Anti-nuke ads pulled at airports
Billboards at DIA, Minneapolis were aimed at delegates
Tracee M. Herbaugh
Published August 22, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
A unit of Clear Channel Communications has removed anti-nuclear weapons ads at airports in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul that were put up in advance of the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions.
The billboards, paid for by the Union of Concerned Scientists, urged the parties' presidential candidates to reduce the nuclear arsenal, said Elliott Negin, a spokesman for the group.
The ad at DIA's Concourse B showed crosshairs over the Denver skyline and read, "When only one nuclear bomb could destroy a city like Denver . . . We don't need 6,000." Also: "Senator Obama: It's time to get serious about reducing the nuclear threat."
The billboard in Minneapolis-St. Paul showed that city with the same message, but was directed at Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential candidate.
Peggie Hardie, general manager for Clear Channel Airports, said Northwest Airlines asked that the sign at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport be removed.
"It uses the word 'bomb' in an airport, so it's not real appropriate," Hardie said. "It's probably a little unsettling to people to see that in an airport environment, particularly post- 9/11."
Hardie said Clear Channel has asked the Union of Concerned Scientists to modify the ad and will accept a revised version if concerns are met.
Aaron Huertas, spokesman for the scientists group, said it is still "trying to figure out" why the DIA sign was removed.
"Obviously, we think the decision to take down both advertisements in both locations is unfortunate, because we were hoping people going to the conventions would be seeing these advertisements and thinking about nuclear weapons policy," he said.
A statement from Clear Channel said the company is "under contractual obligation" to remove signs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport if Northwest Airlines finds the copy offensive.
"After being informed of the reasons for Northwest Airlines objections to the advertising copy in question, Clear Channel Outdoor elected to remove similar advertising copy from the Denver Airport," the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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4:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
"Peggie Hardie, general manager for Clear Channel Airports, said Northwest Airlines asked that the sign at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport be removed.
"It uses the word 'bomb' in an airport, so it's not real appropriate," Hardie said. "It's probably a little unsettling to people to see that in an airport environment, particularly post- 9/11.""
Although I don't necessarily agree with the Union for Concerned Scientists, what has happened to freedom of speech. It is a billboard for pities sake advocating the reduction of nuclear weapons.
It is a pity when the word bomb is terrifying used in this context. If it is unsettling to see this in an airport, I would imagine that Ms. Hardie would think that it would be unsettling to see it anywhere.
I imagine they placed it at the airports because that is where the candidates, senators, representatives, delegates, et al will be arriving for both of these conventions giving the billboards more visibility.