February 21, 2002
Mr. Yoshimi Inaba
Chief Executive Officer
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
19001 S. Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90509
CERTIFIED MAIL-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTEDDear Mr. Inaba:
Toyota is being dishonest with the public about its relationship with Rev. Jesse Jackson. I ask that you stop.
Irving Miller's February 4 letter to me, prompted by my January 16 appearance on The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, offers additional evidence of this dishonesty. His primary assertion, that the launching of your so-called 21st Century Strategic Diversity Plan was unrelated to Jackson's boycott threats, is not credible.
Here are the publicly-reported events in 2001 leading to the announcement of the plan:
May 21- Jesse Jackson announces a boycott of Toyota.Jackson's interaction with Toyota does not differ dramatically from the shakedowns of other corporations. In a formal Complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service on February 28, 2001, the National Legal and Policy Center alleged that Jackson's methods are illegal. See <http://www.nlpc.org/gip010228ir.htm>. The Complaint is pending.May 23- Toyota executives meet with Jackson.
June 21- Jackson puts boycott on hold after Toyota promises to hire an African-American ad agency. Jackson sets August 1 "deadline" for meeting his demands.
August 1- Jackson announces that Toyota has not met his demands and that he is prepared to go ahead with the boycott. Toyota spokesperson Tracy Underwood states, "We are doing our absolute best to avoid any boycott."
August 9- Toyota and Jackson jointly announce the $7.8 billion diversity program. Toyota Executive Vice-President James Press states, "We believe this strategic diversity plan reflects well on Toyota's business culture and on the efforts of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to improve society."
The central (but not sole) allegation of our Complaint is that Jackson has used tax-exempt organizations for private benefit. The issue of private benefit was addressed during my O'Reilly interview. Miller's letter confirms my specific examples of Burell Communications and Blaylock & Partners.
(Curiously, Miller volunteers that "It may be of some interest to you that Jackson's recommendation was not Burrell Communications." If Jackson has had nothing to do with the Plan, why would he be making recommendations about who gets hired, and how would Miller become aware of it?)
Miller states, "Reverend Jackson is a controversial figure. Toyota does
not endorse him or his actions."
Yet Miller played a prominent role in Jackson's Wall Street Conference
in New York City on January 15-18, 2002. Indeed, the agenda listed him
as one of three individuals making remarks at the "Keynote Luncheon" on
the "The State of the Wall Street Conference." One of the remaining two
was Jackson himself.
Toyota also shared the Conference program with controversial rap musicians such as Slick Rick, a purveyor of lyrics that glorify violence, vulgarity, criminality, and misogamy. One of Slick Rick's "songs" carries the ironic title of "Treat Her Like a Prostitute." (For Slick Rick lyrics, go to <http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/singerUnid/76470DD1C6D49EDB482568AB0008C71C>.)
Since the Diversity Plan was announced, Jackson's behavior has become more extreme. He recently made a series of statements, anti-American in tone, critical of the fight against terrorism. He even sought to undermine President Bush by offering to conduct "clergy to clergy" negotiations with the Taliban.
Miller claims that, "We seek good relationships with the leaders of many communities." Maybe it is time for Toyota to seek a good relationship with the vast majority of families in this country of all races who support the fight against terrorism and who seek to protect their children from cultural garbage. Who do you think buys your cars and trucks?
Many people have contacted our office to indicate that they will not buy Toyota and Lexus products. Many have also encouraged us to launch a national boycott of Toyota. Bill O'Reilly proclaimed on his show, currently the nation's most-watched talk program, that,
"I would not buy a Toyota product now if they gave it to me. I wouldn't take it. I wouldn't take it."In the face of growing public outrage over Toyota's relationship with Jackson, I ask that you take the following steps immediately to begin to address this problem:
1) Retract Miller's February 4 letter and refrain from similarly misleading corporate communications in the future.In the wake of the Enron scandal, the public has no tolerance for large, publicly-held corporations that mislead about their finances or maintain secret partnerships. It is time for Toyota to come clean. You can start by providing a positive written response to my four requests within 30 days.2) Cease participation by Toyota, and its employees, in events organized or sponsored by Jackson, his organizations, and his allies.
3) Cease financial support for Jackson's Wall Street Project, Citizenship Education Fund, Rainbow/PUSH, and other Jackson related-or-allied organizations.
4) Appoint a Toyota executive at the vice-president level, who has no previous involvement with the Diversity Plan, to serve as a liaison for minority leaders and groups who would like to participate but have not done so because they believe that they must be selected or approved by Jackson.
Sincerely,
Peter Flaherty
President
cc:
James Press, Toyota Executive Vice-Presidentenclosure:
Dennis Cuneo, Toyota General Counsel
Toyota Board of Directors
Bill O'Reilly
Irving Miller February 4, 2001 letter
NLPC's Media Release Concerning this Letter
Peter Flaherty's Scripps Howard News Service Op-Ed on Jackson and Toyota (Aug. 27, 2001)
NLPC's IRS Complaint Concerning Citizenship Education Fund