Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Encourages And Challenges Media To Give Peace A Chance Between Ja Rule and 50 Cent

NEW YORK, N.Y. – NOVEMBER 5, 2003 – The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, the largest non-profit, national coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives, co-founded by Chairman Russell Simmons and President Dr. Benjamin Chavis, today issued the following statement concerning the media’s coverage of the current process of conflict resolution between Ja Rule and 50 Cent:

"We fight all the time to protect the First Amendment rights of hip-hop artists, as well as of the media. Freedom of speech should be protected as a cornerstone of democracy. But with freedom comes responsibility of action.

"The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network supports the process of conflict resolution between Ja Rule and 50 Cent. As both of these artists have decided to engage in a step-by-step process to end the beef between them, it is incumbent upon the media to report about this peace process in a manner that is truthful and objective. Anyone reporting on this process to deliberately hype or escalate the tensions between Ja Rule and 50 Cent is irresponsible and may contribute to possible violence rather than a peaceful resolution.

"Unfortunately, we have already read stories in the media that may add unnecessary fuel to a volatile issue and derail the process.

"This is a dangerous situation and, once again, we appeal to media to be more responsible. The latest albums being released by both Ja Rule and 50 Cent were written and produced prior to the commencement of the peace process now being undertaken by Ja Rule and 50 Cent. The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network applauds the mediation leadership of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in this matter and encourages the continuation of the process until its completion."

Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well-being of at-risk youth throughout the United States. HSAN is a non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of Hip-Hop artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents, and youth leaders united in the belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for social change which must be responsibly and proactively utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice.

For further information on the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, go to www.hsan.org.

Ellen Zoe Golden
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