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United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts to Lead Demonstration at Viacom Shareholders' Meeting in New York City on May 21

Union to Protest Proposed CBS Television Show the Real Beverly Hillbillies
Demonstration Begins at 9 a.m. at the Equitable Center Building at 7th Ave. and 51st St.

On Wednesday, May 21, United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts will lead a 9 a.m. protest at the Equitable Center Building in downtown Manhattan, where Viacom shareholders will meet for the company's annual shareholders' meeting. Viacom is the parent company of CBS, the network currently planning to produce a television show called the Real Beverly Hillbillies. Joining Roberts for the protest will be several UMWA coal miners, representatives from other unions whose members live and work throughout rural America and representatives and members of organizations working to address issues of importance to rural Americans, such as the Center for Rural Strategies. "The UMWA is coming to New York with other concerned rural Americans to voice our strong opposition to CBS' planned production of the Real Beverly Hillbillies," said Roberts in advance of the event. "This show would be an insult to a great majority of the hard-working and proud people who call rural America home. The idea to take a rural family, relocate them to Beverly Hills and then sit back and watch while they try and acclimate is extremely cruel and only serves to perpetuate an outdated stereotype. This kind of sick humor may appeal to network executives and other elitists, but it will only anger and embarrass many rural Americans."

Roberts said he wrote to Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone and President Mel Karmazin on April 11, asking them to drop this idea, but, to date, the UMWA has received no response to its request; not even a courtesy reply. Other unions have also written in opposition, including the Communication Workers, Steelworkers, Flight Attendants, Bakery, Confectionary and Tobacco Workers and Service Employees. Roberts said that he will also use the protest to announce the UMWA's intention to coordinate a formal boycott of all companies that might choose to sponsor the Real Beverly Hillbillies, should CBS move forward with the show.

"Working together with other unions and organizations serving the interests and needs of rural Americans, we will try our best to reach as many of the 56 million people living in these areas with news of our boycott," said Roberts.

Roberts says he continues to hold out hope that CBS will do the right thing and abandon plans for The Real Beverly Hillbillies. "There is still time for CBS to reverse course and drop its plans to produce this ill-advised reality television show," said Roberts. "Hopefully our demonstration on Wednesday will help persuade the network to do just that."