Sandy Hook Group to NBC: Airing Alex Jones Interview Is 'Heartless And Reckless'

NEWTOWN, CT — Another Sandy Hook group is asking NBC to pull Megyn Kelly's controversial interview with far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones set to air on Sunday. In an open letter to NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andrew Lack, Po Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance implored the network to pull the interview with the known Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist. Murray wrote the decision to allow Kelly to interview Jones and airing it on Father's Day is "beyond heartless and reckless."

"After the tragedy, millions of Americans sent their love, prayers and support for our community," wrote Murray. "However, there were some delusional Americans who decided to publicly deny that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred and a few have threatened some of the families who lost their loved ones. Alex Jones from InfoWars is one of the conspiracy theorists who believes the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax carried out by paid actors. His views are false, hateful and dangerous for the families impacted by the Sandy Hook tragedy and all other tragedies."

The full interview has yet to be released, but a preview online sparked outrage among those in Newtown and beyond. J.P. Morgan has pulled its local TV and digital ads from NBC News until after the interview airs, and Murray urged other advertisers to do the same.

READ MORE:

• Major Advertiser Withdraws From NBC News Due To Interview With Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones
• Sandy Hook Families Angered By Megyn Kelly Interview With Alex Jones
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"Unless NBC makes a decision to pull the interview, we will be encouraging all corporations and entities advertising on NBC to join J.P. Morgan in asking NBC to remove all local television and digital ads from Ms. Kelly’s show and from all NBC news programming until after the show airs," wrote Murray.

Sandy Hook Promise, started by parents who lost children during the 2012 massacre, has decided to drop NBC host Kelly from hosting an upcoming gala Wednesday. The organization announced Monday that Kelly would no longer host the organization's Promise Champions Gala in Washington, D.C.

“Sandy Hook Promise cannot support the decision by Megyn or NBC to give any form of voice or platform to Alex Jones and have asked Megyn Kelly to step down as our Promise Champion Gala host,” Nicole Hockley, the organization's co-founder and managing director, said in a statement. “It is our hope that Megyn and NBC reconsider and not broadcast this interview.”

The Texas-based radio host Jones also called for the interview to be pulled, stating he was "tired of being misrepresented." Jones seemed to roll back comments he made in 2013, according to mediamatters.org.

"Sandy Hook," Jones said."It's got inside job written all over it."

Jones also claimed in 2014 that CNN's Anderson Cooper was standing in front of a blue screen and that actors were "fake crying" on camera.

"I've looked at it and undoubtedly there's a cover up, there's actors, they are manipulating, they've been caught lying, and they are pre-planning before it and rolled out with it," said Jones in March of 2014.

He also issued a "Final Statement on Sandy Hook," in which he said the official story of the events of on Dec. 14 has "more holes than Swiss cheese" and that officials are "so scared of any investigation."

Many on social media say that Jones' views have given others a license to harass the victims of gun violence. A woman in Florida pleaded guilty last week to sending death threats to a parent who lost a child on Dec. 14. Matthew Mills, a conspiracy theorist with a history of arrests, was arrested in 2015 at a third annual race, which is held to raise money for the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund.

In a Facebook post Sunday, the Vicki Soto memorial fund expressed its disappointment in the interview, stating that Jones and his followers "have done nothing but make our lives a living hell for the last 4 1/2 years."

Cristina Hassinger, the daughter of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, who was killed while attempting to save students during the massacre, also reacted to the interview via Twitter.

Murray's complete letter can be viewed below.

Dear Mr. Lack:

We implore you to pull Megyn Kelly’s interview with Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on June 18th on Father’s Day.

The brutal and fatal shootings of 20 children and six educators here in our neighborhood elementary school in Sandy Hook on December 14, 2012 are a matter of fact. It was one of the most devastating events in the history of Newtown and one of the worst school shootings in America. This tragic incident of gun violence shattered our hearts and devastated our community.

Our community has been working on healing and recovery for the last four and a half years. Many families directly impacted by the shooting and thousands of community members have taken meaningful actions to honor the lives lost by promoting love and kindness; supporting youth, education, research and tolerance; and/or working to prevent gun violence in our nation.

After the tragedy, millions of Americans sent their love, prayers and support for our community. However, there were some delusional Americans who decided to publicly deny that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred and a few have threatened some of the families who lost their loved ones. Alex Jones from InfoWars is one of the conspiracy theorists who believes the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax carried out by paid actors. His views are false, hateful and dangerous for the families impacted by the Sandy Hook tragedy and all other tragedies.

We believe your decision to allow Megyn Kelly to interview Alex Jones and airing it on Father’s Day is beyond heartless and reckless. Many families directly impacted by the Sandy Hook tragedy have spoken out against your decision to use your national platform to spread the conspiracy theory propaganda for a morally bankrupt individual in our society. The Sandy Hook families and the Newtown community deserve respect and support to continue to heal. The 26 Sandy Hook fathers and husbands turning on the news on Father’s Day should not be subjected to Alex Jones denying that their children or wives were shot and killed.

Unless NBC makes a decision to pull the interview, we will be encouraging all corporations and entities advertising on NBC to join J.P. Morgan in asking NBC to remove all local television and digital ads from Ms. Kelly’s show and from all NBC news programming until after the show airs.

Since the Sandy Hook tragedy, nearly half a million Americans have been killed or injured by guns. It’s time for the media outlets to do more to use its national platform to “shine a light” on the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities across the nation rather than spreading conspiracy theory propaganda.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.

Po Murray,
Chairman
Newtown Action Alliance
Sandy Hook, CT

Image: Po Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance speaks with Conn. Sen. Richard Blumenthal in Washington in December of 2015 (Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press)