Saturday, 6 October 2012

Jewish & Christian groups respond to anti-Muslim NYC subway ads

Three different groups are responding to the launch of anti-Muslim ads in the New York City subways last month, by hanging posters of their own, right next to the "hate ads." 

Digital Journal reported on September 22, that a federal judge had ruled that the city’s transportation authorities could not legally refuse to host anti-Jihad ads in the subway. The ads, prominently displayed in the subway, read, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad" and were placed by the executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), Pamela Geller. 
 
The three groups are planning to place their own ads right next to them, including Rabbis for Human Rights - North America, the Sojourners Christian group and the United Methodist Women. The United Methodist Women have already added posters of their own to the New York subways, reading “Hate speech is not civilized. Support peace in word and deed.”
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United Methodist Women
During an interfaith press conference on September 25, Harriett J. Olson, General Secretary of the United Methodist Women said, “We needed to be present with a counter voice, we need to stand for the work of peace, and to say that free speech should not be used recklessly or in an inflammatory way.” The groups want to respond with a message of love by hanging these pro-Muslim posters, in order to condemn intolerance and to celebrate the city's diversity. Rabbis for Human Rights plan their ads to read, “In the choice between love and hate, choose love. Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors.”
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Rabbis for Human Rights - North America
On their website, a message reads: “Our subway platforms and buses should not be the platform for messages of hate that divide friends, neighbors, and colleagues.” A petition on their website reads: “These disturbing and misguided ads are not meant to educate; they are meant to increase hatred and discrimination against New York City’s Muslims, and to drive a wedge between Muslims and Jews. The subway ads demonize Islam and ignore the positive contributions that our Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues make to our country every day,” The Sojourners Christian Group are planning to use the message, “Love your Muslim neighbors.”

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/334226

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