. On October 26th, the Boston Media Consortium is planning a major televised debate that excludes Stein unless she raises $100,000 by October 1st.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts sets a high bar of 10,000 certified signatures to be included on the ballot as a candidate for governor. Stein’s grassroots campaign managed to collect 60% more certified signatures than the 10,000 required by law to appear on the November ballot. It is simply unacceptable for media outlets using the public's airwaves to assert their own arbitrary and biased criteria for who is worthy of our attention.
Jill Stein has proven that she adds a vital and unique voice to the gubernatorial race, and she is the only candidate who refuses to take corporate money to fund her campaign. Now that the Supreme Court is letting corporations spend as much money as they want to influence elections, it's more important than ever that the media makes sure that voters hear from each candidate who will appear on the ballot.
To the Boston Media Consortium and radio stations planning to exclude Jill Stein from your gubernatorial debates:
We, the undersigned, demand that you invite third-party candidate Jill Stein to your gubernatorial debate without arbitrary conditions. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has set the requirements for access to the ballot, and media institutions and journalists using the public’s airwaves have no right to filter out the viewpoints with which they are uncomfortable, or to privately set criteria for viability. That is up to the voters of Massachusetts to decide on November 2nd.
We agree with Dr. Jill Stein that journalists should "contribute to the free and open dialogue that is essential to a healthy democracy," and "refuse to be parties to any attempt to restrict the flow of information that voters need and deserve."
Let Jill debate, and let the people decide!
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Let Jill debate, and let the people decide! petition to WBZ-AM, WTKK-FM, The Boston Globe, WCVB-TV, WHDH-TV, WGBH-TV, NECN, WBUR, Gatehouse Media was written by Eli Beckerman and is in the category Politics at GoPetition.