Organization Behind IStandWithPhil Petition Comments on Twitter Shutdown

Matthew Faraci : Dec 27, 2013
Faith Driven Consumer

"There are 46 million Faith Driven Consumers in America today who spend 1.75 trillion dollars annually. This rapidly emerging and powerful market segment will continue to stand together in a call for tolerance and respect for the faith perspective in America's rich rainbow of diversity." –Matthew Faraci

(Raleigh, NC)—Faith Driven Consumer, the organization behind the IStandWithPhil.com petition drive, has issued the following statement regarding Twitter's recent unblocking of posts containing IStandWithPhil.com, which can be attributed to spokesman Matthew Faraci:

"While we have not yet received a response or apology directly from Twitter; the social networking site clearly heard from nearly 250,000 Faith Driven Consumers who, in recent days, have joined the surging IStandWithPhil.com petition drive calling for Phil Robertson's reinstatement to A&E's #1 cable show Duck Dynasty. Consequently, Twitter responded by unblocking posts containing IStandWithPhil.com. There are 46 million Faith Driven Consumers in America today who spend 1.75 trillion dollars annually. This rapidly emerging and powerful market segment will continue to stand together in a call for tolerance and respect for the faith perspective in America's rich rainbow of diversity."

The IStandWithPhil.com online petition drive cites the A&E network's "intolerant, discriminatory, and punitive treatment" of the Duck Dynasty star, noting that "A&E's position, which in your own words is 'championing' the gay and lesbian community...excludes the views of Faith Driven Consumers and effectively censors a legitimate viewpoint held by the majority of Americans." IStandWithPhil.com calls for respect for the millions of viewers of the show, and demands that the network immediately reinstate Mr. Robertson and "formally apologize to him, his family, and the millions of viewers who tune in every week, stand by him, and share his worldview."

The complete petition can be seen here: istandwithphil.com

The 46 million strong Faith Driven Consumer market segment, which spends 1.75 trillion dollars annually, is rallying in support of Mr. Robertson and is closely watching the network's response. In addition to breaking nearly every cable TV record and bringing in huge dollars for A&E, Duck Dynasty's product tie-ins are projected to bring in more than $400 million dollars in revenue by the end of 2013. There are more than 75 licensing deals in effect and more than 1,200 Robertson-related products currently available in stores nationwide.