Hershey Entertainment knows it does a great job at projecting a message. This is why they act like they support gay rights, women's rights, disability rights, equality of color, they're even hosting the State Ballet of Ukraine presenting Swan Lake in November. Hershey Entertainment gets such praise and support when they use their megaphone, but touch that MAGAphone and there are obvious serious issues, rightfully so.
Since Hershey Entertainment chose the MAGAphone this time around there has been quite the onslaught of comments from a variety of people and groups calling them out. Here's a very small sample of what people have to say:
"Reading their response, someone could hold a KKK rally there and they wouldn't think twice about cashing the check."
"Supporting someone who has called for the deaths and deposing of minorities and anyone to the left of Reagan isn't apolitical, and Hershey is staffed by morons if they think it is. Choosing to platform a white supremacist will always be a political decision. I'm gonna call them in the morning and tell them I no longer feel safe in their park and other venues. This man has called for people like me to be put to death, and I don't want anything to do with anyone who would support him."
"Ah, ambivelance because "money." More reason to not support HERCO as a local."
"You can't claim to support DE&I and also allow these fascist anti-LGBT+ Handmaid's Tale bigots to use your facilities. That's spitting in the face of inclusiveness."
What other performances get this kind of response? The red flags are there and it's not a carnival.
Hershey Entertainment needs to not only fully recognize, but embrace the role it has taken as a corporation who advocates. Hershey Entertainment needs to act responsibly with the influence it brings to the table. Hershey Entertainment also needs to realize that no matter how big their table is, it can be flipped. This table is rocking too! It's ready to flip! Here's one big step in how we can do it!
Letters to your editor! Write your own letter or fill in the sample letter below which is provided for your convenience. Here are two local news outlets to contact, but feel free to contact your news outlets of preference as well!
Patriot News Letters to the Editor
The Patriot-News publishes 4 to 8 letters to the editor daily in print and online. We edit for length (no more than 250 words) and style. How it works: Email submissions to letters@pennlive.com. No more than 250 words. You must include your real name, address and day time phone number. If we decide to run your letter, we'll call you first to verify. If you don't hear from us, we aren't using your letter.
THE SUN
For Letters to the Editor, keep it local, keep it civil and keep it short (under 300 words). Also, please let us know where we can contact you, day or night, to confirm the source of the text.
Then just send it to news@thesunontheweb.com.
Here is an 153 word sample letter for anyone who needs it because time, spoons, and mental clarity is in short supply for some:
"To whom it may concern,
Hershey Entertainment choosing to host an event for Tucker Carlson and an unnamed mystery guest in September is quite troubling news. Hershey Entertainment has proudly and publicly backed many groups of people including but not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, POC, the disabled community, and women's rights. This makes their choosing to host a performer who has done and is still doing so much harm to those communities a quite perplexing move. The protests and tax payer costs that came with his show in Lancaster in April are concerning. What will this show do to Hershey's businesses, it's residents, it's visitors? And why is Hershey Entertainment even putting our community in this precarious position in the first place when they aren't required or forced to book Tucker?
We need answers, we need assurance, and we need someone other than tax payers to foot the bill for this debacle."
Also don't forget to contact Hershey Entertainment directly!
John Lawn, President of the Board
jlawn@hersheypa.com
Leslie Ferraro, vice president of the Board
lferraro@hersheypa.com
And Vikki Hultquist, VP of Hersheypark and Entertainment operations
vhultquist@hersheypa.com
And Community Correspondence
Stay tuned! We are being heard!!