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| Mona Eltahawy in court over defacing posters: 'I'm proud of what I did' | Mona Eltahawy in court over defacing posters: 'I'm proud of what I did' |
| (8 days later) | |
| Writer and activist Mona Eltahawy appeared in court on Thursday on charges of criminal mischief for spray-painting an anti-Muslim poster in a New York City subway station. | Writer and activist Mona Eltahawy appeared in court on Thursday on charges of criminal mischief for spray-painting an anti-Muslim poster in a New York City subway station. |
| Eltahawy was offered a plea deal but chose to go to trial for charges of criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of an instrument of graffiti. | Eltahawy was offered a plea deal but chose to go to trial for charges of criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of an instrument of graffiti. |
| "I actually look forward to standing trial, because I acted out of principle and I'm proud of what I did and I will spray-paint that ad again in a second," Eltahawy told the Guardian. | "I actually look forward to standing trial, because I acted out of principle and I'm proud of what I did and I will spray-paint that ad again in a second," Eltahawy told the Guardian. |
| Eltahawy's lawyer Stanley Cohen said if she plead guilty to disorderly conduct she would have had to serve two days of community service and pay the MTA approximately $200 for paint removal and nearly $800 for damaging Gucci sunglasses belonging to a woman who tried to protect the ad. | Eltahawy's lawyer Stanley Cohen said if she plead guilty to disorderly conduct she would have had to serve two days of community service and pay the MTA approximately $200 for paint removal and nearly $800 for damaging Gucci sunglasses belonging to a woman who tried to protect the ad. |
| Eltahawy was arrested in September for spray-painting a poster paid for by the Anti-Muslim American Freedom Defense Initiative. The posters appeared in 10 New York subway stations and read: "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man," and "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." | Eltahawy was arrested in September for spray-painting a poster paid for by the Anti-Muslim American Freedom Defense Initiative. The posters appeared in 10 New York subway stations and read: "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man," and "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." |
| Following her arrest, Eltahawy was held in jail for 22 hours, longer than her detention in Egypt during the Arab spring. During the protests, she suffered two broken bones during arrest by Egyptian riot police. | Following her arrest, Eltahawy was held in jail for 22 hours, longer than her detention in Egypt during the Arab spring. During the protests, she suffered two broken bones during arrest by Egyptian riot police. |
| Eltahawy said she was treated fairly in court proceedings but she and her lawyer believe her 22 hours overnight in jail were unjust. | Eltahawy said she was treated fairly in court proceedings but she and her lawyer believe her 22 hours overnight in jail were unjust. |
| "I don't think I was treated fairly overall, because one of the points my attorney is making and has requested paperwork to look into is why four other people who were arrested with me that same night – who put stickers on an ad at another subway station – why they received DATs [Desk Appearance Tickets] and were sent home and I spent the night in jail." | "I don't think I was treated fairly overall, because one of the points my attorney is making and has requested paperwork to look into is why four other people who were arrested with me that same night – who put stickers on an ad at another subway station – why they received DATs [Desk Appearance Tickets] and were sent home and I spent the night in jail." |
| The paperwork Cohen is interested in obtaining includes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's contract with Pamela Geller and files they believe might exist within the Joint Terrorism Task Force. | The paperwork Cohen is interested in obtaining includes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's contract with Pamela Geller and files they believe might exist within the Joint Terrorism Task Force. |
| Eltahawy said that since the September incident she has been invited to tag similar posters put up by Geller's group in other cities in the US including Washington DC, Portland and Chicago – where the ads can currently be found on city buses. | Eltahawy said that since the September incident she has been invited to tag similar posters put up by Geller's group in other cities in the US including Washington DC, Portland and Chicago – where the ads can currently be found on city buses. |
| "I wanted to take protest back to where it is, which is direct action, not just whining and being active on Twitter," Eltahawy said. "And the fact that people are thinking about how they can challenge racism and bigotry is gratifying." | "I wanted to take protest back to where it is, which is direct action, not just whining and being active on Twitter," Eltahawy said. "And the fact that people are thinking about how they can challenge racism and bigotry is gratifying." |
| A video posted online by the New York Post shows Eltahawy taking a can of pink spray paint to the ads while a poster supporter tries to prevent the act. The two argue before Eltahawy is arrested and escorted out of the station by police. | A video posted online by the New York Post shows Eltahawy taking a can of pink spray paint to the ads while a poster supporter tries to prevent the act. The two argue before Eltahawy is arrested and escorted out of the station by police. |
| Eltahawy said she originally intended to spray-paint 'racist' on the ad, but her limited graffiti skills prevented the act. | Eltahawy said she originally intended to spray-paint 'racist' on the ad, but her limited graffiti skills prevented the act. |
| "I'm quite obviously very bad at tagging, and I would gladly take lessons" said Eltahawy. | "I'm quite obviously very bad at tagging, and I would gladly take lessons" said Eltahawy. |
| The MTA originally ruled that the posters were demeaning and would not be permitted in the city's subways. The anti-Muslim group then took the agency to court that ruled the statements are "political" and protected by the first amendment's guarantee for free speech. | The MTA originally ruled that the posters were demeaning and would not be permitted in the city's subways. The anti-Muslim group then took the agency to court that ruled the statements are "political" and protected by the first amendment's guarantee for free speech. |
| A day after Eltahawy was released from jail, the MTA revised its standards for subway advertisements that contain viewpoints on political, religious or moral issues to include a disclaimer that reads: "This is a paid advertisement sponsored by [sponsor]. The display of this advertisement does not imply MTA's endorsement of any views expressed." | A day after Eltahawy was released from jail, the MTA revised its standards for subway advertisements that contain viewpoints on political, religious or moral issues to include a disclaimer that reads: "This is a paid advertisement sponsored by [sponsor]. The display of this advertisement does not imply MTA's endorsement of any views expressed." |
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