Talking back to hate

Feb 19

Web Only

Talking back to hate

New campaign seeks to counter anti-Muslim ads in New York City.

UPDATE: The citizen-led campaign Talk Back to Hate will successfully launch their first ad in 10 New York subway stations this week. The necessary funds to post the ad came from 200 contributors. Those who gave $25 or more were able to submit their ideas for the poster, and contributors voted on the final design. The names of the contributors are displayed in the background of the ad, which is shown below.

View the story "Talking back to hate" on StorifyTalking back to hateNew campaign seeks to counter anti-Muslim ads in New York City.Storified by The Stream· Tue, Feb 19 2013 12:43:24Talk Back to HateAJstream

The campaign has already begun raising money for the second round of ads with a different message chosen by contributors.

An online digital version of the new ad can be seen here.

New Yorkers led by Akiva Freidlin (@akivaf) are working to combat anti-Muslim advertisements put out by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) with a counter-campaign called Talk Back to Hate. The campaign came as a response to the AFDI's anti-Islam subway ads, which are posted in subway stations across New York City. have you seen the anti-muslim ads on the subway? if you're disturbed by them, as i am, pitch in! let's buy our own ads! http://www.TalkBackToHate.orgYvonne WoonThe first provocative advertisement was posted in ten New York subway stations in September:
Fresh anti-Islam poster in Times Square, already defaced with sticker reading: 'As a Jewish person, this is offensive' http://pic.twitter.com/JOfoLpGhRobert MackeyMona Eltahawy, an Egyptian-American journalist attempted to spray paint over the advertisement, and was subsequently arrested. Her arrest spurred debate as to what an appropriate response to these advertisements should look like.Controversy heats up over Pro-Israeli ad in Times Square - New York PostnypostIn an interview with Think Progress, Freidlin explained his motives for starting the campaign:
“I started the project because, like many people I’ve spoken to, these ads feel like an attack on our most basic communal values,” Freidlin said in an interview with ThinkProgress. “They’re doubly offensive, for both attempting to demonize and intimidate individual members of a particular religious group, and trying to exploit the city’s grief and anger. After seeing the incredible strength and generosity that many New Yorkers displayed in the wake of Hurricane Sandy — the simple decency of people working tirelessly with Occupy Sandy and countless nonprofit and community groups — it seemed especially important to respond with a message that accurately represents the way we try to live our lives here.”Grassroots Campaign Seeks To Counter Anti-Muslim Subway Ads | ThinkProgressThe citizen-led movement is gaining momentum as a new wave of anti-Muslim ads are scheduled to be posted.
RT @TalkBackToHate Seen last night @ Rector St. Station: home-made flyer for response to anti-#Islam ads #HateWatch http://pic.twitter.com/rxqWwyWdThe FalconerAFDI's executive director, Pamela Geller, stated on her blog that all of the ad space next to clocks in the New York City subway (220 ad spaces) was bought for her latest effort (shown below).
NYCSubwayAdAJstreamTypepadTalk Back to Hate needs $7,500 to post its own ad in ten subway stations. For every additional $6,500 raised, they will post ten more ads. Everyone who donates $25 or more can provide input on the ad's content. A draft of the proposed Talk Back to Hate ad is shown below.
Thinkprogress