It's time to get your Protest shoes on again!
It was announced at last weeks Protest Prop 8 Rally that CEO of Cinemark Theaters aka as: Cinemark, Century and Tinseltown Theaters, donated $9,999 to the YES on Prop 8 Campaign in California.
Mr. Stock is a TEXAS resident and a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, we shouldn't have a problem with him donating his money to whatever cause he chooses, but why did he donate money to a campaign in another state that has nothing to do with where he lives?
The Church of Latter Day Saints was a huge force and contributor to the YES on 8 Campaign and even though Mr. Stock only dontated $9,999 directly, being a member of the church he actually donated more than we can probably tell. Mr. Stock's salary as CEO of Cinemark Theaters has been listed at near $8,000,000 annually, if he's tithing the 10% that's required by CLDS he's actually given close to $800,000 to the church - this year alone - so I'm sure a much bigger chunk of his money was used to fund the War on Hate!
A Protest of Cinemark Theaters in Evanston - 1715 Church Street - has been scheduled for this Saturday at 5PM to show the residents of Evanston exactly what the CEO of their biggest theater thinks of us.
- What: Boycott of Cinemark Theaters
- When: Saturday, November 22 - 5PM
- Where: Cinemark Theaters - 1715 Church Street, Evanston
Comments
Donating money to campaigns in other states is how politics is done. I live in Chicagoland but I get requests for political donations for candidates and props all over the country. I think if we go after Cinemark because of someone's contributions, we're no better than the employers who fire their employees because they supported Obama or contributed to another cause that might offend some customers. Just because someone who works for them, even their CEO, is a bigot, doesn't mean Cinemark is. I think this boycott could cause more negative publicity for gays and gay marriage than its worth.
I agree Dennis, This boycott does more to hurt us than to help us.
I have heard that this is all a stunt to promote "Milk."
You know on the list of who gave money to Yes(to hate)8 the Cinemark guy is way down on the list. There are like almost 300 people and companies that gave more than this guy did. Most a lot more. Why are we skiping 300 bad guys and just attacking this guy and the company he works for? This is odd. IMO. And dumb too.
Dennis/Don - Thank you for your input. I have not heard of a collaboration to promote "Milk" if it is, I agree it's not a very good one. All of the information that I've seen on this has come from the Gay Liberation Network (www.gayliberation.net) and Facebook. It appears to be a grassroots effort, I hope it's not an effort to promote the movie.
Several of my friends have also had discussions about whether this push for Marriage Equality is something that will potentially overshadow Obama's term as Presidency - similar to Bill Clinton's push for Universal Healthcare. So much energy went into that alone that people "forgot" about all of the other things that were going on and needed attention.
To Don,
As one of the people who started the boycott, I can assure you this is not a Milk stunt. My group has used Cinemark theatres for 2 years, but our memebers asked us to boycott.
BOYCOTT Cinemark/Tinsletown theaters, write gay critics to refusde to review films booked into Cinemark theaters, write Dreamworks, Pixar, UA, and other major film studios to just say no to booking films in Cinemarks. Let those knuckle dragging Texans, play Chuck Norris DVDs of his tired old TV series.
Cinemark is fading in America, we need international LGBTs to buy out their theaters abroad.
NO THANKS Cinemark.
I don't need you hot buttered HATE topping my popcorn.
Dave: I take you at your work on this not being a publicity stunt for MILK but the question still remains, why jump on Cinemark and not the others who gave more than this guy did? Just curious.
Since this report speaks directly about the movie "MILK" and its relevance to today's issues, it seems worth remembering MIlk's own feelings with Proposition 6. He felt that, if Prop. 6 was passed, that the gay community would rise up in an angry and perhaps violent offensive that would have been entirely understandable. The chants in the movie portrayed the chants of those days: Civil Rights or Civil War. Gay Rights Now!
We are not in the midst of a polite debate. We are not haggling over a trinket in a foreign bazaar. Prop 8 singles out gays. It strips them of rights. It undermines the very foundations of the Constitution of the country - which has not relationship to biblical belief or religious fantasies. If gays are going to be singled out by the passing of this proposition, then the supporters of it should be targeted. If they are in positions of power, such as CEO of Cinemark, then the foundation of their power ought to be attacked and brought down.
Cinemark is fair game as is the Mormon Church. We are not engaged in a friendly disagreement. These people have mobilized to strip Americans they don't like or respect of their civil rights. That's not politics. That is war. Gays have learned how to fight back and we ought to throw our full fury at individuals who funded this fight against us AND their power bases - period.
To Don and Dennis: As someone who sees movies with the SF Movie Bears, I can assure you that this boycott is a grass roots decision and effort by the members. Movie watching is something that we do, so it is an area where we saw that we could make a difference. It's THAT basic, guys.
If you see the Top 300 as being more important to you, then go ahead, take the lead, and start a grass roots movement against one of them. I suggest that you select an area in which you are already involved, as you will get the most impact for your effort. The Cinemark CEO contributed $10K, but based on the nomilkforcinemark Facebook page, the company has already lost over $225K in revenue from people who have pledged not to see this ONE movie in their theaters. The lost revenue will be much larger because of the full boycott of all movies in Cinemark theaters. That’s a lot of money lost because of one donation that is much smaller in size.
At least we are doing SOMETHING! It's not polite to complain about the work that someone is doing while you are sitting back and not participating in doing any of the work. This is where we can make a stand. Where can you make a stand? Even if you don't understand the tactic that is being used, it is important to support the overriding cause and movement that is its impetus. Please keep that in mind.
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