Racial Anti-Abortion NYC Billboard Yanked

Ad targeting African-Americans sparked deluge of complaints
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 25, 2011 3:46 AM CST
Racial Anti-Abortion NYC Billboard Yanked
The mother of the six-year-old girl in the photograph said she wanted Texas-based anti-abortion group Life Always to take the billboard down.   (Getty Images)

A New York City billboard that pictured a young black girl under the slogan "The most dangerous place for African-Americans is in the womb" was taken down after a single day. The outdoor advertising company involved said it was taken down for reasons of public safety after workers in the building it was attached to suffered harassment. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who had planned to hold a press conference in front of the anti-abortion ad Friday, praised the move. "The billboard was offensive, especially during Black History Month," he told the New York Daily News.

The Texas-based anti-abortion group that sponsored the ad—which was supposed to remain in place for three weeks—said the aim was to raise awareness of Planned Parenthood's "targeting of minority neighborhoods" and it plans to put more such billboards up around the country. A Planned Parenthood spokesman called the billboard "offensive and disturbing," accusing its creators of "using divisive messaging around race to restrict access to medical care." (More abortion stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X