MTA Approves Anti-Mosque Ad with Plane Flying into WTC

Rather than fight a lawsuit from an anti-mosque group trying to place this ad on city buses, the MTA gave it a green light yesterday. It'll be rolling around town in about a week, and is paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which is run by Pamela Geller, a right-wing blogger who previously paid for these anti-Islam ads on city buses. Her newest opus juxtaposes an image of a plane about to hit the second tower at the World Trad Center, with a rendering of the Islamic center and mosque planned for Lower Manhattan, and the question, "Why There?"

The MTA had initially rejected the ad, which Geller bought through the company CBS Outdoor. She claims CBS Outdoor told her, "Images of 911 were not allowed." On her blog, Geller seethes, "I was floored. I said, 'It is American history. How can it be banned? What about Pearl Harbor? Is that censored too? On what grounds are 911 images banned?' It is unconscionable. Will of CBS said, 'You can't run the plane.'" So Geller took out the plane, but was told she had to take out the flames and the smoke, too. Fed up, she filed a lawsuit, and the MTA "caved," in Geller's humble opinion.

Yesterday the MTA released this statement: "While the MTA does not endorse the views expressed in this or other ads that appear on the transit system, the advertisement purchased by a group opposing a planned mosque near the World Trade Center was accepted today after its review under MTA’s advertising guidelines and governing legal standards." The MTA's guidelines are rather opaque, but apparently as long as you don't criticize the MTA, anything goes. The Authority will pocket about $10,000 from the ad buy.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on August 10, 2010 9:17 AM

Comments [rss]

Sketto

My favorite part of this? The biggest screamers aren't those living here in NY who actually have to live with the threat of real terrorism. It's those who claim to speak for "America" and are using the mosque issue to run for re-election in EBF.

Mordicai

Hey, they are ALSO the ones soaking up anti-terror money for their non-target states! Funny how that works.

AYCE

Why there?

"Why not!" - Bluto

Abdulameer

Nobody is disputing that Moslems have a legal right to build a mosque near Ground Zero. So, this is not a question of freedom of religion -- especially considering that there are nearly 2000 mosques in the United States and over a hundred in New York City. Those who oppose building a mosque at that site also have a right to oppose it. They have a right to protest and to urge the public to oppose the mosque. The controversy over this proposed mosque has done a lot to link the atrocity of 9/11 with Islam in the minds of the public -- and that is a very positive development. If the mosque gets built, it will continue to link 9/11 with Islam in the eyes of the public. For Moslems, the mosque will be a symbol of Islamic triumph. For non-Moslems, it will be a symbol of the aggressive, violent imperialist nature of Islam.

Pam Geller is a hero, and she deserves all the support we can give her.

psquire

Pam Geller is an ignorant spiteful piece of dung.

robingee

>> For Moslems, the mosque will be a symbol of Islamic triumph.>>

Also, this is 100% wrong.

robingee

Nope, you are wrong and here's why. If the Community Center is blocked from being built it will link all Muslims to terrorism and 9/11. It's like saying "We cannot build this here, because they were responsible for the attacks." They were not. It was a small faction of extremists. If the Community Center is built (3 blocks from WTC site, not ON GROUND ZERO, why do people keep saying that?) it will show that we understand that this attack was not done by Muslims in general, but a small extremist faction. Just like all Christians are not gay-bashers or abortion-doctor murderers, and all priests are not child-molesters.

Cannibal

Needs more flames, maybe bodies flying through the air

TimSPC

I wish I had $10,000 to buy ads that say "Why There? BECAUSE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, YOU DOLT!"

snickerdoodle

greggutfeld

Hey, how do you feel about my gay Muslim bar to be built near the Mosque? Do you applaud community outreach? . . .

Is it because Muslims don't like homosexuals? is it that sensibility you feel I'm offending. There will be no alcohol. . . .

If we can welcome a mosque near GZ, then you should welcome a gay Muslim nightclub near your Mosque. Why won't you? . . .

Gay rights is a domestic conflict? Thank God, that here in America it doesn't end in executions.

robingee

>> If we can welcome a mosque near GZ, then you should welcome a gay Muslim nightclub near your Mosque. Why won't you? . . . >>

Who said they wouldn't? IF someone really wanted to open a gay bar (and not just SAY IT to "get them Muslims back!") it would be no problem. Would it be OK next to a church? Saying this gay bar stuff is intolerance for both Muslims and gays DISGUISED as tolerance! "We'll show 'em, we'll open a gay bar! Them Muslims hate them queers! What? What's wrong with that? I'm supportin' gays!"

PKMKII

Good luck convincing gays that there's nightlife that far south.

Jimmy L

Way to spin the fact the MTA just approved an ad promoting religious intolerance.

To further educate you on the issue of Gays in Islam I suggest you review the debate going on here:

http://goatmilkblog.com/2010/08/09/muslim-americans-should-support-legalizing-same-sex-marriage-michael-muhammad-knight-for-goatmilk-debates/

However, is spite of your obviously evil intentions that somehow a gay bar next to a mosque is a checkmate that exposes all of Islams flaws (would you suggest this for a Jehovahs Witness place of worship? No, why? Because you are an islamophobe that has no idea what American-Islam is about.) Oh way, this isnt a debate about Gays in Islam -- it's about a right-wing racist group buying ad-space from the MTA and putting misleading intolerant, hate fanning ads on the train while hypocritical groups like the ADL sit back and sneer. Make an ad implying ANYTHING about Jews and your career is over. Furthermore making an ad to stop the building of a Church by pointing out the Hutaree Montana militia would be equally as unacceptable. This is nothing short of city mandated hate spewing at the expense of a population about to engage in a 30 day fast. What are you about to engage in? Probably should start by reviewing the link and learning something.

snickerdoodle

That qat you're chewing is some good shit huh?

robingee

Good retort, sport.

Wza

So to 9/11 families, anything else that shows a plane going into the towers is offensive, but this is not?

Sinchy

Don't these people who claim Islam is a dangerous religion realize that having muslims worship and gather in a big new building would make it was easier to keep tabs on them? Wouldn't a big new building attract the more modern/moderate muslims and tend to shun the wackos? Let's not drive decent muslims underground where they would be more susceptible to radical indoctrination.

God, I wish people would stop believing in God.

askido

I don't support such hateful ad like this one. But I wanna ask a fair question. Would a muslim state allow a church on such a site with the same circumstance? My answer is NO. Its unacceptable for people to wanna be tolerated but they themselves a not tolerant. Such hypocrisy is disgusting.

robingee

Why even say "Would Country A allow this scenario?" Who cares? This is where we live. Here.

TimSPC

Two things:

1. Except that Muslims are not one giant collective with a unity of beliefs.

2. What happens in other countries is irrelevant to what happens here. We guarantee freedom of religion regardless of what other countries are willing to tolerate.