A series of controversial ads targeting Islam will be removed from a fleet of Yellow Cab taxis.
The ads were sponsored by a group called "Stop Islamization of America," which claims the U.S. is under attack by Islamic law, reports the Chicago Tribune. The group is also a strong opponent of plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.
Some of the ads, which appeared on about two-dozen cabs, show women who were allegedly killed by their Muslim fathers for not agreeing to enter into forced marriages. Next to these images is the question: “Is your family threatening you.”
Pamela Geller, leader of Stop Islamization of America, has been quoted as saying Muslims are increasingly taking over schools and other institutions in America. Geller said the ads were directed at "Muslim girls in trouble, living in fear of their lives, struggling to find resources to help,” she told the paper.
Yellow Cab CEO Michael Levine had the signs removed because he said they were offensive to the city's Muslim taxi drivers, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The ads come at a time when Muslims are fighting to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. While President Obama has show support for the plan, Governor Pat Quinn came out against it last week.
Levin says a fleet of independent Yellow Cabs carried the ads. The owner of that fleet was paid by an advertising company to display them on top of the taxis.
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Three weeks ago Levin says he called the company to have the ads removed. Yellow Cab was told they were taken down, but according to the Chicago Tribune three ads are still running.
"They will be removed," Levine told the Tribune. "Yellow Cab does not regularly approve advertising content carried by our affiliates, but we do reserve the right to ask them to remove ads that offend either the drivers or the public.”
