Former Coach's Abusive Outbursts Net Shipment of 'Bullies Are Cowards' Posters for School's Athletic Facilities
For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2013
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382
New Brunswick, N.J. -- A package from PETA will soon be on its way to Rutgers University, where video footage of former basketball coach Mike Rice's abuse of players has sent shockwaves across the country. Because of the well-established link between violence against animals and violence against humans, PETA plans to send 100 copies of posters that read, "Abuse: Report It if You See It," for display in the school's athletic facilities in the hope of encouraging students to speak out against all forms of bullying. In a letter sent this morning to Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi, PETA also suggested that the school create an anti-bullying lecture series in the wake of Rice's dismissal in order to foster compassion for all beings.
"We encourage everyone to speak up when they see bullying, whether the victim is a ballplayer or the family dog, because bullies' behavior usually gets worse and worse if they are allowed to get away with abuse," says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "People who take out their anger on those under their control need to seek help and need to be turned in."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi follows.
April 4, 2013
Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D.
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Dear President Barchi,
On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), I wish you well in your efforts to stop the bullying that regretfully is once again in the spotlight at Rutgers. To that end, we will be mailing your office 100 “Abuse: Report It if You See It” posters to put up around Rutgers athletic facilities or anywhere else that you see fit.
All bullying and cruelty is wrong, regardless of the race, religion, gender, country of origin, sexual orientation, or species of the victim. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I’ve no doubt that you agree that teaching students and faculty members to report abuse is a vital way to prevent future violence. We expect that our posters will help foster a safer school environment, as the abusive behavior of people who harm animals eventually tends to expand in scope until it is also directed toward fellow humans.
We also suggest holding an anti-bullying lecture series, in which students and the community at large can come together to discuss ways to develop empathy for all others.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President