"Preservation of Ground Zero" bus campaign

[chanel]

On Friday, August 6, the human rights organization American Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) and Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) filed a lawsuit against the city of New York for infringement of the freedom of speech, after New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) refused to run FDI's "Preservation of Ground Zero" bus campaign.

The MTA claimed that it refused the campaign because it contained a "9/11 image," specifically "a plane," and associated the Islamic supremacist mega-mosque slated to be built at Ground Zero with the September 11, 2001 jihad terror attacks – an association that the mosque organizers have themselves made many times.

The full text of FDI's complaint is here.

Attorneys David Yerushalmi and Robert Muise filed suit Friday on behalf of FDI, Geller, and FDI Associate Director Robert Spencer. The complaint alleges violation of FDI's, Geller's and Spencer's free speech rights. It charges that the MTA has decided to accept the claim of the pro-Sharia Ground Zero Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, that their mega-mosque has nothing to do with marking the jihadist "victory" of September 11, 2001. In other words, the MTA is now deciding which viewpoints are politically correct enough to appear on its buses.

Comments Yerushalmi: "What makes this jihad against free speech so egregious is that the MTA has run any number of controversial religious and political ads without batting an eyelid. But as soon as the Shariah-faithful cowed Mayor Bloomberg and the MTA into dhimmi-like submission, the First Amendment to the Constitution gave way to Shariah's blasphemy laws. How long before the Mayor's office begins issuing fatwas against those who dare counter the 'noble and peaceful outreach' narrative?"

Yerushalmi also said: "Mr. Mayor and your colleagues at the MTA and the Landmark Commission: New Yorkers will not forget 9-11 and we will not be cowed into submission or silence. You might not want to hear our voices, but the federal courts will require you to listen. You claim the mantle of the Constitution as a basis for supporting a Shariah-Islamist mosque at Ground Zero, yet the MTA – a government agency of the City – cavalierly denies 'infidels' freedom of speech. Enough is enough."

SIOA, FDI Sue New York City for Refusal to Run Ground Zero Bus... -- NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Does the freedom of religion argument trump the FDI's freedom of speech and protest?

 

[editec]

It offends the lord GOD MAMMON to sully his temple of capitalism (the WTC) with other religious shrines.

 

[ConHog]

I see the city losing this one.

 

[chanel]

They caved.

Ads opposing a plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero will soon start appearing on city buses, now that the MTA has signed off on their controversial design.

A lawyer for the New Hampshire group behind the campaign called yesterday's MTA decision "a victory not just for free speech but against political correctness and Mayor Bloomberg's bullying."

The lawyer, David Yerushalmi, said the ads would be on buses within 10 days.


A spokesman for the mayor -- who last week said mosque opponents "ought to be ashamed of themselves" --declined to comment.

Read more: MTA approves bus ads opposing Ground Zero mosque - NYPOST.com

 

[bodecea]

Why don't all these opponents pony up and BUY the site from the Muslims and help them get a site in a more acceptable place?