Judge rules Mass. subway can reject pro-Israel ads

Officials say advertisement calling for defeat of jihad violates guidelines against ‘demeaning or disparaging’ materials

Anti-Jihad ad published in NYC subways last year (photo credit: CNN screenshot)
Anti-Jihad ad published in NYC subways last year (photo credit: CNN screenshot)

A federal judge ruled that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority had the right to reject a pro-Israel subway advertisement.

US District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton on Dec. 20 denied a request by the American Freedom Defense Initiative for an immediate injunction that would have forced the MBTA to put up the advertisements, which state, ”In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad.”

Transportation officials rejected the ad last month, saying it violated advertising guidelines prohibiting materials that are ”demeaning or disparaging.”

The ad was created in response to an ad put up in October that depicted what it called “Palestinian loss of land 1946-2010″ in four maps. Eighty of them were posted at Boston train stations. They were removed a week after they went up following complaints, but were replaced again after two days.

Attorneys for the American Freedom Defense Initiative told the Boston Globe it would immediately appeal the verdict.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.