Denver, CO, (November 20, 2009)… Responding to reports of a billboard in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, that references the recent shootings in Fort Hood and shows a caricature of President Obama in a turban and robe next to the words “President or Jihad,” Bruce H. DeBoskey, Mountain States Director of the Anti-Defamation League, issued the following statement:

“The Anti-Defamation League decries the use of religious imagery and references to make a political point, regardless of one’s political perspective on the issues of the day.  This billboard exploits the recent tragic shooting at Ft. Hood in a context replete with bigotry.  It is divisive and offensive, and perpetuates hateful and harmful stereotypes about Muslims.  ADL encourages all individuals to keep political discourse free of hateful sentiment, scapegoating and stereotypes.”