Over 40 black leaders, journalists reportedly demand meeting with MSNBC president — who also is black — over ouster of far-left host Tiffany Cross

More than 40 black leaders and journalists reportedly have demanded a meeting with MSNBC President Rashida Jones — who also is black — over last week's cancellation of far-left host Tiffany Cross from the decidedly far-left cable network.

What are the details?

Notable figures such as NAACP President Derrick Johnson and former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill were among the signatories, according to Semafor, which said it obtained a copy of the letter. Other outlets, including the Huffington Post, ran with the story as well.

The letter criticized Jones for the move against Cross, and those who signed it wanted the meeting to “discuss a path forward that is restorative to the reputation and dignity of Ms. Cross," Semafor said.

“We are deeply disappointed in the abrupt cancellation of the Cross Connection and the unexpected ouster of its host, just four days before a critical midterm election,” the letter also says, according to the outlet.

According to the Huffington Post, the letter also said, “Given the undeniable rise of fascism and persistent threats to democracy we face in the current moment, NBC should be an unrelenting force for truth and a safe harbor for voices like Ms. Cross as well as those with whom she shared her broad and popular platform."

Tucker Carlson still targeted

A Huffington Post writer blamed Fox News' Tucker Carlson for Cross' ouster, and the letter echoed that sentiment, condemning Carlson’s “targeted, racist and misogynistic strike” against Cross’ show and stating that MSNBC let Fox News to bully it into taking Cross' show off the air, HuffPost said.

Here are details from HuffPost writer Sara Boboltz's piece targeting Carlson:

In late October, Carlson aired a segment about Cross that swiftly received criticism from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The Fox host told his audience that Cross was fomenting a “race war” against white people.

Carlson likened “The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross” and MSNBC to the Rwandan media outlet Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines, which stoked the 1994 Rwandan genocide.“Do they know what’s happening on their channel? Are they OK with this?” Carlson asked of MSNBC’s corporate leadership.

Here's the Carlson segment in question:

Tucker Carlson: MSNBC's open race hate should worry you deeplyyoutu.be

'Repeated bad behavior on and off-air. Bad judgment.'

However, it seems there may be some disagreement — perhaps even at MSNBC — about the reason for Cross' exit from the cable network. In fact, a source close to the situation told Fox News that Cross got canned for "repeated bad behavior on and off-air. Bad judgment."

The details concerning said "bad behavior" and "bad judgment" aren't clear, but beyond Carlson's scathing rebuke of Cross, she offered no shortage of nasty comments about conservatives during her time in front of the camera.

To wit: She once said there's already a "civil war" raging in the United States, urged liberals to "pick up a weapon" in the fight for democracy, and called Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas "Justice Pubic Hair on My Coke Can," Fox News said.

Cross also ripped U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as a "token" and suggested Harriet Tubman — who helped rescue slaves on the Underground Railroad — would have left Scott behind. She also has said she'd be willing to carry out the "the most radical" of solutions to fix what she sees as police brutality and racist criminal justice, which is to "burn it down."

MSNBC responds

According to HuffPost, an MSNBC spokesperson said in a statement that "we received a letter signed by several organizations. We are proud of our long history celebrating diversity on and off air at MSNBC and throughout the News Group. This is an ongoing effort, and we’ll continue to elevate diverse perspectives and voices during this election season and beyond.”

Anything else?

Readers blasted the Huffington Post for targeting Carlson in relation to Cross' exit from MSNBC — and they also ripped the letter writers who are demanding a meeting with Jones. The following are but a few of the comments that appeared under a Yahoo News reprint of HuffPost's piece:

• "I see no reason why the President of MSNBC should even consider meeting with this group of Cross supporters. Obviously these people condone her comments which do not reflect well on any journalist regardless of race, creed, or national origin. ..."
• "40 black 'leaders' admit they have no idea how to run a successful business and do not understand what ad revenue and ratings are and want special treatment that ignores reality."
• "Over 40 black leaders can build their own network and hire her."