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NY: Rick Santorum arrives at Trump Tower
NEW YORK (77WABC) – CNN announced it had cut ties with former Republican U.S. senator Rick Santorum after comments he made late last month that criticized Native Americans.
Santorum gave a speech at an event in April for the conservative organization Young America’s Foundation:
“We birthed a nation from nothing. I mean, there was nothing here. I mean, yes, we have Native Americans, but candidly there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
CNN came under pressure to drop him as an analyst after the remarks, and finally announced the canning on Saturday.
A CNN spokesperson said Saturday that the network has "parted ways" with Rick Santorum, the former US senator and conservative commentator who was the subject of widespread condemnation for recent remarks he made about Native Americans. https://t.co/jJeMeUiNIz
— CNN (@CNN) May 22, 2021
The National American Journalists Association praised the move after originally calling attention to Santorum’s remarks, but still insist there is more work to be done at the network.
👏🏽@najournalists applauds @CNN for cutting ties with @RickSantorum. NAJA called for removal 4/26 for his racist comments at the Young America Foundation’s conference & awaits an apology for his remarks & racist language used during 2020 election coverage – https://t.co/20jWNwYMAc pic.twitter.com/xhDWyrWBt0
— Indigenous Journalists Association (@IndigenousJA) May 24, 2021
“NAJA thanks the voices who amplified our calls and for the support from the Indigenous community at large,” the organization said in a statement. “We applaud CNN but look forward to seeing the network’s senior leaders take significant action to provide their audience with fair and accurate reporting on Indigenous people. NAJA is still waiting on a public apology for Santorum’s remarks and for the racist language used on-air during their 2020 Election Night coverage.”
Santorum also issued a statement on Twitter about his firing.
When I signed on with CNN, I understood I would be providing commentary that is not regularly heard by the typical CNN viewer. I appreciate the opportunity CNN provided me over the past 4 years. I am committed to continuing the fight for our conservative principles and values.
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) May 23, 2021
“When I signed on with CNN, I understood I would be providing commentary that is not regularly heard by the typical CNN viewer,” Santorum said. “I appreciate the opportunity CNN provided me over the past 4 years. I am committed to continuing the fight for our conservative principles and values.”
