Massive Press Coverage of our Free Speech Win

AFDI Wins Major Free Speech Victory as Federal Court Rules Anti-Hamas Ad Must Run

The ad reads, “‘Killing Jews is worship that draws us closer to Allah’ – Hamas MTV. That’s his jihad, what’s yours?” It was developed as a rejoinder to the deceptive and misleading ad campaign of the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that attempted to deceive Americans into thinking that jihad involved nothing less innocuous than going to the gym and taking children to school, not waging war against non-Muslims.

AFDI President Pamela Geller said in a statement: “This is another huge AFDI victory for freedom and individual rights. Judge John Koeltl came down on our side on every point, upholding the Constitution and beating back sharia restrictions on free speech.”

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in AFDI’s favor on its motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to order the MTA to run the ad. The MTA had claimed that the ad could incite violence, as a jihadi might think that the ad was giving him orders. Koeltl rejected this argument in his ruling as he wrote:

The defendants’ theory is thoroughly unpersuasive.

The defendants contend that the advertisement could be read as urging a subset of Islamic extremists to follow Hamas’s command, but if that group is as violent and radicalized as the defendants contend, presumably they would not need a bus advertisement to remind them of Hamas’s interpretation of the Quran.

Koeltl emphasized the most important point: “[S]ecuring First Amendment rights is in the public interest.”

David Yerushalmi and Robert Muise of the American Freedom Law Center argued AFDI’s case before the court.

For further information about the hearings, see here.

Watch this video which aired on NBC this past Sunday on our Phillly win:

With our NY win, our ads will make their debut on New York buses in the coming weeks.

We want to run 100. Help us make that happen.

Or mail your contribution to:
AFDI

Attention: Pamela Geller

1040 1st Avenue

#121

New York, NY 10022

The terror-linked group CAIR had an ad campaign ‘rebranding’ the word jihad (http://myjihad.org/). They mean to make it into something soft and fuzzy. Our ad campaign is a response to their campaign.

Posters slamming Islam for 'killing Jews' can be displayed on MTA buses: court New York Daily News – ‎1 hour ago‎ A conservative firebrand said Tuesday she plans to paper at least 50 MTA buses with Islamophobic posters following a judge's ruling the ads were protected by the First Amendment. Manhattan Federal Court Judge John Koeltl wrote the MTA had improperly …   MTA Must Run Bus Ad From Pro-Israel Group, Judge Says New York Times – ‎2 hours ago‎ “While the court is sensitive to the M.T.A.'s security concerns, the defendants have not presented any objective evidence that the 'Killing Jews advertisement' would be likely to incite imminent violence,” Judge Koeltl wrote in the order. The judge noted that a …   'Anti-Jihad' bus ads can't be blocked by MTA: judge New York Post – ‎4 hours ago‎ Say what you will about the decision, but at least this judge gives New Yorkers respect. Manhattan federal Judge John Koetl ruled Tuesday that the MTA cannot stop a political activist from running ads on city buses that attack Islamic fundamentalists — saying …   Judge: Pro-Israel Group Can Post 'Killing Jews' Ads on Buses ABC News – ‎3 hours ago‎ The lawsuit was filed after the MTA notified the group in August that it would display three of four proposed advertisements but not an ad with the quote "Killing Jews is Worship that draws us close to Allah" because it could incite violence. In the ad, a covered …   New York City buses must show 'killing Jews' ad, judge rules BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎ A judge has ruled that New York City's buses must display a controversial ad that refers to Muslims killing Jews. New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had opposed the advertisement, arguing it could incite terrorism and violence. But Judge …   Judge orders NY transit authority to display 'killing Jews' ad campaign Haaretz – ‎2 hours ago‎ Koeltl said he was "sensitive" to the security concerns, but noted that the MTA and Chairman Thomas Prendergast "underestimate the tolerant quality of New Yorkers and overestimate the potential impact of these fleeting advertisements. It strains credulity to …   Judge rules pro-Israel group can post 'Hamas Killing Jews' ads on New York City … Fox News - ‎3 hours ago‎ NEW YORK – A federal judge says a pro-Israel advocacy group known for publicly criticizing Islam can display its political advertisement containing the phrase "Hamas Killing Jews" on New York City's buses. Judge John Koeltl (KOHT'-uhl) said in a decision …   UPDATE 2-Judge orders NY transit agency to run 'Killing Jews' ad Reuters - ‎7 hours ago‎ (Adds MTA comment, prior litigation). By Jonathan Stempel. NEW YORK, April 21 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Tuesday ordered New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to display on its buses a controversial ad that refers to Muslims killing Jews, … Judge orders NY transit agency to run 'Killing Jews' ad Times of India – ‎1 hour ago‎ NEW YORK: A federal judge on Tuesday ordered New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to display on its buses a controversial ad that refers to Muslims killing Jews, rejecting the argument that the ad could incite terrorism or imminent violence.   Judge orders NY transportation authority to run 'Killing Jews' ad Jerusalem Post Israel News - ‎8 hours ago‎ Koeltl said the MTA did not show that the ad could prompt imminent violence, noting that none occurred when the ad ran in Chicago and San Francisco, or that New York City should be treated differently because it is a more prominent terrorism target.   Judge Orders MTA to Run Anti-Islam Ad JP Updates - ‎6 hours ago‎ Koeltl said he was “sensitive” to the security concerns, but noted that the MTA and Chairman Thomas Prendergast”underestimate the tolerant quality of New Yorkers and overestimate the potential impact of these fleeting advertisements. It strains credulity to …   Judge orders MTA to run 'Killing Jews' ad on city buses amNY - ‎6 hours ago‎ A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the MTA to display on its buses a controversial ad that refers to Muslims killing Jews, rejecting the argument that the ad could incite terrorism or imminent violence. U.S. District Judge John Koeltl in Manhattan said the ad …       'Killing Jews' Parody Ads Will Grace NYC Subways Courthouse News Service - ‎6 hours ago‎ "While the court is sensitive to the MTA's security concerns, the [administration has] not presented any objective evidence that the Killing Jews advertisement would be likely to incite imminent violence," the 28-page opinion states. "Indeed, as the [MTA] knew …       N.Y. transit authority must run ad that refers to killing Jews, judge rules Jewish Telegraphic Agency - ‎3 hours ago‎ Koeltl rejected the MTA argument that the ad could be seen as a call to violence against Jews and could incite terrorism. The ad is sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which is headed by blogger Pamela Geller and is known for its sharp …   US judge allows 'Muslims killing Jews' ads on buses Yahoo! News - ‎17 minutes ago‎ A United States federal judge has ordered New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to display on its buses a controversial ad that refers to Muslims killing Jews, rejecting the argument that the ad could incite "terrorism" or imminent violence.   Judge orders New York transit agency to run pro-Israel ad Business Insider - ‎9 hours ago‎ He also said the MTA did not present objective evidence that its display would likely incite imminent violence. According to the decision, the ad portrayed a menacing-looking man whose head and face were mostly covered by a head scarf. The decision also …   New York Judge Declares 'Killing Jews' Ad Free Speech Arutz Sheva - ‎7 hours ago‎ A federal judge ordered the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) must run a controversial ad referencing Muslims killing Jews. The ad, which features a man with his face covered in a scarf and the quote "Killing Jews is Worship that draws us …   Judge Allows "Killing Jews" Ad, Will Start Running on New York Buses Shalom Life - ‎4 hours ago‎ … parties involved as the "Killing Jews Ad," is protected speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and ordered New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to display it on its buses. The MTA has but only 30 days to appeal his decision.

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