And this time the billboard opposes Israel.
I have been reporting regularly about the ongoing “billboard wars” in America over the Palestine-Israeli conflict, and the right to promote one’s position on the matter by taking out billboard advertisements. (see here, here, here, and here ). The latest episode in the saga seems to be playing out in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where a lawsuit has been filed challenging the local transit agency’s refusal to accept ads containing skull and bones imagery and calling for a boycott of Israel. This AP report was posted today at Dearborn Boycotts Israel:
Blaine Coleman's ad would have skulls and bones and say, 'Boycott Israel. Boycott Apartheid.' He believes the Israeli government treats Palestinians unfairly.
Coleman wants the ad on buses that travel near the University of Michigan, but the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority rejected it. In a court filing this week, the agency says it turns down ads that ridicule a group of people. Bus officials say Coleman's ad would make people uncomfortable and have a 'negative impact' on ridership.
Federal Judge Mark Goldsmith appears close to making a decision on an injunction sought by Coleman's lawyers. They say his free-speech rights are being violated.
The same story has also been carried by an ABC affiliate in Toledo, Ohio.
The really fascinating question that a lot of people are now going to be watching is: will the ruling by this judge, in this court, be consistent with the July 20 ruling by another federal judge in an almost identical case brought in New York?
Judge Paul Engelmayer believes this ad from the
AFDI represents "core political speech" that must be "afforded the highestlevel of protection under the First Amendment." |
As I say, the New York case and the Ann Arbor case are practically identical, both involving billboards, with both billboards featuring messages addressing the Palestine-Israel conflict. In fact, the only significant difference in the two cases would seem to be that in the New York case the billboard is pro-Israel, while in Ann Arbor the sentiment expressed is against Israel.
The American Freedom Defense Initiative, or AFDI, is headed by Pamela Geller, of the Atlas Shrugged blog, a Jewish writer who has been outspoken in her opposition to the “Islamization of America.” Geller has called Islam a “genocidal ideology,” and has warned of the dangers of Sharia law coming to America—however, significantly, it was not a Muslim judge who presided over her case. In deciding the lawsuit in her favor, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled that the side of a public transportation vehicle is a “public forum” where free speech must be allowed to take place:
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1 comment:
The graphic is not such a great idea. It's of a style that will attract a limited number of people and probably alienate a lot more. Better to have a simple stand out logo or map and utilize the space to convey facts in simple bold text. Use money and adverts wisely.
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