Groups respond to 'savage' jihad subway ads with countercampaigns

If the subway holy war keeps going, the MTA might make enough money to call off the fare hikes.

Three groups have launched countercampaigns against subway ads that call jihadists “savages” — and the pro-Israel blogger who sponsored the controversial billboards is readying a new round of inflammatory posters.

Bright-green ads denouncing hate speech as “not civilized” are already hanging in the same subway stations as the “savage” ads — in some cases sharing a frame.

The competing signs — which cost $6,000 — are from the United Methodist Women and went up on Tuesday.

They read: “Hate speech is not civilized. Support peace in word and deed.”

They are meant to rebut the American Freedom Defense Initiative ads that read: “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad.”

The mixed messages hang together at the Times Square station.

“We’ve had a very nice response from people, saying, ‘Thank you. It’s important to speak out about this,’ ” said Harriett Olson of the UMW.

They’re not the only pacifists putting up a fight.

On Monday, two more anti- “savage” ads will go up in the same stations as AFDI’s ads.

Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and the Christian group Sojourners have both bought signs.

In addition, Rabbis for Human Rights also bought 10 spots at other stations, said executive director Rabbi Jill Jacobs.

Its ad reads, “In the choice between love and hate, choose love.”

“We wanted to make it clear that the message from the Jewish community was we value diversity,” she said. “Whenever we see bigotry or racist language against anyone, we have a responsibility to speak out, especially when it tries to be in our name.”

The Sojourners ad will say, “Love your Muslim neighbors.”

Pamela Geller, a blogger and head of the AFDI, said she is happy to have the ads near hers.

“I think free speech is a great thing,” she said.

She said she has bought another $20,000 worth of ads denouncing jihad, but the MTA could not confirm that.

Those ads, she said, will be almost identical to the ones now hanging, but instead of saying, “Support Israel,” they will urge support for other causes.

They will also come with a disclaimer, which is required under the MTA’s new ad policy.

That policy was adopted after the MTA tried to ban Geller’s initial ad buy. A judge ruled the ban violated Geller’s First Amendment rights.

Geller said the ads will go up in the next week or so.

 

  NY POST