NEW YORK — Lowe’s plans to stick by its decision to yank its ads from a reality TV show about American Muslims despite growing opposition the home improvement chain is facing over the move.
California Sen. Ted Lieu put out a statement Sunday that he is considering calling for a boycott of Lowe’s, sparking criticism of the chain from both inside and outside of the Muslim community.
On social media website Twitter, actor Kal Penn began directing people to a petition on in support of the TLC cable network show, “All-American Muslim.” By Monday afternoon, there were about 9,200 signatures.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who is Muslim, released a statement condemning Lowe’s for choosing “to uphold the beliefs of a fringe hate group and not the creed of the First Amendment.” And Democratic state Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit, the first Muslim elected to the Michigan Legislature, voiced her concerns directly with the company. She wrote a letter to Lowe’s chief executive Robert Niblock. The Associated Press
