This requests the Pulitzer Committee conduct a full and objective investigation of the serious matters relating to reports concerning  Washington Post reporter Ian Shapira before action on any application to award him a Pulitzer Prize in this area.

Recent publish reports now show a disturbing and documented link between Mr. Shapira and his position as a Member of the Board for Kentucky-based distillery, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. The family-owned business sells three brands of bourbon named after owners or employers of slave labor and a brand of rum named after a fervent defender of England’s slave plantations in the West Indies.

Authoritative documents on the history of the industry in Kentucky validate this information and the fact many of the brands are named after large slave owners.

Links to this information are provided below for your review.

There are also reported instances where the sources used for Mr. Shapira's articles may have leaked highly confidential information pertaining to Title IX and other cases without the permission of the individuals involved. The WaPo gained access to and reported on a confidential Survey for the investigation in to the Virginia Military Institute that participants themselves were required to agree not to either disclose or talk about. This resulted in the full release of the survey. We request you contact VMI and those persons impacted in a full and impartial investigation before making any decision.

The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most respected awards in journalism and awarding to someone who may have such serious issues could seriously undermine the credibility of the award itself, the process and diminish the achievement of other awardees.

We look forward to your response to this Petition and Public Statement on your decision.

References:

There are many authoritative documents from the Kentucky Distillery industry and others verifying this information that we encourage and request you fully investigate. Just a small sample of the online coverage of this includes, but is not limited to:

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/shapiras-confederates-in-the-attic/​

https://www.fredminnick.com/2017/02/21/slavery-american-whiskey/​

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/wapo-on-vmi-a-black-and-white-morality-tale/​

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/the-vmi-questionnaire-honest-inquiry-or-stacked-deck/#more-71538​

https://omny.fm/shows/richmonds-morning-news/jim-bacon-april-2-2021​

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/dissecting-the-washington-posts-latest-hit-job-on-vmi/?fbclid=IwAR0Gfa8mTUcTiextGn0tfWFb0oio__HbaPtsCyEkodYXGonDszrvq4mzbyE​

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/vmi-update-the-wapo-makes-another-sleazy-insinuation/