• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

AFDI Responds to Absurd Seattle King County Claim That We Are AGAINST Free Speech In Trying to Run Counterterror Ad

Jun 2, 2018 2:49 pm By Pamela Geller

This all started back in 2013, when the FBI was running a terrorism awareness campaign featuring bus ads depicting photos of sixteen of the world’s Most Wanted Terrorists.

This was a publicity campaign sponsored by the Joint Terrorism Task Force for the State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program. The ad featured the world’s leading global terrorists. As it happened, all but one were Muslim. Islamic supremacists and their leftist lapdogs demanded the want ad come down, claiming it was insulting to Muslims. The FBI caved and pulled the Seattle-area bus ads featuring the “Faces of Global Terrorism” after receiving complaints “that the ads stereotype Muslims.”

My organization, the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), believed that this public awareness message was critical to national security and should run. We are constantly being clubbed with the claim that “moderate Muslims” abhor and reject the acts of terrorism that are constantly committed in the name of their religion, so why would they object to a wanted poster featuring Islamic terrorists who supposedly have twisted and hijacked their peaceful religion? Why would “moderate Muslims” provide cover for jihad terror? Why, indeed.

AFDI submitted a virtual copy of the FBI ad to run on Seattle transit. The cowards at Seattle King Metro refused to run the ad, claiming that it was disparaging to Muslims. Reality is disparaging to Muslims?

We sued Seattle King Metro. Predictably, the liberal fascists in Seattle sided with the supremacists. We appealed to the clowns on the notorious 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. And now they, as expected, ruled in favor of sharia and supremacism.

Of all the free speech legal battles I am embroiled in, this one is the most absurd. It illustrates the crippling submission and capitulation of government authorities to Islamic supremacist demands. And now it has gotten even more absurd: King County claimed last year that “AFDI…has directly forced six of the ten largest transit agencies in the United States to end all forms of political, public interest, and religious advertising. AFDI’s Pamela Geller calls this the ‘Geller Ban.’ Dkt. 57 (Declaration of Hackett, Ex. D (Geller Dep. at 44:19 – 45:1-4)). To date, not counting the transit systems chilled by AFDI’s ‘free speech’ campaign, the ‘Geller Ban’ has substantially limited the speech available to over 50 million Americans who live in the affected service areas.”

That’s right: they’re blaming us for the fascist, counter-free speech actions of the transit systems that changed their rules to ban all political ads rather than run our ads. This is like blaming a woman for being raped.

Our legal team at the American Freedom Law Center has responded:

The so-called “Geller Ban” referred to by the County is nothing more than a concerted effort by government officials to discriminate against Plaintiffs by seeking to close forums for Plaintiffs’ speech because the officials dislike the message. Plaintiffs refuse to surrender their freedoms to these government censors.

Click here to read our entire reply brief in our case against King County.

This is a key freedom of speech case, with enormous implications far beyond this one ad. We will never give up in our fight against this flagrant attempt to suppress our most fundamental freedom.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: American Freedom Defense Initiative, FBI, Featured, free speech Tagged With: King County, Seattle


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. eduardo odraude says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    Talk about Orwellian! They have the chutzpah to blame Geller for censoring speech, when they are the ones who are in charge of the ads and they are the ones who are ending political speech? And why do they do it? Because they are conformists and cowards, or at best ignoramuses. The same crap would happen here in the US as is happening in Europe, were it not for our First Amendment. We have the same lunatics running things, the same cowards and conformists who won’t stand up against totalitarian Islam, and were it not for the First Amendment, Geller would probably be in jail by now, which is how things work in troglodyte Europe.

    • mummymovie says

      Jun 3, 2018 at 7:10 am

      Yes, it’s a very clever “flipping of the script”, isn’t it?

      In blaming Pam, they are -by their own admission, nonetheless- admitting that they violation of the 1st Amendment.

      So much for the right to free speech, I guess.

      And who says it can’t happen in America?

      The only difference between her and Tommy is -like you said Mr. Palindrome- that she is not behind bars right now, languishing in some prison ( though that’s exactly where the dhimwit, hijra & jihad-enabling powers-that-be in America would love more than anything to see her end up).

  2. ElderlyZionist says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    It’s like an abuser claiming that his wife forces him to hit her by her own bad behavior.

    “I beat you because I love you!”

  3. gravenimage says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    AFDI Responds to Absurd Seattle King County Claim That We Are AGAINST Free Speech In Trying to Run Counterterror Ad
    …………………..

    Talk about projection!

  4. Granddaddy says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    It’s an attempt to abrogate the 1st amendment illegally. If the ad had no factual basis, that would be different: it would be libel and should go through the court system. But what the ad is saying is true and so was never given the opportunity to be heard in court. It goes to the core of what free speech is really about and what the Left is against: the truth. If the powers-that-be had asked Geller to substantiate her accusations, that would be different. But they didn’t. So it appears that the powers-that-be are not about the truth. Which is probably no great revelation to anyone who reads here regularly. But if everyone goes along with it, then there really is no free speech, no matter what the Constitution says. And for 50 million people, that’s a big part of our free speech.

  5. Kepha says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 6:59 pm

    This sad story illustrates why the US Constitution includes machinery for the impeachment of officials–and the Founders expected it to be used a lot more liberally than it historically has been. We need a few legislators at state and national levels who are willing to initiate impeachment proceedings against these sworn and proven enemies of the First Amendment.

  6. mortimer says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 9:47 pm

    So-called ‘LIBERALS’ defend the most ILLIBERAL ideology on earth and the most misogynistic ideology on earth. Makes no sense.

    The so-called LIBERALS contradict their stated ‘liberal’ principles by defending SUPREMACIST, MISOGYNISTIC, INEGALITARIAN, RELIGIOUS FASCISM.

    • mummymovie says

      Jun 3, 2018 at 9:07 am

      And they defend it, when those thankless, godless, uncoventional left-wingers; “social justice warriors”, “protestors”, self-described non-conformists, feminists, atheists, pot smoking hippies, punks, gays, queers, scofflaws and criminals would be THE FIRST ONES TO GO under a full-scale oppressive totalitarian islamic sharia system.

      They would immediately swing from cranes, be dropped from buildings, or locked in prison.

      And yet they defend islam: Don’t they know that muslims will NEVER like them in return?
      NEVER!

      Look at everything France did for muslims: Do they get any reward? NO. JIHAD VIOLENCE AND CONQUEST ONLY.

      GERMANY bending over backwards for muslims?
      NO. JIHAD VIOLENCE AND CONQUEST.

      How about SWEDEN?
      NOPE. JIHAD VIOLENCE AND CONQUEST.

      Yet “Progressives” still persist in thinking that if they just continue being nice enough, and “stand by” muslims, they will eventually reciprocate and like and befriend them. But they don’t know that this so-called religion forbids anything of the sort.

      It will NEVER happen.

    • mummymovie says

      Jun 3, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      Good way to look at things.
      I always forget that.
      Thanks.

  7. Lydia Church says

    Jun 2, 2018 at 11:55 pm

    So freedom of speech equals ‘censorship,’ but censoring equals ‘freedom of speech’?
    Only a liberal could have come up with that illogical and orwellian idea!

  8. Jack Holan says

    Jun 3, 2018 at 7:57 am

    This is Fascism at its core. flip the argument, turn the accuser into the accused and the argument into strawman-Argument and the proposition a new one under the guise of the old one.

  9. Mark Berlinger says

    Jun 3, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    Know what else is in alignment with Islamic principles?

    Sharia is the goal. Jihad is the way. Islam must dominate all other religions and governments. Takbeer!

  10. Norger says

    Jun 4, 2018 at 10:11 am

    Calling attention to the identities of some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists is not acceptable to King County Washington because the vast majority of these terrorists are obviously Muslim. That’s a fact that we aren’t permitted to notice. Better to pretend that the threat is “violent extremism” and that the most dangerous terrorists adhere to no political or religious ideology unless it’s “right wing.” You can’t make this stuff up.

  11. TWG says

    Jun 5, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    What do people expect from a city that proudly displays it’s very own 17 foot tall bronze statue of LENIN, who they adore.

    I was born and raised in Seattle (King County, WA) and abandoned that shithole back in 2009, after several horrific events involving islammunists. People in Seattle walk around in hammer & sickle t-shirts, smoking pot and pissing in the streets, daring anyone with decency to say anything in protest. And if you even THINK about wearing a tshirt with an American Flag, or a pro-2A cap, you better be ready for a fight. Seattle’s downfall began in the late ’80’s, and culminated with the WTO riots, when Soros and his ilk bussed in (via one-way tickets) thousands of islammunists to riot and destroy the city. All of this, combined with the multi-millionaires working at Microsoft, Amazon or any other high tech corporation, makes for a nasty brew.

    Seattle IS a shithole today. Be sure to thank an “educator”.

    I was born and raised there, but an army couldn’t drag me back there. Good riddance to that islammunist shithole.

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • SKA on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Eva on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic
  • Eva on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic
  • Infidel on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic
  • Eva on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.