Controversial Anti-Abortion Billboard Causes Stir In SoHo

February 23, 2011 11:00 PM

Controversial billboard on Sixth Ave and Watts St (Photo/Juliet Papa)

Reporting Juliet Papa

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Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Local, News, NY News, Watch + Listen

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A three-story high billboard put up in SoHo Tuesday night is causing quite a stir.

1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa gets reaction from residents in the neighborhood. Listen to what they have to say:

The billboard, located at the corner of Watts Street and Sixth Avenue, reads: “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.” As CBS 2’s Pablo Guzman reports, while the ad was intended to spark debate, for many, it’s simply sparked outrage.

If the idea of advertising is to get your attention, the billboard doesn’t disappoint. It’s the combination of the girl and those words. East Flatbush’s Daisy Frith’s initial reaction was typical.

“WHAT?” she said.

The billboard is part of a national campaign sponsored by the anti-abortion group “Life Always” and hangs about a half-mile from a Planned Parenthood facility on Bleecker Street.

The Texas-based group claims Planned Parenthood targets minority neighborhoods and that abortions among African-American women are three times that of the rest of the population.

WCBS 880 Reporter Marla Diamond talks with the group who paid for the billboard.

Download: feb23-diamond-billboard.mp3titles=Marla%20Diamond%20talks%20with%20the%20group%20who%20paid%20for%20the%20billboardartists=WCBS%20880

“And I’m sure black women are going to respond, in large part, because they have only heard one side of the argumentation. They only see it from Planned Parenthood’s position of a woman’s right to choose, meaning that the only choice that a woman has is to abort the baby. That’s not the only choice!” said Pastor Stephen Broden from the anti-abortion group LifeAlways.

Pastor Broden said his group bought the billboard to get exactly this kind of debate going.

“That kind of billboard isn’t going to help you make an educated choice. It’s a little, emotionally planted,” said Taffeta Wood of Park Slope.

“Why in the world are they doing that in SoHo? If we had put it in Harlem, I guarantee you that we would have been ignored,” Broden said.

They have not been ignored.

“They are putting up a billboard sending … scaring women! Trying to make them fearful of a legal reproductive health care choice that they have in this country,” NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.

The city’s public advocate, Bill Diblasio, called the billboard “grossly offensive” and wants it removed.

“It’s kind of a big scare tactic, it just doesn’t make sense,” one woman said, adding that a more constructive message could address social issues to reduce abortions.

However, one New Yorker told 1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa that he doesn’t object to the billboard.

“I think they’re trying to send a message to us African-Americans because we do do a lot of abortions and I think we shouldn’t be doing it,” the man said.

There is huge irony in Frith’s reaction to the billboard. She actually is not for abortion, but she still doesn’t like the billboard.

“I am totally against abortion. No, I still don’t like it,” Frith said.

“The survival of our country, our nation is tied to the woman’s womb! And if we are assaulting that womb, if we are attacking that womb, we are on a path to self-destruction!” Broden said.

And the group said it put the billboard up during Black History Month — to spark more discussion.

The group says other controversial billboards will be up for at least three more weeks.

Planned Parenthood issued a statement accusing the creators of “using a divisive message around race to restrict access to medical care.”

In December, the city health department released statistics that showed 39 percent of pregnancies ended with induced termination in 2009 — The Bronx was the highest among the five boroughs, according to the report. Blacks had the highest number of abortions with 40,798 with Hispanics having the second highest at 28,364, according to the report.

What do you think of the billboard? Should it be removed? Sound off below

Controversial Anti Abortion Billboard Causes Stir In SoHo

JAMIE

LOVE WINS!!!!!!!!
Richard Pagli

THat statement is not true! The most dangerous place is East New York, Bushwick, Brownsville. You name it.

Devenio

Those are actually safer than your area.

Jimmy Dee Locks

Why don’t we finally dispatch this over-beaten topic like Americans who truly believe in democracy. If you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one, then mind your own business and butt out of other people’s lives. It’s really simple, even a caveman can do it.

anthony

your ignorance scares me. Germans followed your advice during the systematic murder of millions. Good idea. Ignore genocide.

V

okay you know what? how about you stop bringing the holocaust into it? regardless of whether or not you think life begins at conception, it’s NOT genocide BECAUSE IT’S NOT BASED ON RACE. people of all races have abortions, and the children that these women WOULD have if they did NOT have abortions would PRESUMABLY be the same race as they are. you absolutely can not compare the systematic torture and murder of entire communities BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE to abortion. You just can’t.

Plus, when you mention the Holocaust, you open the debate up for a whole host of arguments that you can’t win. Like, for example, it’s a fairly common internet myth that Hitler’s mother had wanted an abortion. How are you going to argue that abortion is wrong when someone can pull THAT into an argument? would you argue that Hitler deserved to live, knowing what he eventually became?

kirsten stone

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kirsten stone

I meant “Amen” to Jimmy, not Anthony.

Chris

Right. And if someone wants to kill their already born child, mind your own business and butt out of their life.
paul

Is that kinda like ‘Dont like Slavery? Don’t own one. And mind your own business.’ We must remember the same thing was said about slavery. People said the Black man was not a man at all. Just like they try to justify that it is not a baby. Hey even Jackie Speier from the house of representatives admits that it is a BABY. AND SHE PROMOTES ABORTION! She PROMOTES KILLING of children.

Schmellma Arss

Why are bible beaters from texas voicing their agenda in New York City?

allan

remember when the jews were in concentration camps? the germans said that the jews were NOT EVEN PEOPLE but parasites. that is what many in the abortion industry call babies today ‘parasites’. they use words like this to dehumanize. very few stood up for the jew and many died as a result.

Jayne

Difference is, a fetus is a parasite. It can’t live on its own and gives nothing to the mother while it’s in the womb.

ana

The Truth hurts, and this country is just a big hipocrite, the billboard is nothing but th Truth, we have the MOST pro-abortion president ever in the white house not even Clinton was as bad. Please stop with racial discrimination that’s just another excuse for hiding our heads in the sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LetFreedomRing

“If that child you saved from being aborted turned out to be gay, would you still support their rights?”

Not my words, but something I hope every pro-lifer considers.

marialice

Are you saying all pro lifers are predjudice against gays, or just you?
peter

It is a child. he/she could be anything if able to live just like you or me. He/She could make mistakes or invent incredible inventions. See pro lifers are like FireFighters we just try to save them if we can. The one difference between the Sidewalk Counselor Prolifer and the FireFIghter is that the FireFighter gets paid. The Sidewalk Counselor Prolifer does it out of love for his Brothers and Sisters.
LetFreedomRing

@Marialice

Oh, dear, that is not what I was implying in the slightest. I am neither pro-life nor anti-gay. Quite the contrary on both counts. I just found it to be a thought-provoking quote worth sharing.

Tina

Do you want to pay for the babies to be born? Can you make the father who is just as responsible stay and take care of thier child? Tax payers don’t want to pay for birthcontrol, $350.00 for a 10 yr non hormonal IUD, yet youre willing to pay for all of these children. And the only one who really suffers is the child. If the baby is not wanted, than the likely hood of that baby being abused is extremely high. And don’t forget about the mothers who drink and are addicted to drugs, is it fair to force her to have the child so that the child suffers from disabilities and abuse. WHo’s going to take care of that baby?

Grover

You’re right KILL THE DAM THING, its inconvenient for me, you take it! no you! Oh lets just kill it and go party. Where do we stop?

Right To Strifer

Much ado about nothing. Abortion could not protect the white house.
Mike Diaz

C.J you’re a MORON and so are those IDOTS from Texas!! Hey everyone is free to voice their opinion, so, I’ll take that billboard for what it is. But leave to some rednecks from Texass to word two very sensitive issues as they so aptly did!! Man!! I wish Texass would’ve seceded all those years ago
No color is excluded

Many years ago as a young girl (17) I had to endure the horrifics of an abortion.
I engaged in sexual conduct with a condom, yet it broke and as a result I became pregnant. I was in pred med and did not want the responsibility of being a teen mother. I went to Choices Abortion clinic on Queens Blvd, it was packed with young girls of all races waiting to have a abortion or some other gynecological procedure. It effects us all regardless of race, it’s just a choice that “we” must make at some time in our lives as women.

sandy

just curious, do you have children today? If so how many. Do you regret your abortion? Do you ever think about your lost son/daughter?

I have been forgiving

@ Sandy, I appreciate your concern..Yes I’m a proud mother of two men, 28 & 20.
I’m a successful physician and as a result my children are successful. To abort is a lose as it would be if I endured a miscarriage. At that time in my life I needed to make the decision what was best for the child. At 17 I could not provide for myself nor a child who did not ask to be in this world.
I have been forgiving and we learn and grow by the decisions that we make.

miller

Who are the racists, those who allow statistics about the disproportionate number of abortions in the black community to stay below the radar, or those who bring them to light?
Jon Fraud Carry

Hey Liberals! The truth hurts! Some of the comments are illuminating of the mindset of the pro abortion left. The billboard is called racist and misogynistic? I guess this genius living in New York never heard of Margaret Sanger’s racist beliefs!

Josh B

I’m curious if you are ready to adopt a non-aborted baby, or are willing to pay for the social programs to help feed it if the mother is unable to care for it properly? Oh that’s right, cut those programs too. So make sure the baby lives to grow up in squalor. Got it

http://www.mbrodsky.com Mark Brodsky

We ARE willing to adopt a baby, and have been trying for some time. There are many resources out there (agencies) for women who choose to let their baby live. Don’t even hint that there is a shortage of adoptive parents out there – your comment is moot, Josh B.
And gee, I wonder how you’d feel if YOUR parents chose that route for you? Oh right. You’d be DEAD. Abortion is murder, and in many cases, a painful, horrific way to die for the unborn child. You should tell your children how you feel. Bet they’d love your ideas on social issues. Just kill babies. Hmmmmm.
Jim Morris

The fact that you refer to these babies as “it” may explain why you have no problem killing them. And yes, many of us who value human life do adopt – my wife and I have adopted nine of these “unwanted” children.
Odgred Weary

I’m curious if you are ready to adopt a non-aborted baby, or are willing to pay for the social programs to help feed it if the mother is unable to care for it properly?>> OF course we are. Next stupid question? PS. Do YOU kill the expensive?

dookie

i find it racist and offensive

it is racist and offensive

i think it is racist and offensive

most assuredly racist and offensive
miller

This billboard is 100% factually correct. If you disagree, provide data, not hysteria.

Elle

I “like” this statement. I think the billboard is meant to raise awareness, not to offend. I hope that it sends a powerful message and helps prevent abortion.

JWet

Great message and good for the group that put it up. An abortion kills a human life. It kills white babies. It kills white babies. Argue about whether it’s the woman’s choice or not, but the fact it that it is indeed the killing of a baby.

simpleton

how can murder of babies be a choice?

Hal Mann

Quite easily.

eg

I have to walk past this offensive piece of trash every day, twice a day. There is NO ROOM for this type of racist, misogynist propaganda in Manhattan. How is this aloud to still stay up?

simpleton

aloud?
Stephanie

Agreed. Sorry you have to see it everyday.

Mrs I. UNDERSTAND

My husband and I were waiting at a light before entering the Holland Tunnel just off Canal street.. I saw the billboard and must’ve read it at least five times…I tried to understand the significance behind it but was apparently dumbfounded.
What are they trying to say..what point are they trying to get across ??

Odgred Weary

10% of America is black. 33% of American abortions are by blacks. This means that proportionally 3 black babies die for each white baby killed by abortion. Just as Margaret Sanger (ymach sh’mo) intended.

smokersodysseycom

Yo MCJNY…life promises nobody anything, indeed we are on our own once we get here. Jesus says the poor will be with you always, so there will never, ever be
a day when there are no poor amongst us. Everybody has a right to come in here
and work out their Karma. We have no right what so ever to prevent anybody from doing that, and those that do are going to have to face that Karma when their own sojourn here is ended.

Michael H.

Jesus? Karma? You’re mixing up your fairy tales there, chief.

smokersodysseycom

Zero pop growth is all about keeping ethnic pops down, and abortion is the tool.!
C.J.

AA’s always turn every topic into race issues. The facts don’t lie. For those who find the billboard offensive- “You can’t handle the truth!!”..
thereislightonthehorizon

The problem stems from the fact that birth control (of any method) is restricted through religious rhetoric or financially Trying to get rid of Planned Parenthood et al. is not the answer when they provide hundreds more services than abortion (which is always a last choice by any means).
sigusmunt Kreusz

can you explain what the following sentence from your article means”
“. . . Forty-six percent of all births in the Bronx result in abortions—the highest among the five boroughs, according to the report. . . . “?
This makes absolutely no sense. An birth that results in an abortion?
HUH?

simpleton

I wondered the same thing. makes no sense.
SickofNY

yea, that sentence left me stumped too.. read it a couple of times. Im guessing it should have read.. 46 percent of all pregnancies…..
Chris McDonough

They should have written “Forty-six percent of all pregnancies…”

Daniel P

The billboard speaks the TRUTH. Abortion IS the murder of babies. Why can;y people use birth control such as condoms ? I just THANK GOD I’m gay !

fool-proof

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa You can’t thank GOD for being gay! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa He doesn’t want you to be gay anymore than he wants women to abort their babies!

Gay as a 3$bill

He doesn’t want haters like you to bear false witness either! Die you fool!
Jebbuse loves us yes I know for the Buy-Bull tell you so! Your fairy monster in the sky story lives in your hell!

Ellen

Being pro life myself I don’t agree with expressing your opinions on billboards from either side of the aisle. The best way to encourage people to not have an abortion is by putting your money where your mouth is and helping women financially to get proper bright control, and sex education on how not to get pregnant.

dim bulb

ellen doesn’t need bright control, apparently.
Odgred Weary

The best way to prevent abortions is to pass the Life Amendment. Just as the best way to end slavery was to pass the 13th. For precisely the same reason. And that day is not only coming; you will see it in your lifetime.

CHOICE_IS_THE_LAW

Safe, legal abortion is everyone’s right, everyone’s choice, and purely a private medical matter. Propaganda from EITHER side of the debate is grossly inappropriate.

simpleton

murder is inappropriate.

Stephanie

So is taking away a woman’s right to do what she pleases with HER own body.
AK

What about the rights of those whose bodies are brutally murdered in the womb? Women have a choice to do what they please with their bodies before the child is conceived. No one has the right to kill an innocent life. Women in a civilized society deserve better options than feeling forced to kill thier own children in order to survive. We deserve and DO have better choices than “pro-choice”.
Hal Mann

Rights of those in the womb? They have no rights.
Pax

Wow! Look how much debate this billboard spawned! Success there.

But the fundamental argument between pro-life and pro-choice is about the definition of when life begins. That definition differs based on religious and non-religious beliefs, and since our country constitutionally protects our right to choose our creeds, that definition CANNOT be agreed upon. So this debate needs to remain open indefinitely. What that means is that any law abolishing the right to abort a fetus will be the failure of America to protect its citizens from enforced religion.

Therefore, the ONLY fair way to govern is to permit abortions by those who believe a fetus is not a discrete life, and to not force those who believe it is to contribute to it. That is the current situation. The surgical department of Planned Parenthood takes extensive, meticulous care to ensure that none of its materials are gotten by way of government funding (our taxes). For the people that work at Planned Parenthood, the number one priority has always been the well-being of their patients.

Odgred Weary

There is no such thing as a safe abortion, any more than there is a safe execution–unless you’re talking about safe for the executioner.

Odgred Weary

Rights of those in the womb? They have no rights.>>

Nor did “black man have any rights that a white man need respect.” – Dred Scott Decision.

dipietro

hello please note that is because these minorities refuse to use birth control and have unprotected sex with everyone!

It WILL HIT YOU SOON

@dipietro..You are the AIDS virus on your way to full blown AIDS..MORON

MCJNY

Pure and disgusting propaganda. The #1 user of abortion rights is middle aged white women. the billboard should say “WE only car about children being born, after that you’re on your own because would could care less”

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Controversial Anti-Abortion Billboard Causes Stir In SoHo

February 23, 2011 11:00 PM

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