(Newswire.net — April 22, 2015) — New York, DC. – New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has not allowed the ‘Killing Jews’ ad to be displayed across New York City busses, arguing that the ad could incite terrorism and violence. Furthermore, the transportation authority argued that there is the difference between an advertisement and a political statement, and thus it had no obligation to display such ads.
If such a difference exists, it is not in the eyes of law, which will allow the message to be displayed on MTA buses. Judge John Koeltl ruled that ad ‘Killing Jews’ was protected under freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution.
The ad, paid for the American Freedom Defense Initiative, has already been displayed on public transport in Chicago and San Francisco.
The advert shows a threatening-looking man with his head and face wrapped in a scarf, next to a quotation attributed to a music video from the militant Palestinian group Hamas.
The quote says: “Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah.” The advert asks: “That’s his Jihad. What’s yours?”
Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) and Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) already sued Miami and Detroit transportation authorities to get freedom bus ads up helping Muslims under death threat flee to safe places, and she won.
MTA had underestimated the tolerance of New Yorkers and overestimated the potential impact of the ad, Judge Koeltl said.
“It strains credulity to believe that New Yorkers would be incited to violence by ads that did not incite residents of Chicago and San Francisco,” he said.
Judge Koelti delayed enforcing his ruling for 30 days so the MTA could decide whether to appeal, BBC News reported.
MTA representative Adam Lisberg said they were disappointed in the ruling and reviewing options.”
The American Freedom Defense Initiative is listed as an anti-Muslim group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group.