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A grand jury investigating a “charity” run by Revered Al Sharpton– the National Action Network (NAN)– has uncovered an extortion racket that set its sights on the U.S. auto industry. “A General Motors spokesman told The [New York] Post that NAN had repeatedly - and unsuccessfully - asked for contributions for six years, beginning in August 2000. Then, in December 2006, Sharpton threatened to call a boycott of the carmaker over the closing of an African-American-owned GM dealership in The Bronx, and he picketed outside GM headquarters on Fifth Avenue. Last year, General Motors gave NAN a $5,000 donation. It gave $5,000 more this year, a spokesman said, calling NAN a ‘worthy’ organization.” The General wasn’t the only automaker wetting Big Al’s beak. “In November 2003, Sharpton picketed DaimlerChrysler’s Chicago car show and threatened a boycott over alleged racial bias in car loans. ‘This is institutional racism,’ he bellowed. In May 2004, Chrysler began supporting NAN’s conferences, which include panels on corporate responsibility and civil rights and a black-tie awards dinner to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Last year, Sharpton gave Chrysler an award for corporate excellence.” Honda? “In 2003, Sharpton targeted American Honda for not hiring enough African-Americans in management. ‘We support those that support us,’ wrote Sharpton… Two months after American Honda execs met with Sharpton, the carmaker began to sponsor NAN’s events - and continues to pay “a modest amount” each year, a spokesman said.”

New York Post »

17 Responses to “
Rev. Al Shakes Down GM, Chrysler, Honda ”

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• 50merc :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  6:11 pm

  “Last year, Sharpton gave Chrysler an award for corporate excellence.”

  You know, I’m beginning to have some faint doubts about that guy’s judgment.

• dastanley :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  8:03 pm

  Don’t get me started on this guy. “The Reverend” is a professional bully that goes around crying wolf, screaming “racism” every time someone steps on his toes, disagrees, disrespects him in any way, or just looks at him cross-eyed.

  And why would GM and other car companies cave in to his extortion, giving 5 grand a year to NAN to stay on Sharpton’s good side? Are they concerned that Sharpton has enough credibility in the African-American community to start a nationwide boycott of their vehicles? Are they terrified of being called racists? Apparently so.

  Hell, let me start the Northern New Mexico Air Ambulance Pilot’s Association (NNMAAPA) or some other such nonsense and extort money from organizations and threaten them with a boycott from all of my collegues and associates just because I can.

  Sharpton’s tantrums are getting old. Grow up Sharpton!

• Airhen :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  8:05 pm

  Sharpton is truly a shakedown artist. According to the Post, almost 50 companies have handed over boycott bucks (I’ll call it extortion money) to the NAN conferences.

  http://www.nypost.com/seven/06152008/news/regionalnews/rev__al_soaks_up_boycott_bucks_115554.htm

  It’s amazing that he gets away with it, but then no one wants threats of being charged with racism. Although it would be great to have someone stand up to him. I guess it’s another price of doing business these days…

• motownr :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  8:09 pm

  Sharpton’s a hack; the better story is who Jesse got ’support’ from.

• Steven Lang :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  8:33 pm

  What motownr said is dead on. Jesse is to Al, what Ralph Nader is to Joan Claybrook.

  Personally, having met both in my travels, my only question is which one has the bigger head. Actually that’s not a question. Jesse’s head is bigger than most football helmets… and no I’m not kidding.

• LALoser :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  9:40 pm

  Maybe the “Rev” Al could employ Tawala Brawly as his spokesperson to the evil carmakers.

• motownr :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  9:50 pm

  Steven:

  Great point!

  I had the ‘pleasure’ of meeting Rev. Jesse once, and my lasting impression is of that massive noggin. Almost a human owl, with incredibly wide-set eyes….

  GM did, to my knowledge, avoid Jesse’s best efforts to score a number of GM points as the silent investor in conjunction with another prominent car dealer. Apparently, there are limits to being PC even at the Tubes.

• 50merc :
  
  
  June 15th, 2008 at
  10:15 pm

  Why would a company shell out to Al or Jesse? It’s called “go away money.” As long as the media provide professional grievants a podium, it’s cheaper to pay them to go away.

  dastanley, the scheme can work for the NNMAAPA too, but only if you can get it on the list of officially accredited victim groups.

• Landcrusher :
  
  
  June 16th, 2008 at
  1:39 am

  I know a company that managed to run Jesse off. I wish I knew what they did. I guess they had pictures or something.

• Sherman Lin :
  
  
  June 16th, 2008 at
  4:14 am

  They both do a disservice to the causes they purport to represent. There are unfortunately all too often real cases of discrimination etc but these two clowns in many cases cause many people to assume that most claims of discrimination or bias are simply a shakedown.

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