Fwd: Special Olympics: Notice of National Boycott of Tropic Thunder

[Guest guest]

Date: Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 12:57 PM Subject: Special Olympics: Notice about National Boycott of "Tropic Thunder"To: Amie Dugan Greetings all: This is a cursory notice that Special Olympics Florida will be participating in a national boycott of Ben Stiller's new film, opening this week, "Tropic Thunder."

As you may or may not know, on Wednesday, August, 13 "Tropic Thunder," a comedic movie starring Ben Stiller, Downey Jr. and Jack Black, will premiere in theaters nationwide. Comedies are supposed to be funny. "Tropic Thunder" is far from funny. It is offensive and hurtful. "Tropic Thunder" (www.tropicthunder.com) features a movie-within-the movie: "Simple Jack…Once upon a time there was a retard." The movie and the movie-within-the movie contain extremely offensive material promoting the idea that a "retard" is funny. The R-word is derogatory hate speech that demeans and dehumanizes those who have intellectual disabilities. "Tropic Thunder" and

Hollywood use and abuse the R-word, encouraging behavior that continues to demean a portion of our population who already face many challenges. We are therefore mounting a national boycott of the film, encouraging people NOT to see or support the film. Special Olympics Inc. is following a three-tiered approach to support these objectives. First, we are participating as a unified front with a coalition of disability organizations to directly address the movie and its studio, DreamWorks. Second, Special Olympics has taken a leadership role in implementing public relations efforts to address the movie launch on a national and local level, as well as accelerate the introduction of its long-planned "R-word" campaign. And finally, they are seeking grassroots activation throughout the movement to protest the film

and educate our constituents as well the general public. We, along with all US Programs, have been working with Special Olympics, Inc. over the past few days (and continue those talks this week) to assist in a coordinated effort to turn potential movie goers away from this film through education and awareness. We will be calling on all of you in order to mobilize our greatest asset, our grassroots strength, to help send the signal to Hollywood that there are ramifications for their actions. I will be developing resources, tools and ways for our constituency to get the word out about this boycott and I will be e-mailing you all again by tomorrow with further details. Thanks and we'll keep you posted. Bcc: Board of Directors, SOFL Staff, County Coordinators, FPAC, APDs Amie Dugan VP, Marketing and Communications Special Olympics Florida P. x506 Cell F. (352)

243-9568 amiedugan@... www.specialolympicsflorida.org 1105 Citrus Tower Blvd. Clermont, FL 34711