Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2009, page 56
Waging Peace
Update: Saga of Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel Ends Badly
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ON JUNE 5 Lamar Outdoor Advertising rejected a compromise solution offered by the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel to redesign their billboards (see July 2009 Washington Report, p. 62). Earlier, on April 28, Lamar had succumbed to angry callers and pulled down all the Coalition’s billboards in Albuquerque, NM, only three weeks into an eight-week contract. Lamar Corporate—not local—agreed on May 13 to the billboard redesign, and the coalition changed the message to: “Tell Congress: Stop Giving Weapons to Israel With Our Tax Dollars.”
Lamar had promised the coalition it would not take down the second set of billboards in response to pressure. Four days before the approved design was supposed to go up, however, Lamar reneged. Technically, it didn’t violate its promise—because this time it rescinded before putting up the second set of billboards.
Lamar rejected the coalition’s redesigns, and decided to give the group a full refund. Americans who don’t care about the Israel/Palestine issue but do care about free speech should take heed. Lamar admitted (but would not put in writing) that phone calls and threats from political Zionists were the reason it caved. Callers warned Lamar, will ensure that you lose business if you don’t comply.”
The public has the right to be informed about the Israeli government’s policies and actions against Palestinians, and the illegal use of their tax dollars. The coalition has proof the opposition bullied Lamar into silencing their speech.
For more information visit <stop30billion.com>.
—Delinda C. Hanley
