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Anti-Abortion Billboard Coming Down, Al Sharpton Takes Credit
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 24, 2011
Modified Feb 24, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 24, 2011
Modified Feb 24, 2011
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A pro-life group has, ahem, aborted plans to keep a controversial billboard in SoHo up for three weeks, and will remove it prematurely, according to Al Sharpton, who tells the Daily News, "The billboard was offensive, especially during Black History Month, and I had intended to hold a press conference Friday in front of the billboard to protest the message of racial profiling and against a woman"s right to choose." Representatives of the group sponsoring the billboard, Life Always, have not yet confirmed this, but if true, local residents who were offended by the billboard are sure to be pleased. Also pleased: the mother of the girl in the ad.
Two years ago, Tricia Fraser signed up with a modeling agency to have all four of her children photographed, and she was aware that the images would probably be used as stock photos for any number of ads. But she did not anticipate her daughter Anissa would one day appear on a giant billboard with the words "The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb." Fraser tells Fox 5, "I would never endorse something like that. Especially with my child's image. It's bad enough you're saying this about African Americans, but then you put a child with an innocent face. I just want the image off of it. Use another image—just not hers."
Well, if it comes down early, it looks like Al Sharpton can expect a muffin basket from a very grateful mom. Of course, Kanye will probably find a way to take credit for this somehow.
Tagged
abortion billboard
al sharpton
anti-abortion billboard
life always
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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