© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Jim Wallis' Sojourners & Rabbis Group to Post Pro-Islam NYC Subway Ads to Counter Anti-Jihad Posters
October 05, 2012
"We wanted to make it clear that it is in response to the anti-Islam ad."
The religious war is intensifying on New York City's subway platforms. Two faith groups will hang ads urging tolerance toward Muslims alongside blogger Pamela Geller's anti-jihad advertisements that equate Muslim radicals with savages.
The ads by Rabbis for Human Rights - North America and the Christian group Sojourners will go up Monday. This latter organization is led by Jim Wallis, a progressive pastor who advises President Barack Obama and who has been an outspoken proponent of liberal values. TheBlaze first told you about his group's ad campaign on Monday.
The New York Times reports that they'll hang in the 10 Manhattan subway stations where the anti-jihad ads implying enemies of Israel are "savages" appear. So far, no plans to counter Geller's bus ads have been announced (the blogger is still awaiting approval from the Metropolitan Transit Authority to launch an expanded ad campaign on the NYC bus system).
The rabbis' ad 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," explained Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights. "Geller thinks she is speaking for the entire Jewish community. We are a group of 1,800 rabbis and we want everyone to know that we have to work in partnership with the Muslim community and do not believe in dehumanizing them."
Wallis' Christian ad says: "Love your Muslim neighbors."
"An essential tenet of Christianity is to love our neighbors," explained the Rev. Beau Underwood, Sojourners' campaigns manager. "In the face of religious extremism, the best response is to treat others like we would want to be treated. Our ad campaign has a simple message that is at the heart of our faith."
On Wednesday, another group, United Methodist Women, placed pro-Muslim ads in the subway. They say: "Hate speech is not civilized."
The American Freedom Defense Initiative, led by Geller, is behind the anti-jihad ads that sparked the initial controversy. As TheBlaze has extensively reported, she has been in a long and complicated battle with the MTA, the company that owns and operates the city’s subway, train and bus systems.
While the transit authority initially attempted to ban the ads last year, a judge ruled in Geller’s favor, leading to a decision to post them at numerous subway stops last month. Now, these counter ads are intended to defend against what these religious groups see as negative, anti-Islam messages.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
--
Related:
- Conservative Pamela Geller to Expand Anti-Jihad Campaign With New Bus Ads in NYC (See Exclusive Images!)
- Lib Pastor Jim Wallis Accuses Conservative of ‘Hatred’ & Begs Her to ‘Stop Talking’ During On-Air Clash Over Anti-Jihad Subway Ad
- MSNBC Panel Sort-of Confronts Egyptian-Born Journalist Who Vandalized ‘Anti-Jihad’ Subway Ad
- Legal Scholar Alan Dershowitz Calls MTA‘s New Advertising Rules ’Plain Dumb’ & ‘Unconstitutional’
- Conservative’s Anti-Jihad Subway Ad Leads to New Policies: NYC Authority Can Now Ban Ads That Could ‘Incite or Provoke Violence’
- Lib Pastor Jim Wallis Accuses Conservative of ‘Hatred’ & Begs Her to ‘Stop Talking’ During On-Air Clash Over Anti-Jihad Subway Ad
- Activist Gets in Physical Altercation While Trying to Spray Paint Over Anti-Jihad Poster
Want to leave a tip?
We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?
Billy Hallowell
Billy Hallowell is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com, whose mission is to create God-honoring entertainment that strengthens the faith and values of individuals and families. He's a former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze. He has contributed to FoxNews.com, The Washington Post, Human Events, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, and The Huffington Post, among other outlets. Visit his website (billyhallowell.com) for more of his work.
more stories
Sign up for the Blaze newsletter
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.