When Pamela Geller organized a “Draw Muhammed” contest in Texas, things got a bit out of hand. You may recall that two jihadists showed up at the
event, intending to kill people inside. They only wounded one security guard and were killed in the firefight, but the news was out.

On the heels of that news, Pamela Geller submitted an ad campaign featuring the winning drawing from that contest to be displayed at bus and train stops around Washington, DC. (See that drawing below.)

In response to that submission, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has banned all “issue-oriented” ads from being displayed on Metro property for the rest of the year.

“In the coming months, Metro will fully consider the impact that issue-related advertisements have on the community by gathering input from riders, local community groups and advocates,” Metro spokesman Michael Tolbert said.

Pamela Geller responded to that decision by saying, “The nation’s capital banned free speech for fear of offending the very savages we are fighting here and across the world.”

US News and World Report on Washington DC Transit Ban: The nation’s capital banned free speech for fear of off… http://t.co/J6ewQbUwSN

— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) May 28, 2015

Pamela Geller’s position and actions surrounding this scandal have raised much debate. Her position is pretty clear:

We have a right to free speech, which means we can draw pictures of Muhammed. To refuse to do so or to display them because we fear reprisals from jihadists means we are cowering before those who would impose Sharia law on us by force.

She calls this The Assassin’s Veto.

“Drawing Muhammad is not illegal under American law, but only under Islamic law,” Geller has said. “Violence that arises over the cartoons is solely the responsibility of the Islamic jihadists who perpetrate it. Either America will stand now against attempts to suppress the freedom of speech by violence, or will submit and give the violent the signal that we can be silenced by threats and murder.”

CNN host Chris Cuomo recently sat opposite Pamela Geller and asked her why she insists that these images be displayed. He equated drawing images of Muhammed — although a protected American right — to using the N-word. It is allowed, sure. But it is offensive.

Geller was having none of this line of thinking.

“They pretend it’s about not offending when at it’s all about fear,” she said on her website. “Cuomo told me off camera that it is CNN policy not to run the cartoons because of fear of violence. In a word, submission. The N-word is just an intentional slur with no positive message – our ad stands for free speech in the face of violence and thuggery.”

The N word is an intentional slur with no positive message,our ad stands for free speech in the face of jihad terror https://t.co/0vxPSdLWXO

— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) May 28, 2015

Now comes the news that a bike rally is planned for Friday, May 29 in front of an Islamic Community Center in Arizona where the two jihadist gunmen used to congregate. The organizers of the event specifically plan to draw pictures of Muhammed while there. And they encourage those who plan to attend to bring guns, in case any more jihadists show up to crash the party.

The event is deliberately timed to happen at 6:15 P.M., the same time as a prayer gathering at the center. So far, 325 people have responded to the Facebook event page for the rally.

The invitation reads:

This will be a PEACEFUL protest in front of the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix AZ. This is in response to the recent attack in Texas where 2 armed terrorist, with ties to ISIS, attempted Jihad. Everyone is encouraged to bring American Flags and any message that you would like to send to the known acquaintances of the 2 gunmen. This Islamic Community Center is a known place that the 2 terrorist frequented. People are also encouraged to utilize there [sic] second amendment right at this event just incase [sic] our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack.

I'll ride thata href=”https://twitter.com/PamelaGeller”>@PamelaGeller Bus & Train Ads for #freespeech #muhammedcartoon @Deanofcomedy http://t.co/dyq9SbifBN pic.twitter.com/e6DZDVJbCq

— Feisty Floridian (@peddoc63) May 26, 2015