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New York transit CEO accuses EndJewHatred of ‘cyber attack’

“Ironic that EndJewHatred, which I am sympathetic to, has set in motion what is effectively a cyber attack against MTA leadership,” wrote Janno Lieber, who is Jewish.

MTA
A subway in New York City. Credit: schaerfsystem/Pixabay.

When the EndJewHatred movement contacted John (“Janno”) Lieber, chair and CEO of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to report antisemitic ads on New York City trains, the Jewish public-transit authority leader accused the group of launching a “cyber attack.”

“Ironic that EndJewHatred, which I am sympathetic to, has set in motion what is effectively a cyber attack against MTA leadership,” Lieber wrote to an attorney and activist associated with EndJewHatred, the New York Post reported. “Very poor judgment.”

Gerard Felitti, the activist and civil-rights attorney, called Lieber’s note “really crazy”, “insane” and “unbelievable,” per the Post.

The group that combats anti-Jewish behavior had written to Lieber that “certain individuals have unlawfully installed artwork, covering paid advertisements for businesses and spreading hate towards Israel, which in turn fuels antisemitism.”

“The false claims and inflammatory messages about Israel being propagated through this artwork only serve to fuel antisemitic sentiments and create divisions in our community,” the letter added, per the Post.

One of the offending ads on a New York City train that the Post reproduced states: “Israel Bombs. USA Pays. How many kids did you kill today?”

The Post added that 1,500 people “flooded” MTA officials over email about the antisemitic ads.

“It’s a great victory for the First Amendment right to free speech, including the right to draw attention to bigotry and hateful speech,” Paul Eckles, of the Brandeis Center, told JNS. “We commend our client for having the courage to speak out.”
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