Free speech in action on New York subways

The New York Times reports: Striking back against an anti-jihad advertisement in the subways widely perceived as anti-Muslim, two religious groups – one Jewish, one Christian – are taking out subway ads of their own to urge tolerance.

Rabbis for Human Rights – North America and the group Sojourners, led by the Christian author and social-justice advocate Jim Wallis, are unveiling their campaigns on Monday. Their ads will be placed near the anti-jihad ads in the same Manhattan subway stations, leaders of both groups said and transit officials confirmed. The groups said their campaigns were coincidental.

The ad by Rabbis for Human Rights turns the language of the earlier ad, placed by a pro-Israel group, on its head. The original ad says, “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad.” The ad by Rabbis for Human Rights says, “In the choice between love and hate, choose love. Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors.”

“We wanted to make it clear that it is in response to the anti-Islam ad,” said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, whose members include rabbis from all streams of Judaism.

The Sojourners ad simply says, “Love your Muslim neighbors.”

Another Christian group, United Methodist Women, an affiliate of the United Methodist Church, has placed similar ads in the same 10 Manhattan stations where the anti-jihad appears. The ads, which went up on Wednesday, say, “Hate speech is not civilized. Support peace in word and deed.”

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2 thoughts on “Free speech in action on New York subways

  1. Norman

    This is refreshing to read, only in New York. I wonder what the outcry would be like if an ad were placed saying the present Israeli kill unarmed Palestinian civilians-women- children- men-disabled?

  2. DE Teodoru

    Gebler and her ilk of dubious people and possible criminals, have done good for NYC with their subway ads. Now Jews realize that when a BAD JEW riases his/her ugly head to attack others, the mass of God faithful Jews must rise up to distinguish themselves from that lot and to MANIFEST the JEWISH ETHIC of TOLERANCE, EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW and FREEDOM for all. Thank you to the Jewish mafia for forcing real Jews to distinguish themselves from such a lot!

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