Not a joke

Hold the New York Post accountable

The New York Post recently published the political cartoon shown here, depicting two white police officers standing over the carcass of a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, with the animal representing the author of the stimulus package.

The decision to run this cartoon was irresponsible at best, and hurtful and malicious at worst. It seems unthinkable that an editor of a newspaper would not understand the history of Black folks being depicted as monkeys and apes or the recent spate of death threats against President Obama. Worse, when confronted, Post editor Col Allan dismissed people's concerns as baseless.

Join us in demanding that The Post issue an apology for the decision and their callousness, and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print.

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Read the e-mail message that we originally sent to our members about this petition.

Below you'll find the text of the letter we'll send to the publisher of the New York Post, Paul Carlucci, unless you create your own statement.

To: Paul V. Carlucci, Publisher, New York Post
Cc: Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
New York Post
1211 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10036
Dear Mr. Carlucci,
I was shocked and saddened by the New York Post's recent publication of Sean Delonas' cartoon depicting a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, killed by police and thus unable "to write the next stimulus bill." The image evoked a long history of racially-charged comparisons of Black people to monkeys and pandered -- intentionally or not -- to a fringe element that fantasizes about violence against President Obama.
I am writing to ask that you publish an apology. I also ask that whichever editor approved Delonas' cartoon for publication be fired, whether it was Editorial Page Editor Bob McManus, Editor Col Allan, or another senior manager in the newsroom. I ask that you determine who was responsible and hold that person accountable.
I was particularly concerned by the Post's sole response to readers who found the image to have racist undertones. The callous statement Col Allan issued Wednesday denies a historical reality, and for him to claim ignorance of this history raises questions about his ability to effectively lead a daily newspaper geared toward a mainstream and multiracial audience.
Please publish an apology that acknowledges that it was a mistake for the Post to publish this cartoon and fire the person responsible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]