Thread by @monaeltahawy

In New York City in 2012, a judge invoking the first amendment, gave the greenlight to racist and Islamophobic pro-Israel ads in the subway by Pamela Geller. I was arrested for spray painting over one of the ads in Times Square-42nd St station. Andrew Yang is like those ads 1/

The ads said: In any way between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." I spray painted over the ad because if Israel is "civilized" then I'm a proud savage. The woman trying to block me was w/ Pamela Geller 📷 Kristy Leibowitz

If those ads were protected by the first amendment, then so is my right to protest them. I was arrested, charged with criminal mischief and possession of a "graffiti instrument" (because of NYC's "war on graffiti"). Fuck fascism everywhere. 📷 Kristy Leibowitz

Grateful that @StanleyCohenLaw represented me pro bono for 2yrs after my arrest. I refused a plea deal that involved a fine to MTA & woman blocking me who wanted $800 for paint on her Gucci sunglasses. I.was to stand trial until judge dropped the case in the interest of justice

After the judge dropped the case,
@StanleyCohenLaw wrote this, to make clear I didn't pay any fine associated w/my act of civil disobedience. An anti-Zionist group did. I'm glad Stanley & I are friends now & I will always appreciate his solidarity. In his words: Up the Rebels!

Andrew Yang and Richie Torres, etc are using a similar ethos and hate as Pam Geller's ad campaign.

https://twitter.com/monaeltahawy/status/1277103115355947008?s=20

Listen instead to Rep. @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib Both who ran on progressive platforms that included rare and unprecedented questioning of U.S. support for Israel. I wrote this in 2019 about them zora.medium.com/trumps-incitem…

*The ad said "In any WAR..." not "way" Typing too fast!

Here's an article about my arrest at the time. theguardian.com/world/2012/sep…