Stop Racist Billboard Campaign

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
ADC Action Alert
Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Washington, DC, December 7, 2005--The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License is launching a new billboard campaign in New Mexico and North Carolina, which contains extremely negative and racist images of Arabs and Arab cultural symbols.

The billboards unfairly conflate the question of immigration and national security, and further enflame fears about Arabs and Arab Americans. In doing so, the Coalition for a Secure Driver's license misleadingly utilizes false stereotypes and racist rhetoric to push an anti-immigration agenda.

The ad depicts an individual whose face is covered by a Kufiya (the traditional male headdress in some Arab countries,) carrying a hand-gernade with what appears to be a blood smear and a driver's license. The billboard also features nonsensical Arabic letters that were simply lined up without forming any words. Additionally, there are two figures in the background wearing military fatigues, black masks, and green bandanas on their heads with what appear to be Arabic words. Superimposed on the images is a caption that reads "Don't License Terrorists, North Carolina!" To view the billboard visit

The fear is that the imagery, which very blatantly depicts a stereotypical Arab man as a threat to national security, will insight further mistrust towards Arab Americans and Arabs. While the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) values fair and honest political debate, this billboard unfairly portrays Arabs and Arab cultural symbols as dangerous. The advertisement transgresses the boundaries of political discussion and instead relies on stereotypes and hatemongering to support its views.

ADC understands that billboard companies do not want to infringe on the first amendment rights of its advertisers. However, hate speech and images that perpetuate racism and false stereotypes are unlawful and should not be tolerated. Billboard companies also have a responsibility to their costumers not to display ads that are racially offensive, and which contribute to the worsening problem of racism and prejudice towards any ethnic group or minority, including Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, and those perceived to be.

It is worth nothing that the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License has a history of negative ad campaigns and racial profiling. In the past, ADC has objected to a television ad, which seemingly depicted a stereotypical Middle Eastern man as a threat to national security. To view the ADC Action Alert for this ad click here.

ACTION REQUESTED:

ADC urges you to contact the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, North Carolina Governor Michael F. Easley, and New Mexico Governors Bill Richardson to express your dismay at the contents of the billboard, as well as past ad campaigns. For your convenience, ADC has prepared a letter that you may choose to send by clicking here.