Activist busted after defacing anti-Islam ad in subway - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Activist busted after defacing anti-Islam ad in subway

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By NY Post -

An Egyptian-born activist was arrested Tuesday for spray-painting subway billboards that call enemies of Israel "savages" — amid a wave of vandalism unleashed on the inflammatory ads, which have divided the city.

Mona Eltahawy, a self-described "liberal Muslim," strolled up to one of the signs at the crowded 1/2/3 train mezzanine at the Times Square station and sprayed pink paint on the ads.

Straphangers stopped and watched Eltahawy — in a bright pink coat just a few shades darker than the paint — in amazement.

But Pamela Hall, a Manhattan mom who supports the message of the ads, was so infuriated, she rushed to stop Eltahawy.

Hall tried to physically block Eltahawy, bobbing back and forth like a basketball forward while the angered activist shot bursts of paint around her.

"If you don't want paint, you should get out of my way," Eltahawy said before spraying Hall.

Hall then poked Eltahawy with her video camera stick.

That infuriated Eltahawy, who blurted out, "F--k you!"

Eltahawy seemed stunned when an NYPD officer and an MTA cop arrived momentarily after and put cuffs on her.

"This is what happens when you nonviolently protest in America!" she yelled.

"That's true," said someone in the crowd, prompting a burst of laughter from onlookers.

She was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of a graffiti instrument, and held overnight.

Read more and watch video of incident

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