A religious coalition is calling on Metro to donate the money it received from a controversial ad campaign
A new Metro ad protesting controversial displays that equate Muslims to "savage" people are scheduled to go up in three Metro stations this week.
The ad reads, "Hate speech is not civilized. Support peace in work and deed. #mysubwayad"
It will be on display at the Glenmont, Takoma Park and Woodley Park stations for approximately a month.
Also Monday, a coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders met at the United Methodist Building near the Capitol. The group is calling on WMATA to donate all proceeds from the controversial ads to charity.
Those ads went up a week ago, after a U.S. District judge ruled Oct. 5 that WMATA had to display the ads, which were purchased by Pamela Geller's American Freedom Defense Initiative. The ads read, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad."
Metro officials had delayed putting up the ads. Officials said they were concerned the messages could provoke hostile reactions, but then Geller's group sued, and the issue went to court.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer said she understood Metro's concerns, but the transit agency's decision to delay running the ads with no set time frame restricted the group's First Amendment rights.
The new protest ads aren't the first. Last week, a Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), announced their own campaign. Its 16-foot banners are set to go up this week. They cite the Quran, saying, "Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant."
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