Statement of Position from:

Gov. Tom Corbett and Lt. Gov. James Cawley

U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan and Joe Pitts
State Sens. Mike Brubaker and Lloyd Smucker
State House Reps. Ryan Aument, Bryan Cutler, Gordon Denlinger, Mindy Fee, Keith Greiner, Dave Hickernell, Steve Mentzer
and Mike Sturla
County Commissioners Scott Martin, Craig Lehman and Dennis Stuckey
Lancaster City Mayor Rick Gray

Many Lancaster County residents are concerned about the negative, inaccurate and potentially damaging
portrayal of Amish religion and culture in the Discovery Channels Amish Mafia TV series. These shows vilify
the Amish religious way of life, suggesting that a peaceful people devoted to non-violence are vengeful, violent
and criminal.
At their core, these shows engage in religious bigotry. Amish Mafia is no more acceptable than Jewish Mafia,
Catholic Mafia or Evangelical Mafia. The show is an affront to all people of faith and all secular people with
moral principles.
By misrepresenting the Amish as a crime-ridden culture, the show gives, by association, the same impression of
Lancaster County. It changes the image of the county from one of pastoral beauty, where people are devoted to
faith, family and friends, to one of banal ugliness. It cast the Amish people of Lancaster County as motivated by
greed, selfishness and violence rather than a people who believe in hard work, self-reliance and kindness to
neighbors.
Each of us has a responsibility to consider how we would feel if these shows attacked us as they are attacking the
Amish. All religions observe some form of the Golden Rule that we treat others as we would want to be treated.
To stand by silently while these shows mistreat the Amish in our community would make us complicit in breaking
that rule.
As representatives and leaders of citizens of Lancaster County, we have a responsibility to voice their and our
opposition to this bigoted portrayal of the Amish community in Lancaster County.
We call for an end to production and broadcast of the Amish Mafia series and respectfully ask the Discovery
Channel and its sponsors to drop support for the bigoted series and other Amish-themed knockoff productions.
SIGNATORIES (plus contact info)

U.S. CONGRESS
U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts Andrew Wimer (202) 225-2411 Andrew.wimer@mail.house.gov
U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan John Elizandro (202) 225-2011 john.elizandro@mail.house.gov

PENNSYLVANIA STATE GOVERNMENT
Gov. Tom Corbett Jay Pagni (717) 772-3880 jpagni@pa.gov
Lt. Gov. James Cawley Chris Brennan (717) 787-3300 cbrennan@pa.gov

State Senate
Sen. Mike Brubaker (717) 627-0036 or (717) 945-9139 (m) mike@mwbrubaker.com
Sen. Lloyd Smucker (717) 397-1309 Lsmucker@pasen.gov

State House
Rep. Ryan Aument (717) 295-5050 or (717) 380-1715 (m) raument@pahousegop.com
Rep. Bryan Cutler (717) 783-6424 or (717) 284-1965 Bcutler@pahousegop.com
Rep. Gordon Denlinger (717) 733-4002 or (717) 587-5660 Gdenling@pahousegop.com
Rep. Mindy Fee (717) 664-4979 or (717) 772-5290 mfee@pahousegop.com
Rep. Keith Greiner (717) 464-5285 or (717) 783-6422 kgreiner@pahousegop.com
Rep. Dave Hickernell (717) 367-5525 of (717) 684-5525 Dhickern@pahousegop.com
Rep. Steve Mentzer (717) 787-3555 or (717) 341-3016 smentzer@pahousegop.com
Rep. Mike Sturla 717) 295-3157 or 717) 787-3555 msturla@pahouse.net

LANCASTER COUNTY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Scott Martin, chairman (717) 735-1589 or 615-8427 (m) SMartin@co.lancaster.pa.us
Dennis Stuckey (717) 299-8305 stuckeyd@co.lancaster.pa.us
Craig Lehman (717) 299-8301 cLehman@co.lancaster.pa.us

LANCASTER CITY GOVERNMENT
Mayor Rick Gray (717) 519-7848 (m) gray@cityoflancasterpa.com
Pat Brogan, chief of staff (717) 291-4701 pbrogan@ci tyofl ancasterpa.com