An anti-Islam activist has won a preliminary round in her First Amendment fight to place New York City bus advertisements calling enemies of Israel "savages."
Pamela Geller, executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, had submitted an ad from the group that read, “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.” Then, between two Stars of David, the ad said: “Support Israel. Defeat Jihad.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority had rejected the ad for being demeaning to Muslims, citing company policy stipulating that ads should not demean individuals or groups based on race, religion or other protected categories.
But federal Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan said he agreed with Geller and the authority should not have rejected the ad. Engelmayer granted a preliminary injunction on Friday barring the MTA from enforcing the standard.
Geller publishes a blog called Atlas Shrugged that warns of growing "Islamization."
A conference in the case is scheduled for Aug. 29. The MTA said it was reviewing the decision.
