DrugSense FOCUS Alert #139 Wednesday December 8, 1999 "Judge Judy" Sees Death For Addicts As Justice TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, DONATE, VOLUNTEER TO HELP OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS PLEASE SEE THE INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FOCUS ALERT PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE DrugSense FOCUS Alert #139 Wednesday December 8, 1999 Judy Sheindlin, the former family court judge who now plays a judge on TV ("Judge Judy"), was in Australia last month promoting her new book when she made some outrageous comments that illustrated the depth of the hate produced by the war on drugs. According to the Australia Courier-Mail, Sheindlin made an appearance in Brisbane, Australia on November 16 where she said the debate about needle supply to heroin addicts is an indulgence lead by "liberal morons." The solution is simple, she said. "Give 'em dirty needles and let 'em die. . .I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive." (To read longer accounts, see http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a07.html and http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a06.html) Activists have taken note of Sheindlin's barbarity, and calls and letters to the producer of her television show seem to be having an impact. Some carefully worded responses from Sheindlin's representatives do not deny that the "judge" made the "let 'em die" statement. However, the attempt at spin control seems like more of an effort to justify the comments, rather than admitting the stupidity and cruelty of them. Despite her effort at damage control, her death sentence for addicts was not the first attack attempts at reform. In her 1996 book she wrote about seeing "a TV profile about a woman in the South Bronx who has devoted her life to rescuing drug addicts from infection by giving them free needles in exchange for their old ones. She believes that America has becomes callous to their plight. She says she is discouraged and ashamed of the citizens' inhumane response to 'afflicted addicts.' Well, forgive me for not dabbing my eyes. In the TV show about her, I watched addicts dump a weekly supply of syringes on her table, fifty or more apiece. What the hell did she think they put in those needles - soda pop? They were all shooting heroin, which is deadly and very expensive." Please write to the sponsors of Sheindlin's show to express your displeasure over her comments and her half-hearted responses to our concerns. Thanks for your effort and support. WRITE A LETTER TODAY It's not what others do it's what YOU do PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter, Phone, fax etc.) Please post a copy your letter or report your action to the MAPTalk list if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to Your letter will then be forwarded to the list with so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit This is VERY IMPORTANT as it is the only way we have of gauging our impact and effectiveness. Cut and paste list of Email addresses of Judge Judy's sponsors below. Use this for a general letter expressing your concerns and copy all the addresses below. Alternate: If you wish to participate in our standard effort of writing a letter to the editor please read the excellent Arianna Huffington column at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1295/a02.html and reply to the Fresno Bee at Judge Judy Sponsors - More CONTACT INFO NOTE: Thanks to Cliff Schaffer for compiling this info. For those who want to join in the campaign to respond to Judge "let-em-die" Judy, here is some contact info for KCAL TV 9 in Los Angeles which airs her show, as well as contact information for some of the sponsors. Please remember to do the following: 1) Act fast. 2) Make it clear that such talk -- especially from a Judge -- especially from someone who is Jewish -- is completely reprehensible and inexcusable. Her remarks show that she isn't fit to be a judge on television or anywhere else. 3) Include the text, URLs or quotes from both articles, so it is clear what you are talking about and so Judge Judy can't lie about what she said. 4) Make it clear to both TV stations and sponsors that you will stop buying/viewing their products and that you are encouraging your friends to do the same. 5) Close your letter by saying that you hope those sponsors will also show their outrage against her remarks by cancelling their advertising for her show. We don't want to boycott or take other action against people who feel the same as we do about it. (Give them a nice way to join us.) Twentieth Century Fox is likely to be especially sensitive to complaints. They have one of their big movies in the theaters right now "Anna and the King" and they will have a little more than thirty days to make all the money in the theaters that they can make. If they receive a number of letters/phone calls about Judge Judy's comments, along with a threat to picket or boycott, they will drop Judge Judy like a hot rock. They can't afford to wait a week to see if they have a PR problem. Judge Judy and her sponsors Judge Judy's number 1-888-800-JUDY Contact form forearnfreegas.com http://www.chase.com/chase/gx.cgi/FTes?evalpage=Chase/Href&urlname=contactus /generalfeedback KCAL 9 - Programming - 323-960-3610 Public Affairs - 323-960-3730 e-mail: Conair (Anna and the King - movie) Twentieth Century Fox 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (310) 369-1000 Secret Deodorant http://www.secret-deodorant.com use Feedback form Sell Oil New York David Sexton Shell Oil Company GSDF Division 630 Fifth Avenue - Suite 1970 New York NY 10111, USA Telephone: 1-212-218 3112. Fax: 1-212-218 3114 Information for private shareholders If you have any questions or queries please contact the addresses below Royal Dutch Shareholders Shareholder queries, Shell International B.V FHK Division PO Box 162 2501 AN The Hague The Netherlands. E-mail: Telephone: 31-70-377 4540. Fax: 31-70-377 3115 Royal Dutch USA Stockholders Royal Dutch stockholders in the USA with inquiries about stock ownership, changes of address or the payment of dividends may contact: Stock Transfer and Paying Agent J P Morgan Service Center PO Box 8205 Boston MA 02266-8205. Telephone: 1-800-556 8639 (USA only) 1-781-575-4328 (international) Fax: 1-617-575 4083 Group Enquiries Enquiries relating to activities of companies in the Royal Dutch/Shell Group may be sent to: The Shareholder Relations Office Shell Centre London SE1 7NA. Telephone: 0171 934 6535. Fax: 0171 934 6625 For matters not covered above Please write to: The Company Secretary The Shell Transport and Trading Company plc Shell Centre London SE1 7NA. Telephone: 0171 934 3363. Fax: 0171 934 5153 Shell Credit Cards http://www.earnfreegas.com Lanacane ointment http://www.lanacane.com Nissan Autos 1-800-NISSAN-1 (1-800-647-7261) Nissan Motor Corporation P.O.Box 47060 Gardena, CA 90248 Web TV (airs Judge Judy in interactive mode) http://www.webtv.com Mr. Rooter http://www.mrrooter.com 1-800-298-6855 * Fax 254-745-5098 Email: Footlocker Shoe Stores http://www.footlocker.com 1-800-991-6681 Other Judge Judy Sponsors Nissan autos Coco's Restaurants Ross Dress for Less Dodge Ram Trucks Jet-Dry Blistex The show is produced by Big Ticket Television SAMPLE LETTER (sent) Dear [sponsor] I understand that your company sponsors the "Judge Judy" television show. As are probably already aware, the show's star, Judy Sheindlin, recently made some extremely offensive comments in regards to intravenous drug users. Sheindlin said, "Give 'em dirty needles and let 'em die. . .I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive," as she promoted her new book in Australia. This "final solution" not only smacks of Nazism, it is completely irresponsible. Sheindlin should know that IV drug users infected with deadly disease don't just sit in a corner and keep it to themselves. The disease can be easily transmitted to unborn children, unknowing sexual partners and others. Sheindlin has clearly let her intolerance overpower any common sense she might have. While Sheindlin is certainly entitled to her opinions, no matter how mindlessly murderous and hateful, her opinions do reflect on her sponsors. While I hope you don't share her opinions, it's hard to tell as long as your company continues to financially support Sheindlin's show without calling on her to retract her statements. Sheindlin is well aware of the controversy she has created, and while she has made some attempt to justify her comments, she hasn't done the right thing: simply admitting that she was wrong. She obviously cares little about those of us who have protested her comments, so we feel as though we must bring the issue to your attention. I'm hoping this can be resolved before I change my buying habits to consciously avoid products from Sheindlin's sponsors, but unless I get some satisfaction from Sheindlin, I feel as if I don't have any other choice. Thank you for your consideration. Stephen Young IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone number Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work. ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts 3 Tips for Letter Writers http://www.mapinc.org/3tips.htm Letter Writers Style Guide http://www.mapinc.org/style.htm Prepared by Stephen Young - http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus Alert Specialist

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