Articles
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 2009, page 62
Waging Peace
Billboard Controversy in Albuquerque
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AFTER ISRAEL’S recent attack on Gaza, and because, thanks to U.S. military aid to Israel, American taxpayers are also guilty of Israeli war crimes, the Albuquerque, NM-based Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel decided to voice its disapproval in a special message on 10 billboards. The billboards, erected across Albuquerque on April 8, featured images of a young Palestinian girl, taken by Katya Medler-Boym, and an Israeli tank, along with the message: “Tell Congress: Stop Killing Children. No More Military Aid to Israel.”
As a result of receiving some calls complaining about the billboards, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, an Albuquerque-based billboard company, pulled down the signs only three weeks into the eight-week contract—despite the fact that the billboard design had been approved by Lamar and the wording and final image were suggested by Lamar’s graphics designer. Lamar currently operates over 150 outdoor advertising companies in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico.
The Coalition, made up of 12 organizations and a number of individuals, charges that this incident was a deliberate attempt to silence its right to free speech and to squelch any criticism of Israel’s actions. The Washington Report sent an “action alert” to readers suggesting they contact Lamar, which received a thousand calls and e-mails about the controversial billboards.
Lamar and the Coalition negotiated a revised message on May 13, which will read “Tell Congress: Stop Giving Weapons to Israel With Our Tax Dollars!” and renegotiated the contract. Lamar will honor its initial eight-week contract with the coalition and pledged to cover all downtime and production costs to develop new ad copy and install new ads.
For more information or to see how you can bring these billboards to your state, contact < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; visit or blog at <http://stop30billion.blogspot.com>.
—Delinda C. Hanley
