Because of you and as of this update, nearly 60,000 others, we're not only building an army of supporters, but we're clearly getting under the skin of Gray Television, who has noticed this petition and its growing support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
A couple of weeks ago when Gray’s lawyer again reached out to my pro bono counsel, I was hopeful they were finally going to do the right thing and grant me co-copyright of the video of Alison's murder so that I can fight Google. They were feeling the pressure generated by this petition, Sleeping Giants, and inquiries by a major news publication. Things seemed promising until they reverted back to their ghosting tactics. Given my lack of trust, I felt that suspending this campaign would be premature. It turns out my gut was right. Last week, Gray declared they were no longer talking to us. Included in their response:
“As we are sure you can appreciate, at this time of heightened attacks against the media here in the U.S. and around the world, Gray has a responsibility to take Mr. Parker’s words and actions seriously.”
This comment is beyond the pale. Alison was a journalist and for Gray’s legal counsel to make such a heinous statement given that I’m a member of the National Press Club and on the advisory board for the Fallen Journalist Memorial is not only repugnant, but the height of hypocrisy. By winking and looking the other way, Gray Television is prolonging the glorification of a murdered journalist by not demanding that Google take the video down. The cruel irony is that by their acquiescence, Gray is doing exactly what they accuse me of. I’m not attacking media. I’m going after a morally bankrupt corporation.
They ended their message with this:
“Against this backdrop, we believe it is best for all parties to halt further communications at this time. If Mr. Parker agrees to cease his threats and harassment, and publicly corrects the record regarding his false, conspiracy theory allegations, we can then reengage..”
Gray’s claim that I am fomenting conspiracy theories is character assassination that defies credulity. Clearly, Gray doesn’t watch its own programing, otherwise they would know that I am the actual victim of conspiracy theories; online trolls have repeatedly posted doctored videos to tarnish my daughter’s memory. Like many parents who’ve lost a child to violence, my goal has been and remains to protect others from this fate and, as a result, I’ve been the target of these trolls precisely because I’ve made it my life’s mission to fight against all forms of violence, including the gun violence that took Alison from us. It’s clear Gray wants a mea culpa from me so they may “reengage” in the same ghosting tactics. They are not going to get it. I don’t make threats. I make promises. The action we are taking is one of them.
I lost my daughter to evil. And my fight to correct an injustice is being met with an attack on my integrity and a callous disregard for Alison’s legacy. I am in the sadly unique position of being a parent not only whose child was murdered live on television but who has to daily live with the knowledge that her murder is being replayed online every day for profit and entertainment. We can’t let this evil prevail. All I ask is for Gray do the right thing and help me fight this evil.
If Gray chooses not to do the right thing, then it’s time to ask their shareholders and advertisers whether they share and approve of Gray’s lack of common decency. It’s time to escalate the pressure until Gray capitulates.
We're not going to be silent, and we're not going to give up. This is a very simple thing: Gray has the ability to do the morally right thing here and give a grieving father and family a chance to get justice for their loved one. Gray is refusing to do so, and trying to spin our action as an attempt to bully them. It couldn't be further from the truth. This is a call to get Gray Television to act responsibly, and many thousands of you are watching to see how they respond.
Thank you all for joining the fight for Alison.