Islam Promoted on County Buses


(Broward County, Florida) The Broward County Commission contracted with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for advertising banners to be placed on 50 county buses. The ads are plastered on the exterior of the buses and state:

ISLAM: The Way of Life of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

The implication that Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ were Muslim is obvious and, understandably, it has angered many non-Muslims.

As a result, about a hundred demonstrators, led by Joe Kaufman of Americans Against Hate, gathered at the Broward County Government Center to protest and demand that the ads be taken down.

The group broke into chants of "Shame, shame, shame," when Kaufman excoriated the county for accepting CAIR's money.

Demonstrators lined Andrews Avenue with signs that read, "Hamas = Murderers" and "Throw CAIR off the bus."

According to a spokeswoman for the transit department, Phyllis Berry, it's a free speech issue, apparently indicating that anything is allowed on the sides of buses.

Broward Mayor Stacey Ritter claimed ignorance, stating that the County Commission doesn't know what is in ads before they are placed on the buses. He pointed the finger at the agency responsible for ad sales, Lamar Advertising. However, Ritter did promise to have the commission look at religious advertising in the future, after the current contract with CAIR ends on January 26.

Defending CAIR, local director Altaf Ali said they were just trying to inform people about Islam as he scoffed at the demonstration as a "big joke." Ali's arrogance is duly noted.

From my perspective, saying that Jesus followed the way of Islam is not only offensive but it doesn't inform, it misinforms. And that's not a joke.


[Update 1/18/09]

Tensions remain high as the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Jim Naugle, joins the protest demanding the advertisements be removed.

Pic thanks to ScoopThis.org.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.