Groups cautiously welcome SFMTA response to 'anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic ads

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 08/16/12) -Today, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Asian Law Caucus (ALC), the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) cautiously welcomed a statement issued by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) in response to anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic advertisements running on San Francisco buses. The groups have been coordinating community mobilization and response since complaints about the advertisements were first received.

The advertisements, sponsored by a group calling itself *The American Freedom Defense Initiative* (AFDI), led by Pamela Geller, states: "In Any War Between the Civilized Man and the Savage, Support the Civilized Man." It further states, "Support Israel, Defeat Jihad." AFDI has been identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"While the community respects the importance of free expression even for offensive speech, it is clear that these ads were designed specifically to intimidate Muslim, Arab and Palestinian members of the San Francisco community," said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo.

*SEE:* Who's Behind the anti-Muslim Ads on MTA and MUNI? and MUNI Bus Ads Calling Israel's Enemies ˜Savages".

In the statement issued yesterday, the Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors and SFMTA Director of Transportation on Advertisement acknowledged that although the First Amendment prevented them from removing the advertisements from public buses, they have "no value in facilitating constructive dialogue or advancing the cause of peace and justice." Further, the statement went on to commit to directing all resulting advertising revenue to the SF Human Rights Commission (HRC).

*SEE:* Statement from Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors and SFMTA Director of Transportation on Advertisement.

ALC, AMP, CAIR-SFBA and JVP will be concluding a community assessment this Friday, and plan to work with the HRC to develop requests of SFMTA that will properly reflect the level of community concern as well as solutions for remedying the harmful impact of these advertisements.

AMP Chair Dr. Hatem Bazian stated: "Since the message of these advertisements foments the hostile climate towards Arabs and Muslims, especially during a two week time period that has seen more than eight attacks on mosques and Islamic institutions, it is important that all responses directly address Islamophobia and not merely diversity generally."

*The American Muslims for Palestine is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public and media about issues relating to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage.*

*The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian Law Caucus is a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice.*

*CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to  enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.*

*Jewish Voice for Peace is a national grassroots peace organization dedicated to promoting a US foreign policy in the Middle East based on peace, democracy, human rights and respect for international law.*

CONTACT
AMP Chairman Dr. Hatem Bazian, 510.914.6722, E-Mail: [email protected];
ALC Staff Attorney Nasrina Bargzie, 925.330.1163, E-Mail: [email protected];
CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo, 626.252.0885, E-Mail: [email protected];
Jewish Voice for Peace Advocacy Director Sydney Levy, 415.994.4854, E-Mail: [email protected]