Thirty-four elected officials including members of the New York City Council Progressive Caucus, Public Advocate Letitia James, and Council Member I. Daneek Miller have sent a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority President Tom Prendergast calling for the removal of anti-Islamic advertisements which are currently displayed on MTA property. The three ads, which have been approved and paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, feature headlines touting Islamic Jew-Hatred slogans which seek to equate Muslim-American organizations to foreign terrorists, a statement from the New York City Council Progressive Caucus said.
Citing the MTA’s viewpoint-neutral advertisement policies, the officials claim that “the MTA is well within its legal authority to remove the ads in part, and reject additional advertisements.”
Last month, dozens of elected officials, faith leaders and hate crime victims gathered in front of the steps of New York City hall to publicly condemn terrorist organizations and denounce “Atlas Shrugs” blogger Pamela Geller’s anti-Islam ad campaign. Known for her public criticism of Islam, Geller, president of the Stop Islamization of America, paid $100,000 for the ads that appear on 100 buses and at the entrances of the East 59th Street and Columbus Circle subway stations, The Record.com reported. “These ads are equating Islam to horrific groups like ISIS,” the report quoted Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York as saying. “We all condemn the actions of ISIS and terrorists who are committing acts against innocent people.”
One ad shows the man some suspect of being Foley’s killer, wearing headphones and a track suit, and reads, “Yesterday’s Moderate, Today’s Headline.” Another ad shows a 1940s photo of Adolf Hitler talking to a pro-Nazi Palestinian leader, under the words, “Islamic Jew-Hatred: It’s in the Quran.”
“We as a City Council, while we recognizing first amendment rights, absolutely demand zero tolerance when it comes to these provocative advertisements. It is appalling that these messages have been allowed and continue to remain posted.” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller. “As the lone Muslim member of the Council, I find the ads particularly offensive and not a true representation of the Muslim community, which continues to be a great contributor to our City. We hope that the MTA will meet this challenge and remove these ads, which only seek to incite and provoke, and are not in the best interests of our great City.”
“A platform as visible as the MTA is no place to propel hate speech. The Progressive Caucus condemns AFDI’s Islamophobic ads that perpetuate dangerous stereotypes and threaten New Yorkers,” said Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso.
“No religion or faith should ever be subject to attack ads, and I’m appalled by this latest attempt to divide our city,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
“Hiding behind the veil of the first amendment to spew hate is pure cowardice,” remarked Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Jewish Caucus. “It’s shocking and upsetting that the MTA’s policies force them to allow for such an incendiary anti-Muslim ad on our busses and in our subway stations. These types of propaganda only divide us and ratchet up already increasing animosity. The ads must come down.”
“As one of the most diverse cities in the country and the world, it is incredibly important that we do not spread or promote hatred in any form. The slanderous and bigoted ads that have been plastered on subway stations and on buses have no place in our city,” said Council Member Corey Johnson.
This story originally appeared on News India Times.
