Bill Brown Calls for Boycott of Ingraham Stations and Sponsors Over Anti-SEAL Remark

(Mount Laurel)- Iraq War veteran and retired Navy SEAL Bill Brown called on Trenton Republicans Dawn Addiego and Scott Rudder to repudiate Laura Ingraham and the Anti-Navy SEAL remarks she made about the rescue efforts of Captain Richard Phillips.  Ingraham, the radio star and spokeswoman for the radical right, referred to the high risk, high pressure mission as something that could have been accomplished by the “The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.”

“I have spent my whole life fighting for people like Laura Ingraham to be able to exercise their freedom of speech,” said Brown.  “Now, I am going to exercise mine.  I am calling on everyone who believes in the bravery, dedication and sacrifice of our soldiers to join me in boycotting the stations and the sponsors who support this spokeswoman for the radical right wing.”

Brown also called on Trenton Republicans Dawn Addiego and Scott Rudder to stand with him in denouncing Ingraham.

“Laura’s statements are more than an insult to the men and women who serve this nation.  They are indicative of the right wing's ambivalence towards our troops.  Ingraham is a national spokeswoman for the radical right that Addiego and Rudder have pledged their allegiance to; I want to see them stand for our troops and against her radical agenda.  They were silent when I fought for education reform for veterans; I hope they do not remain silent now.”

Brown has launched www.apologizenowlaura.com, a website that lists the stations that broadcast Ingraham and some of the advertisers who support those stations.  He is asking for veterans across the country to join him in boycotting these sponsors until Laura Ingraham issues a formal apology to the Navy SEALS and the Americans who are celebrating the heroic efforts of those who rescued Captain Richard Phillips.

“It took years of training and a lifetime of sacrifice to prepare for those precious few seconds that made the difference between the life and death of Captain Phillips,” said Brown.  “They should not only be honored for their bravery, they should be lauded for their preparation.”

Brown's own military record includes 3 deployments to Iraq supporting the U.S. Tier 1 mission and providing Protective Service Detail for the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq. He is credited with conducting over 200 high risk movements throughout Iraq as Advanced team and security and conducting 10 Direct Action missions that resulted in the successful capture of 8 insurgents, 3 weapons caches, and the distribution of Anti-Coalition forces. 

After 8 years of service to his country, Brown has become a national and State advocate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

On May 3, 2008 Brown literally ran from Rutgers-Camden to Rutgers-New Brunswick, a distance of 65 miles, to support the Post 9/11 Veterans Assistance Act.  This effort raised over $10,000 dollars for the first, and only, Rutgers Military Veterans Scholarship, which Brown started.

Bill Brown played a key role in the decision by Rutgers University-Camden to join a national group of higher education institutions that accept college-level credits earned by active members of the armed forces on their military installations.  He is the Founder of Veterans for Education – the first and only Military and Veterans Student Group at Rutgers University. Veterans for Education is also the NJ State Directors for Student Veterans of America, the largest student veterans group in the nation. 

“The men and women who serve our nation do so with honor and dignity.  When people like Laura Ingraham make statements belittling their efforts, she insults not only the SEAL’s, but a nation who celebrates them.”

The public is welcomed to visit www.apologizenowlaura.com and sign the online petition calling for Ingraham to apologize.

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