Calling out Pamela Geller's hate speech in Philadelphia

posted on: Apr 5, 2015

Ads reading “Islamic Jew Hatred: It’s in the Quran” appeared on SEPTA buses in Philadelphia on April Fool’s Day. No joke.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority lost a legal battle to keep the hate speech off its public transportation. The federal court judge ruled that buses are public forums and SEPTA cannot censor political speech.

Within twenty-four hours of the Islamophobic ads from Pamela Geller and the American Freedom Defense Initiative appearing on the buses of Philadelphia, anonymous Philadelphia residents responded creatively by slapping stickers on the ads, calling out “Hate speech”.

Philly residents may notice the resemblance between the sticker image and an ongoing SEPTA passenger etiquette campaign, “Dude, It’s Rude,” encouraging courtesy and etiquette among SEPTA passengers on issues ranging from cell phones, blocking the aisle, and riders not to take up two seats on the subway.

Surely Pamela Geller’s uncivilized hate speech disparaging Muslims is well beyond any measure of rudeness. Her incendiary ads, factually inaccurate, attempt to incite religious, racial, and ethnic resentment, prejudice, discrimination, and violence.

Philly rejects these messages.

The Interfaith Center of Philadelphia launched a Dare to Understand public messaging campaign, which includes a billboard planned for a public space in the city and the use of social media, to counter the noxious messaging of the Geller ads.

A few days before the bus ads appeared, Mayor Michael Nutter pre-emptively organized a rally in Love Park. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clergy came together to promote a message of understanding and cooperation among diverse communities. The interfaith crowd of about 100 included political and religious individuals and groups that don’t usually stand on the same street corner when they demonstrate.

Philly may have found an antidote to the toxic bus ads. Taking a stand against hate seems to bring people together. The final joke may be on Pamela Geller.

Source: mondoweiss.net