Subject: Why is this happening?
From: "Timothy Shriver" <[email-masked]>
To: "Timothy Shriver" <[email-masked]>, "Shawn Ferguson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 26 May 2016 22:24:32 +0000

Dear Friends:

I hope you'll take a moment to read and respond to the attached letter written by self-advocates, each of whom have Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, regarding the painful ridicule in the Showtime Network comedy special Gary Owen: I Agree with Myself  https://youtu.be/y8arl3izldo.  In my over 20 years of working side by side with people with Intellectual Disabilities, this is certainly the most offensive and painful material I've seen.  Can you imagine if African Americans, Jews, LGBT were the object of his cruelty?  As much as I am grateful it would never be tolerated if directed at these groups, I am equally appalled it is tolerated when directed at people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Last week I spoke with a group of Special Olympics athletes and self-advocates about Mr. Owen's painful ridicule.  We discussed our 2 week long campaign to meet with Mr. Owen to ask him to remove the material from his special, and our request to David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc., to remove the insulting content.  During our discussion one young woman fought back tears as she described the pain of watching Mr. Owen and asked, "Why is this happening?" I could not answer her question because there is no good answer.

Unfortunately Mr. Owen has not yet agreed to a meeting with our self-advocates, and Mr. Nevins refused to remove the content.  In fact, Gary Owen instead attacked our self-advocates in a radio interview for peacefully demonstrating at his recent show in Baltimore, MD.  Therefore I write you today with a special request to read the attached letter from our self-advocates.  If you are willing, PLEASE forward this to the executive leadership of CBS, the board of directors of CBS, Mr. Owen, Mr. Nevins and ask all in your social networks to join this effort.  Below and attached are addresses, social media recommendations, and a draft letter we would ask you to send.

We need your help!  Our community has neither economic nor political power and we therefore can only count on the good will of people like you who care.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.
Best regards,

Timothy P. Shriver Ph.D.
Chairman

Self-Advocates Letter:
Dear Gary,
We are the individuals that you choose to humiliate in your Showtime Comedy Special I agree with myself.   We are self-advocates, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  We are mothers and fathers.  We are African American, White, Asian, Muslim, and come from all walks of life.   We are parents and our children see you laughing at our disability.  We live with many disabilities including Intellectual Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and many others.  We get up every morning and go to work, school, church, and participate in all aspects of life.   You see us everywhere.  We may talk or walk different than you.  We may be use a wheelchair.  We may need some assistance to get through our day.  Many of us live our lives independently.  We are people first.
For some reason, we are your target.  Your five minute segment on Showtime took away our humanity.  It was offensive and discriminatory.  It is not ok to make fun of us.  You have tried to defend yourself by saying we're upset that you used the slur retarded.   You didn't just say a word you mocked us. You have targeted the disability community with a level of hatred, not seen on television in recent time, or ever.   You have agreed to meet us, and then change your mind at the last minute.
It's hard to laugh when you're always the butt of the joke.  Our demand to you and Showtime is simple.  We are the people living with a disability that you have targeted.  We want the five minute segment removed.  I read a tweet on Twitter that says "a joke that needs a scapegoat is not a joke, its cruelty that counts on my silence."
You have crossed the line Gary, and we will not be silent.
Sincerely,

Owen and Nevins Contact Info:
Gary Owen's Publicist:
Alison Leslie
Phone number: 323-464-9669
E-mail address:  [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>
Address of Alison Leslie:
Marleah Leslie & Associates
1645 N. Vine Street, Suite #712
Los Angeles, CA 90028

David Nevins
Phone number: 310-234-5200 ext. 5365
E-mail address: [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>
Address of Showtime Networks:
10880 Wilshire Blvd # 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90024

CBS Contact Info:
CBS Headquarters
51 W. 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019-6188
1-212-975-4321
http://www.cbscorporation.com/people/leslie-moonves/

Tim Shriver

Chairman, Special Olympics
Author, Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most
Specialolympics.org
Office: 202-824-0242