NEW YORK, April 10 (UPI) -- Criticism and calls for his firing mounted Tuesday as U.S. radio personality Don Imus prepared to go off the air for two weeks for using a racial slur.
The MSNBC and CBS Radio-imposed suspensions of "Imus in the Morning" begin April 16. The show is broadcast by CBS Radio in New York and simulcast on the cable television outlet MSNBC. During a broadcast last week Imus called the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-haired ho's."
Imus apologized Monday on his show and on the radio show of the Rev. Al Sharpton, who also wants the radio personality to be fired.
The National Association of Black Journalists called for Imus to be terminated. Brian Monroe, the group's president, said Imus and his sidekicks have a history of making crude racial and sexual comments, CNN reported Tuesday.
On the Rutgers campus, university President Mark McCormick called Imus' remarks "disgraceful, disgusting and racist."
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine condemned Imus' words, noting that while he was right to apologize, only "the Rutgers women's basketball team, however, can decide to accept his apology."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson led about 50 demonstrations outside the NBC Tower in Chicago.
