Action Alert: Protest of Jerry Lewis Award at Oscars

* * * Join the Fight * * *

When: Feb. 20-22 12 noon

Where: (Feb. 20) AMPAS headquarters, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90211
(Feb. 21 and 22) Kodak Theatre, site of the Oscar ceremony, at the corner of Hollywood and Vine

Local events in Chicago, IL; Mobile, AL; New York City and Rochester, NY.

How to participate: Contact info@thetroublewithjerry.com for information on attending or guidance on organizing your own protest

Contributed by Laura Hershey (Feb. 10, 2009):

"The Trouble with Jerry" to Spearhead Oscar Protests

Disability community leaders invite activists and organizers to join in protesting the decision of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize Jerry Lewis as a "humanitarian" at its 81st annual Oscar Awards ceremony on February 22. While Hollywood sentimentally applauds Lewis for his longtime work on the Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, disability rights activists reject Lewis' message of pity and pathos. They have formed a campaign called The Trouble with Jerry to challenge the award, and to educate the public that pity and prejudice are not progress.

Protests will take place in Los Angeles and around the country. Activists will confront the Academy itself at high noon on Friday, February 20, at the AMPAS headquarters, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90211. Academy officers will be asked WHY they failed to consult the disability community before recognizing Lewis' outdated attitudes as a form of "humanitarianism." Protests will continue at 12 noon on Saturday, February 21, near the Kodak Theatre, site of the Oscar ceremony, at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. And celebrities, reporters, and others arriving at the Oscar Awards on Sunday, February 22 will not be able to avoid seeing protesters, beginning at 3 p.m.

Demonstrations in support of The Trouble with Jerry will also take place in communities throughout the United States, including Chicago, IL; Mobile, AL; New York City and Rochester, NY. Advocates interested in organizing local protests are encouraged to contact info@thetroublewithjerry.com for guidance, ideas, and materials.

For news and frequent updates, go to http://TheTroubleWithJerry.com

Comments

[Dee Wheat]

While I completely agree that Jerry Lewis's efforts have been largely self-promotional, I honestly believe that there are far more important issues for the disability community to spend its resources on, regardless of whether we are talking about monetary or physical resources. Put this into perspective: it's an actor's award, not something that actually either positively or negatively impacts the day-to-day life of any of us. Yes, it's irritating. Yes, it's humiliating. Soooo....quit serving your kids up as fodder for the mill. Do you honestly think there would be a telethon if no one from the disability community came?

I seriously doubt that Hollywood is ever going to bow to the demands/requests/needs/wants of the disability community. But, you can't have a party for someone, and especially as big a party as this is, if the guest of honor refuses publicly to come. My advice is that we quit protesting, which only gives the event more publicity and makes us look selfish and petty, and simply ignore the whole thing. No kids in wheelchairs, no telethon. It's an easy equation. JUST SAY NO! No, my kids are not going to be paraded like pets on review, no, I'm not coming to your telethon, and last but far from least no, I will not allow you to use my disability or my child's disability to further your own agenda.

[Lanae S.]

As a young person with Muscular Dystrophy I am a recipient of many of the programs that have been funded by the telethons hosted by Jerry Lewis. It hasn't been until recently that I became aware of the negetive tactics and selfishness that Jerry Lewis exhibits. I am still trying to seperate the good and the bad from this new information. I do not feel that protesting this award is the publicity that our community needs. We need to teach not preach, we need to change aditudes but personal attacks are not the way to go. Maybe Mr. Lewis is not aware that his tactics are not pro-disability? As I stated in the begining I am a young adult with MD who has only recently become aware of the negetivity of the telethons.

[deet]

Maybe this is the only way that Jerry knows how to express his care and concern. This is his way of showing empathy. Just because he is old school and he doesn't express his concern the way you would like does not validate a protest. Take the support where you can and quit demanding how people are supposed to act. I am a paraplegic and will take the help if you are too "offended" by his nature. This protest is being petty. Knock it off.

[M Helm]

I have worked with children in the MD community and SEEN first hand the good that comes from the money Jerry Lewis raises. I also have a critically disabled nephew with such a rare and horrendous disease with only ONE research lab in the world working on a cure and since it is so rare there is LITTLE money elsewhere-families do about 90% of the fundraising for research. Our entire family does not judge how someone raises money, we are grateful and make sure we express our gratitude (even for a simple bake sale).Why do you feel the need to criticize a person who has devoted so much of his time and energy to raising awareness and money for such a worthwhile cause? People who go on the show, challenged or not, go by CHOICE and feel they ARE contributing to a good cause. How can able bodied people tell YOUR story? What have you all done to help others and do you do it perfectly according to the world? Your negativity breeds negativity and precludes you from ever recognizing good in others (no one is perfect). Did you ever think about joining the MDA telethon and try to impact it in a way you see more "fit" even if it is in a small way? Read the book, 'Thank You Power' by Deborah Norville. Leave Jerry alone.

[John Smith]

"Jerry is a Jerk" is the message the activists say. What they'd like to do is probably suck more money out of the taxpayers instead of from charitable givers and donors becuase most of the disabilty community leaders are socialists and they just want more and more big government handouts.That's why they all voted for Obailout Mama.

[Janice McClellan]

I used to sing in Vegas and my ex was musical director for a couple of acts on the telethon when it was broadcast from the Sahara Hotel. The hotel's entertainment director and band contractor let it be known that Jerry makes $1 million a year from MDA. He says he doesn't take a "salary". The 1$ million is called "expenses". I've watched him in person and he is an a**.

[Janice McClellan]

Socialist health care works. Capitalism does not. Do your homework and check out the progressive Western nations that thrive with government health care.

[buy viagra]

used to love Jerry Lewis performance, but he is a jerk in the real life so why the academia chooses this guy ?