Metro says nevermind to 'Israeli war crimes' ads

Seattle Times ^ | December 23, 2010 | Janet I. Tu

[epithermal]

In a reversal of an earlier decision, Metro Transit said Thursday it would not allow a bus ad alleging "Israeli war crimes," saying a flood of comments has convinced officials that service could be disrupted.

The ad, purchased by the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, ties alleged Israeli war crimes to U.S. military aid. The ad had been set to run for a month on the sides of 12 buses starting next week.

Metro also rejected proposals for two counter ads.

"The escalation of this issue from one of 12 local bus placards to a widespread and often vitriolic international debate introduces new and significant security concerns that compel reassessment," said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

[epithermal]

""It's a disturbing precedent that King County approved the ad in the first place and then gave in to public pressure on the content of the ad," he said."

Odd, usually King County goes out of its way to support fringe groups and not the public. I wonder what they are planning?

[rbg81]

It was the posting of the counter-ads (about Hamas) that really made them nervous. They would not have allowed those, but then would have been exposed for the anti-semites that they are.

[Track9]

The simple fact is they were willing to print the hate propaganda but not the counter adds which depicted reality so they pulled both so they wouldn’t be accused of being America hating racists.. which they are.

[Ganndy]

SEATLE

It is the sole reason I won't shop at Starbucks...the Leftist Latte drinkin' socialists!
Why would I want to support their Corporate Office - while it is still in Seattle?
Move 'em to Texas and we will turn 'em around!
Oh! and we get 4 more congressmen to offset their one man gain!

[theDentist]

counter ads about Hamas?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Why does an agency of government run a bus company ?

[rbg81]

Yeah, they refer to those in the article (Horowitz’s group). Saw the actual ads on a prior FR posting. They are not pictured in this article, however.

[theDentist]

Ignore prev comment. Coffee drunk, but caffeine has not oiled the brain cell gears.

[jd777]

Hear Hear! You just hit the mark! Someone should buy a counter ad and put it up on the other buses! Why doesn't some isreali group step up and fight back with their own ad! That's the only just solution!

IF you have the truth on your side - you've got nothing to worry about what anyone says !

If a Prize fighterr doesn't have it - let him fight against a real champion and he will get knocked out -

Don't say he can't compete - That's not American!

And anybody screaming about "Hate Speech" - Please go to DU with the other Bolsheviks!

[epithermal]

http://frontpagemag.com/2010/12/24/victory-in-seattle-2/

[theDentist]

The counter ads were created, and that’s likely why the original ads were stopped. It would have been mighty effective too. It was almost identical to the original, but it said “You tax dollars at work. Palestinian war crimes.” and a photo of an Israeli burning bus.

[jd777]

I can't stand it when Conservatives go Liberal screaming Hate Speech and censorship. That's not our way! Conservatives have always done great with letting the people decide the truth for themselves. It;s the liberals who want to transform the" ignorant masses" and use word tricks and what amounts to P.C. censorship to achieve their radical ends.

Liberals are frightened that people might see both sides and figure the truth out for themselves.

Hey Conservatives ? Let free speech work - we have truth on our side!

[MarMema]

Now they are running them again, apparently.

But a First Amendment lawyer who represents KIRO 7 and other media outlets said King County is constrained by the Constitution. "To the extent that the buses are public forums, the county can't simply say these are ads we don't want because they are too controversial," Bruce Johnson said.

[sionnsar]

Ping to #13, apparently ads are back on, with thanks to MarMema.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

Quick link: WA State Board

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[epithermal]

I think your article is older, but now I am not sure. I did find this on the 24th in the Times: Backers of 'Israeli war crimes' ad decry decision to ban it