Byron Allen, CEO of Entertainment Studios Network, has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the FCC and Charter Communications. He claimed that there is racial discrimination against African-American-owned TV networks.
In an interview, Allen said that there is no diversity in Hollywood. He said that African Americans don't need handouts and donations if only the white corporate Americans does their business fair and equitable. He added that President Obama and the Democratic Party didn't include the African-American community when it comes to the economy as reported by The Wrap.
Allen filed the lawsuit at the Central District Court of California. His company, Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. and the National Association of African American-Owned Media (NAAAOM) claimed that there is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 after the Charter Communications engaged in racial discrimination in contracting 100 African-American owned media establishments. It also stated in the suit that Federal Communications Commission approved the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal that discriminate African-American owned media.
The lawsuit further stipulates that the Charter Communications spend over $4 billion on channel carriage fees and advertising which in contrast spend zero dollars on all African-American-owned media companies. Allan believes that since there is racial discrimination, Obamas FCC should never have approved the acquisition of Time Warner and Bright House Networks.
Allen added that the lawsuit is aimed at stopping Jim Crows polices and collusion with other officials for the exclusion of 100 percent African-American owned companies. He said that they left them with no choice but to fight for their right.
President of NAAAOM, Mark DeVitre said that the Charter Communications didn't do business with 100 percent African-American owned media. They are simply an evil company and President Obama and the FCC have failed the African-American community so miserably that they forced them to the edge of extinction. Racism and lack of economic inclusion must stop, he added.
