'Anti-Imus' protests expanding

(New Brunswick - WABC, April 11, 2007) (WABC) -- More fallout today over the controversial remarks made by radio host don imus towards the Rutgers Women's basketball team. Several protests are planned for this afternoon, including this one at City Hall this morning.

Now other heavy hitters are weighing in, both politically and financially.

New Jersey reporter Anthony Johnson is live in Newark.

Since calling the Rutgers Women's basketball team "nappy-headed ho's", people are attacking Don Imus' character with protests.

At Noon, there was a demonstration will at the Newark campus of Rutgers University while another is due to take place this afternoon at the New Brunswick campus.

A day after the Rutgers Women's basketball team displayed class and dignity, the "anti-Imus" movement is growing. The coach of the team, C. Vivian Stringer is still dealing with the sting of the radio-talkshow host's comments, but she still wants to meet him face to face, to hear what he has to say.

"I'm not calling for his head "yet" until after I've had an opportunity to listen to him," said Stringer.

Local politicians are weighing in on this debate and letting it be known that they will not be accepting any invitations to appear on the Don Imus broadcast.

Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark said, "It's not something I'm interested in doing. I have not seen the kind of issues that I'd be interested in or would be satisfactory to me personally. And, seeing the impact from his words within my community...it's just something I would not choose to do."

And nationally the racially charged comments used by Don Imus are becoming an issue for the presidential candidates.

Rudy Giuliani said, "I would appear on his program again. Sure. I would. I take him at his word.. .that he understands the gravity of what he did."

Hillary Clinton said, "I've never been asked to go on the show and I've never wanted to go on his show...and I certainly don't ever intend to go on his show."

But in Newark the presidential candidates are being urged to make a stand against Imus.

"The presidential candidates need to step up to the plate and acknowledge the fact that they don't support him," said Barbara Crump, City Councilwoman from Newark.

Meanwhile major advertiseres are pulling the plug Imus' radio and TV show. Last Friday, the country's biggest marketer, Proctor & Gamble pulled out from advertising. Now "Staples" is doing the same and Bigelow Tea company has said, "future sponsorships are in jeopardy."

At noontime, Eyewitness News learned that the former head of the NAACP, Bruce Gordon, says that he wants to see Don Imus fired.

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