Stand with Women against Domestic Violence and Demand the NFL Fire Roger Goodell and Change its Policies
Stand with Women against Domestic Violence and Demand the NFL Fire Roger Goodell and Change its Policies
The Issue
To Anheuser Busch, Apple, AT&T, Barclays, Bose, Bridgestone, Campbell Soup, Corona Beer, Covergirl, FedEx, Ford, Geico, GM, Jack in the Box, Jeep, Marriott, McDonalds, Microsoft, Moulson Coors, Nissan, PepsiCo, P&G, Taco Bell, Verizon Wireless, Visa and all other corporate sponsors of the NFL:
If the NFL will not take action to stand with women and children against domestic violence, then as corporate sponsors of the NFL, you must!
Three women die every day as a result of domestic violence. In December 2012, Jovan Belcher, a player for the Kansas City Chiefs, shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins before taking his own life. Baltimore's Ray Rice spit on and punched his now wife in the face in an elevator. SF 49ers Ray McDonald choked his 10 weeks pregnant girlfriend and left bruises on her arms and neck. Carolina Panthers' Greg Hardy beat his girlfriend, threw her into a shower and then atop a couch covered in assault rifles. Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson has beaten and disfigured his 4 year old son, not once but twice. None of these men (criminals) have done a day of jail time and most continue to play and get paid millions of dollars. In contrast, Michael Vick, an NFL QB, spent almost 2 years in prison for DOG FIGHTING. The NFL seems to have a callous disregard for the health and safety of women, allowing players who abuse women and children to continue to play football every Sunday. Their policies are woefully ineffective and allow for players who have been arrested, and even convicted and also repeat offenders to continue to play. The NFL has swept its growing problem of domestic violence under the rug for far too long.
We - women, and men who love them - demand that you call for the immediate resignation of the NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell. Mr. Goodell has dallied when it comes to meaningful change in the NFL with regard to domestic violence (and it is very possible that he lied about what he knew in the Ray Rice case) while women and children continue to be abused by his players. He has publically stated that one of his duties is to “Protect the Shield”. To Mr. Goodell this means protecting the players who abuse women with smoke, mirrors and obfuscation and protecting the NFL's bottom line - the dollar.
Mr. Goodell’s job as the NFL Commissioner is to MAKE MONEY FOR THE OWNERS. The NFL earned $9.5B in revenue in 2012 with a goal of $25B by 2025. Their plan to achieve this is marketing to diversity - mainly their female fan base. According to Scarborough Research, women represent approximately 45 percent of the NFL fan base and approximately 33 percent of the NFL viewing audience based on Nielsen data.
In an NFL commissioned study conducted in 2013 ironically titled “I’m Part of the Shield Too”, the study revealed that with regard to revenue, 64% of women surveyed purchase NFL products/merchandise/gear 2-3 times a year. Ninety-eight percent of women surveyed said they were fans of the NFL with over 30% of those women said they have been NFL fans their “entire life”.
As “Part of the Shield”, we ask corporate sponsors to stand up for women and demand the following three changes: First, the resignation of Roger Goodell. Mr. Goodell has proved that he is not fit to lead this organization and his desire to "protect" his organization is stronger than his desire to protect women. Second, a simple retroactive “Zero Tolerance” Policy when it comes to domestic violence. If you abuse women or children, you are out of the NFL. Finally, we ask for the NFL to lead the charge to engage its teams, players and fans in a meaningful dialogue around the issue of domestic violence. They have the means and the microphone to create national awareness and foster change in views, to shine light of the problem of domestic violence and they have the power to enact change that can save the lives of women.
Women believe in the power of the pocketbook. We use it every day. We are your consumers. As corporate sponsors of the NFL, you have the power of the pocketbook too. We ask that you use it to help create the change that needs to happen. The NFL needs to step up. Protecting the Shield begins with protecting its women and children. We are your mothers, sisters and daughters. If the NFL and its corporate sponsors will not stand up for women, then we will stand up for ourselves using the power of our pocketbooks.
The Issue
To Anheuser Busch, Apple, AT&T, Barclays, Bose, Bridgestone, Campbell Soup, Corona Beer, Covergirl, FedEx, Ford, Geico, GM, Jack in the Box, Jeep, Marriott, McDonalds, Microsoft, Moulson Coors, Nissan, PepsiCo, P&G, Taco Bell, Verizon Wireless, Visa and all other corporate sponsors of the NFL:
If the NFL will not take action to stand with women and children against domestic violence, then as corporate sponsors of the NFL, you must!
Three women die every day as a result of domestic violence. In December 2012, Jovan Belcher, a player for the Kansas City Chiefs, shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins before taking his own life. Baltimore's Ray Rice spit on and punched his now wife in the face in an elevator. SF 49ers Ray McDonald choked his 10 weeks pregnant girlfriend and left bruises on her arms and neck. Carolina Panthers' Greg Hardy beat his girlfriend, threw her into a shower and then atop a couch covered in assault rifles. Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson has beaten and disfigured his 4 year old son, not once but twice. None of these men (criminals) have done a day of jail time and most continue to play and get paid millions of dollars. In contrast, Michael Vick, an NFL QB, spent almost 2 years in prison for DOG FIGHTING. The NFL seems to have a callous disregard for the health and safety of women, allowing players who abuse women and children to continue to play football every Sunday. Their policies are woefully ineffective and allow for players who have been arrested, and even convicted and also repeat offenders to continue to play. The NFL has swept its growing problem of domestic violence under the rug for far too long.
We - women, and men who love them - demand that you call for the immediate resignation of the NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell. Mr. Goodell has dallied when it comes to meaningful change in the NFL with regard to domestic violence (and it is very possible that he lied about what he knew in the Ray Rice case) while women and children continue to be abused by his players. He has publically stated that one of his duties is to “Protect the Shield”. To Mr. Goodell this means protecting the players who abuse women with smoke, mirrors and obfuscation and protecting the NFL's bottom line - the dollar.
Mr. Goodell’s job as the NFL Commissioner is to MAKE MONEY FOR THE OWNERS. The NFL earned $9.5B in revenue in 2012 with a goal of $25B by 2025. Their plan to achieve this is marketing to diversity - mainly their female fan base. According to Scarborough Research, women represent approximately 45 percent of the NFL fan base and approximately 33 percent of the NFL viewing audience based on Nielsen data.
In an NFL commissioned study conducted in 2013 ironically titled “I’m Part of the Shield Too”, the study revealed that with regard to revenue, 64% of women surveyed purchase NFL products/merchandise/gear 2-3 times a year. Ninety-eight percent of women surveyed said they were fans of the NFL with over 30% of those women said they have been NFL fans their “entire life”.
As “Part of the Shield”, we ask corporate sponsors to stand up for women and demand the following three changes: First, the resignation of Roger Goodell. Mr. Goodell has proved that he is not fit to lead this organization and his desire to "protect" his organization is stronger than his desire to protect women. Second, a simple retroactive “Zero Tolerance” Policy when it comes to domestic violence. If you abuse women or children, you are out of the NFL. Finally, we ask for the NFL to lead the charge to engage its teams, players and fans in a meaningful dialogue around the issue of domestic violence. They have the means and the microphone to create national awareness and foster change in views, to shine light of the problem of domestic violence and they have the power to enact change that can save the lives of women.
Women believe in the power of the pocketbook. We use it every day. We are your consumers. As corporate sponsors of the NFL, you have the power of the pocketbook too. We ask that you use it to help create the change that needs to happen. The NFL needs to step up. Protecting the Shield begins with protecting its women and children. We are your mothers, sisters and daughters. If the NFL and its corporate sponsors will not stand up for women, then we will stand up for ourselves using the power of our pocketbooks.
Petition Closed
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Petition created on September 14, 2014