Cops busted a lone protester — angry with subway ads equating enemies of Israel as “savages” — as she spray-painted over one of the controversial signs today.
A Post camera crew captured the bizarre conflict between suspect Mona Eltahawy, 45, and a woman defending the ads.
“Mona, do you think you have the right to do this?” said Pamela Hall, holding a mounted camera as she tried to block the barrage of spray paint.
“I do actually,” Eltahawy calmly responded. “I think this is freedom of expression, just as this is freedom of expression.”
Hall then thrusts herself between Eltahawy’s spray paint and the poster.
Eltahawy — an activist who has appeared on MSNBC and CNN — engaged her in an odd cat-and-mouse dance, spraying pink every time she had an opening.
“What right do you have to violate free speech,” Hall pleaded.
“I’m not violating it. I’m making an expression on free speech,” an increasingly agitated Eltahawy shot back.
“You do not have the right!” Hall said.
“I do actually and I’m doing it right now and you should get out of the way! Do you want paint on yourself,” Eltahawy shot ack
As the poster defender bobbed and weaved to get in the paint’s way, Eltahawy mocked: “That’s right, defend racism.”
Finally an MTA police officer and an NYPD cop came to scene and arrested Eltahawy.
“This is non-violent protest, see this America!” she said as cops cuffed her. “I’m an Egyptian-American and I refuse hate.”
The MTA was forced to install the controversial ad campaign by court order.
The 46- by 30-inch ads are plastered in 10 Manhattan stations, including busy Grand Central and Times Square Stations.
The American Freedom Defense Initiative, a pro-Israel group spearheaded by activist Pamela Geller, paid $6,000 for the ad space.
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One Response to ‘Something Unbelievable, To Have Somebody…Arrested for a Poem’
This account is nothing less than Kafkaesque!! First this incomprehensible life imprisonment of a writer who dares to speak the truth to those in power. And then this little additional warning, this mocking slap to the face of anyone who might contemplate reciting this poem aloud!!
I truly want to live in a world where a poem can strike this much fear in the hearts of any despot.
Along with so many others I stand with, and salute Mr. al-Ajami. And of course I will begin my next poetry reading with some of Mr. al-Ajami’s poem. A small far away echo, one of many I’m sure.
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