'Forgiveness and Justice' D.C. Metro Ads Received Positively

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/15/12) –- On Friday, CAIR held a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters to launch an advertising campaign designed to counter anti-Muslim "savage" advertisements sponsored by a designated hate group that are now on display in Washington, D.C., metro stations.

The CAIR ad campaign was received positively by the public and the media. One D.C. metro rider was quoted about the message of the ads, which are scheduled to go up in stations on Tuesday or Wednesday, saying, "That's beautiful, that's beautiful, that's really beautiful. That can be applied in any religion or any culture."

CAIR's counter ad features a verse from the Quran stating: "Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant." (The Holy Quran, 7:199) The 16-foot banner ads, which are scheduled to stay up for a month in stations featuring the hate ads (Glenmont, Georgia Avenue/Petworth and U Street), also direct metro riders to CAIR's "Explore the Quran" initiative.

Other groups are also placing ads designed to counter Geller's hate campaign.
Pamela Geller, the sponsor of the hate ads, was recently the subject of a CAIR "Islamophobe profile" documenting the individuals and organizations involved in spreading anti-Muslim bias in the United States.
Earlier this week, a broad-based coalition of 127 organizations sent a letter to the
Washington Area Metro Transit Authority (WMATA) expressing concern about Geller's advertisements.