May 23, 1995
From: Round Valley Community Support Coalition
Contact: Betty or Gary Ball, (707) 468-1660, FAX 462-2370 or write c/o
M.E.C., 106 W. Standley St., Ukiah, CA 95482
PROTEST "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" BIASED RE-ENACTMENT OF COVELO TRAGEDY
The "America's Most Wanted" Fox TV show plans a Saturday, May 27
broadcast of a one-sided and potentially inflammatory "re-enactment" of
the Round Valley Indian Reservation slayings of April 14, which left two
Native American men and a deputy sheriff dead. The continuing intensive
manhunt for the alleged cop-killer has resulted in a state of siege by
law enforcement against the Round Valley Native American community, and
nearby Native American rancherias in Mendocino County, California. The
Covelo Indian Community is a sovereign nation of six tribes: Yuki,
Wailacki, Pomo, Concow, Numlacki and Pit River.
The Round Valley Community Support Coalition yesterday received a copy
of a letter from the Leonard Peltier Foundation of Groningen,
Netherlands, to America's Most Wanted, expressing concern for the
prejudicial effect the show's coverage may have on the audience and the
residents of Round Valley. The letter included the statement: "Looking
at the events following the shootings, Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota comes to mind, where the U.S. Government in the mid-seventies not
only harassed the local residents in a similar way, they also
manipulated the media, and turned a relatively fair and impartial
judicial system into a tool of political repression against Native
Americans."
For more details about the case, see the Round Valley Slayings article
by Nicholas Wilson, dated 5/16/95, and Update Round Valley, dated
5/19/95, posted to Native-L and alt.native and Planet Peace web site.
The filmed re-enactment is based entirely on the sheriff's version of
the slaying of Leonard "Acorn" Peters by deputy sheriffs and the
shooting of one of the deputies by an unseen assailant. The show's
producers did not contact the families of Leonard Peters or the suspect,
Bear Lincoln, for their version of events. Many people believe the
sheriff's version is a cover-up of fatal mistakes by his own deputies,
including shooting an unarmed innocent man and the possibility of the
slain deputy being killed by "friendly fire" from his partner's M-16.
People can contact the TV show's producers and sponsors to express their
concern and ask that the one-sided episode not be aired.
Lance Heflin, Executive Producer
America's Most Wanted, STF Productions, Inc.
Fox Television Stations Productions
202-895-3100
FAX (202) 895-3280, or 895-3096.
TOLL FREE TIP LINE: 1-800-CRIME TV (274-6388)
Please call your local Fox Network affiliate and voice your protest to
them. In the S. F. Bay Area and much of Northern California cable TV,
the Fox affiliate is KTVU Ch. 2, phone (510) 874-0242.
The most effective way to reach the show's executives are through the
sponsors. Please refer to the list of sponsors below, and let them know
your concerns about the potential for increased anti-Indian prejudice
and harassment by reward-hungry vigilantes.
SPONSORS of "America's Most Wanted" on 5/20/95 were:
**Tylenol -- 215-233-7000; McNeil Consumer Products Co./Div. of McNeil-
PPC, Inc. Fort Washington, PA 19034 (See note below)
* Zima Malt Liquor -- 1-800-648-0800; Zima Beverage Co., Memphis TN 38118
* Ryder truck rentals -- 1-800-GO RYDER (467-9337)
* Subway sandwich shops -- 1-800-363-5033
* Saturn automobiles -- 1-800-522-5000
* Miller Lite Ice beer -- 1-800-MILLER6 (645-5376); Miller Brewing Co.,
Milwaukee WI
* Salon Selectives -- Helene Curtis Inc., 325 N. Wells St., Chicago IL
60610
* Listerine -- 1-800-LISTERINE (547-8374); Warner Wellcome, Morris
Plains NJ 07950
* Dr. Pepper -- 1-800-527-7096; Dr. Pepper Co. Dallas TX 75265; CCE
Bottling Group, Atlanta GA 30313
* Armor All -- Armor All Products Corp., Aliso Viejo CA 92656
* Tide detergent -- 1-800-879-8433; Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati OH
45202
* Monistat 7 cream -- Advanced Care Products, Ortho Pharmaceutical
Corp., Raritan NJ 08869
**Imodium AD anti-diarrheal -- 215-233-7000; McNeil (see Tylenol above)
* Minwax floor coating --
* Red Lobster restaurant chain --
* Gaviscon antacid -- 1-800-245-1040; SmithKline Beecham, Pittsburgh PA
15230
* Snapple -- 1-800-235-2929; Snapple Beverage Corp., Valley Stream NY
11580
* Sears Brand Central department stores --
* Six Flags Great America theme park, Chicago area local sponsor
**Note: Although we can find no toll-free number, McNeil products,
maker of Tylenol and Imodium, is a major sponsor, with four commercials
in the 5/20 show, while most other companies had just one. A call to
McNeil may have more impact than to any other sponsor. McNeil's slogan:
"We've worked hard to earn your trust; we'll work even harder to keep it."
Tell them how they can keep your trust.