- Earlier this year, the HART board rejected this ad
For the second time this year, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) has rejected an ad submitted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The transportation organization cited its policy that prohibits promoting a religious faith or organization.
Last December, the Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group announced an ad campaign to reclaim the word jihad from extremists, and began posting such "My Jihad" ads in transit systems in San Francisco and Washington D.C.
But HART rejected the ad earlier this year, citing its policy.
After working with HART management, CAIR submitted a much different ad that removed the word jihad and instead showed a group of Muslims next to the phrase, "Embracing diversity at work. Defending Civil Rights in the Community."
Although HART's attorney David Smith felt the new ad was appropriate, the HART board rejected it today. Only County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and HART chair Fran Davin dissented.
This article appears in Aug 1-7, 2013.