New York Times refuses full-page paid ad from Quakers because it used the word Genocide
Par for the course for the failing lame stream media
The New York Times refused to accept a full-page paid ad from the US Quaker organisation, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), because it used the verboten word “genocide.” The text of the ad:
Tell Congress to stop arming Israel's genocide in Gaza now! As a Quaker organization, we work for peace. Join us. Tell the President and Congress to stop the killing and starvation in Gaza.
An executive from the NY Times “ad acceptability team” (that speaks volumes, doesn’t it?) suggested the Quakers use the word “war” rather than “genocide” even though they mean completely different things. (The NY Times has previously run ads using the word genocide in relation to Armenia and Darfur.) When the Quakers refused this advice, the acceptability team responded:
Various international bodies, human rights organizations, and governments have differing views on the situation. In line with our commitment to factual accuracy and adherence to legal standards, we must ensure that all advertising content complies with these widely applied definitions.
Yet the paper has published an ad from an anti-Islam group:
Since the 19th century when they opposed slavery, American Quakers have been fighting for the rights of the oppressed. They’ve fought for justice for the Palestinians since 1948 and have staff in Gaza, Ramallah, and Jerusalem working to alleviate Palestinian suffering. They’re calling on the US administration and Congress to allow full humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians, to release all captives on both sides (as of October, there were over 10,000 Palestinians held in 19 Israeli prisons) and to end American military funding for Israel.
It’s not surprising that the NY Times is siding with Genocide Joe and lying Tony Blinken and against the Quakers, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International, the American Center for Constitutional Rights, the University Network for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, several Palestinian human rights groups and global public opinion.
Completely captured by the Zionist Israel lobby, it told its own reporters to avoid using the words “genocide”, “ethnic cleansing," “occupied territory,” and “Palestine,” “except in very rare cases”.
It regurgitated a Times of Israel story that the IOF had reason to destroy the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza and arrest its entire staff including the director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, who is currently being tortured in an Israeli dungeon. Israel acquired testimony from one of the staff who said Hamas was operating out of the hospital. How was that testimony obtained? Through torture, a violation of the Geneva conventions. The NY Times is as morally bankrupt as Biden and Blinken’s ‘rules-based order.’
Don't expect its coverage to change under Trump. His incoming national security advisor Mike Waltz said the administration will be scrutinising the speech of university professors, international students, and immigrants.
Pam Bondi, Trump’s Attorney General pick, said students who protest against Israel’s genocide should be deported whether they’re in the US on student visas or as American citizens.
These anti free speech measures are backfiring because the public, especially the young who mainly get their information from independent media, can see through the lies. The NY Times print circulation has fallen to just 279k in 2023 and although its digital circulation has grown, it’s not nearly as profitable as print.
I get weekly email from the publication begging me to take out a digital subscription:
People no longer trust the lame stream media. They are merely stenographers for the declining US empire and its vassal states. In the failing UK, half a million homes cancelled their BBC license fee last year and many more, particularly in Scotland, refuse to pay for a ‘public’ service that routinely trashes their nation.
The more we call out their lies and stop paying them, the quicker their demise.
Very sad that an organisation promoting peace, like the Quakers, are being silenced. Thanks for publicising this, Leah
As I have said in other contexts, the purpose of the New York Times is to speak lies to the powerless in order to manufacture consent for the ruling class's agenda.