Paterson Muslims to picket Lowe’s for pulling ads from TV series
PATERSON — The city’s Muslim leaders Tuesday joined Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. in condemning a decision by Lowe’s, the home-improvement retailer, to pull its advertising from the TLC reality show “All-American Muslim.”
Members of the city’s Muslim community plan to protest the decision outside the Lowe’s store on McLean Boulevard on Friday afternoon.
The Lowe’s decision was a “big mistake,” one that would embolden intolerant Americans, said Pascrell, a former Paterson mayor. The city’s Muslim population is estimated at 25,000 to 30,000, many of them living in South Paterson.
“I am disappointed in the Lowe’s Cos.’ shortsighted and impulsive decision,” Pascrell said in a statement. “They have hurt and offended many patriotic Muslim-Americans, and all Americans, in my district and across the country.”
Pascrell said Lowe’s had done a lot of good over the years, citing its charity work. He called on the company “to make it right as soon as possible.”
Pascrell plans to sign a letter circulating in the House of Representatives that calls on Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock to reverse his company’s decision and stand up against religious intolerance.
The “All-American Muslim” series portrays the everyday lives of five Lebanese-American families in Dearborn, Mich., and shows family members dealing with such issues as interfaith marriage.
Lowe’s pulled its advertisements from the show after a campaign by the Florida Family Association, a small conservative group that protested the show as “propaganda.”
“That’s a shame,” said Hani Awadallah, president of the Arab American Civic Organization, based in South Paterson. “I will be there,” he said, referring to Friday’s protest.
Mohamed Elfilali, executive director of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, which has 1,200 members, said he expected a “couple hundred” people to show up at the protest.
