Anti-Islamic Ads Depicting American Journalist James Foley Moments Before His Death Pulled In NYC
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A group running a series of anti-Islamic ads in New York City's transit system is pulling an ad that shows James Foley with the masked militant who killed him.
The ad, which depicts Foley moments before he is beheaded, is being yanked after criticism from the American journalist's family.
The ads are paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative run by anti-Islam blogger Pamela Geller, whose attorney said the Foley family was notified that the ads were being pulled.
Attorney David Yerushalmi said he wrote their lawyer that "Geller understands and feels intimately the pain'' they are suffering.
The attorney told the New York Post that other anti-Islamic ads will go forward.
Geller had previously said the campaign tells truths about Islam and Jihad that the U.S. government and mainstream media ignore.
"Our organization has created this campaign in order to educate people about Jihad," Geller told 1010 WINS earlier this month. "I don't think the truth is controversial. I think we're entering a very dangerous period, and I don't think the American people should be disarmed in the information battle space."
All the ads that have been cleared to run feature a disclaimer that says the viewpoints are not endorsed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency is required under a federal court ruling to run controversial ads.
The MTA rejected one of Geller's ads, which references "killing Jews." She has filed a lawsuit.
Last week, religious and political leaders of all faiths and backgrounds gathered on the steps of City Hall to denounce the anti-Muslim ads.
"That has no place here in New York City or anywhere else," City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said of the ads.
"How dare these ads suggest and equate the American Muslim community with ISIS?" Rabbi Marc Schneier added.
"This is irresponsible," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer. "It is no different than sitting in a crowded room and yelling 'fire!'"
The American Freedom Defense Initiative has posted ads on New York's transit system in the past. Last year, it purchased space next to 228 clocks in 39 subway stations for ads that called enemies of Israel "savages."
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