NAACP Condemns Islam-A-Phobic, Mean Spirited, Tasteless and Racially Offensive July 21, 2008 New Yorker Magazine Cover

WHEREAS, the cover of the New Yorker magazine dated July 21, 2008, but first released on Sunday, July 13, 2008, depicts Sen. Barack Obama as a Muslim wearing a turban and a caftan, much like the picture of Osama Bin Laden in the background, Michelle Obama as a militant revolutionary carrying an AK-47 assault rifle wearing camouflage pants, commando boots and the American flag aflame in the background; and

WHEREAS, the cartoon is mass media at its worst, as it perpetuates false information, plays on negative stereotypes and is highly inflammatory; and

WHEREAS, the cartoon exacerbates rumors and blatant misinformation that has been spread in attempts to discredit or malign Senator Obama and his wife; and

WHEREAS, the New Yorker magazine has said that the cover illustration is ―intended to make fun of conservatives as ignorant racists, and essentially marginalize any criticism of Obama as moronic. In response, Senator Obama's spokesman has called the cover ―tasteless and offensive‖ and even Senator John McCain's campaign has decried the cartoon as ―totally inappropriate.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP decries the July 21st 2008 New Yorker magazine cartoon cover as tasteless, Islam-a-phobic, mean-spirited and racially offensive; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on every American who is similarly offended by the cover to contact the New Yorker magazine, either by e-mail at themail@newyorker.com, or via phone at (212) 508 – 0803, or by post at The Mail, The New Yorker, 4 Times Square, New York, NY 10036.