Jesus Billboard in Times Square Stirs Controversy During Christmas Season
In the bustling heart of New York City, a digital billboard declaring “JESUS IS PALESTINIAN” in bold black letters against a bright green background appeared in Times Square last week, quickly becoming the center of heated debate among holiday tourists and locals. The advertisement, funded by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), was designed to spark conversation during the Christmas season but instead has drawn criticism from many who view it as unnecessarily divisive during a traditionally unifying holiday period. The controversial message, which featured “MERRY CHRISTMAS” on the reverse side, represents just one rotation in the organization’s ongoing billboard campaign in Times Square, but its timing and content have made it particularly noteworthy in the current global climate.
Reactions from passersby in Times Square highlighted the polarizing nature of the message. Sam Kept, a tourist from England, told The Post, “It’s quite a divisive message… It’s probably not a good time in the world to have that up. It’s inflammatory.” His wife added that the billboard seemed designed to “stir the pot,” suggesting that some might find it offensive. Other observers expressed the view that Jesus transcends specific cultural or national identities, with one person noting that Jesus is “for everyone” and questioning the necessity of assigning him a specific nationality or ethnicity. These reactions reflect broader tensions about how religious figures are represented in public spaces, especially during holidays that carry deep significance for diverse communities around the world.
Adeb Ayoub, National Executive Director of the ADC, defended the organization’s message, explaining that their billboard campaign operates under an “America First” theme and aims to highlight commonalities between Arab and Muslim communities and Christians in the United States. “There’s a lot more similarities between Arabs and Muslims and Christians in this country than others want to allow us to believe,” Ayoub stated, suggesting that the billboard serves as a reminder of shared cultural and religious connections. He emphasized that Palestine is the birthplace of Christianity and expressed hope that the advertisement would prompt constructive dialogue rather than division. When questioned about whether the message disputes Jesus’s Jewish identity, Ayoub offered that “Jesus lives within all of us” and that such matters are “up for interpretation,” while acknowledging that Jewish groups are equally entitled to promote their own perspectives on Jesus’s identity.
Not all responses to the billboard were negative. Giovanni Napoli, a 32-year-old tourist from Italy, expressed a more tolerant view, suggesting that “Everyone can have their own ideas” and that “There shouldn’t be an issue” with the message. Similarly, French tourist Alain Balla interpreted the billboard as an attempt to “share a moment with their people who need to be helped,” emphasizing his belief that “Jesus belongs to everyone.” These more accepting reactions indicate that while some viewed the message as provocative, others saw it as a legitimate expression of cultural and religious perspective during a season often associated with peace and goodwill. The varied responses highlight the complex intersection of religion, politics, and public discourse in contemporary American society.
The Times Square billboard represents just one element in the ADC’s ongoing media campaign. According to Ayoub, the organization has been renting advertising space in the iconic location since earlier in the year, with different messages rotating on a weekly basis. A new billboard that replaced the “Jesus is Palestinian” message declares “Jesus would say ‘tear down that wall,'” seemingly referencing former President Ronald Reagan’s famous Berlin Wall speech while applying it to current geopolitical contexts. Ayoub indicated that yet another new billboard will appear in Times Square for New Year’s Eve, suggesting that the organization intends to continue using this high-visibility platform to promote its perspectives on cultural, religious, and political matters affecting Arab Americans and related communities.
The controversy surrounding the “Jesus is Palestinian” billboard reflects broader tensions about religious identity, historical narratives, and contemporary politics that often become particularly pronounced during major holidays. While the ADC maintains that their intention was to spark meaningful conversation and highlight cultural connections, the mixed reactions from Times Square visitors demonstrate how challenging it can be to introduce potentially contentious messages into public spaces during times traditionally reserved for unity and celebration. As the organization prepares to unveil its New Year’s Eve message, observers may wonder whether it will continue to push boundaries or adopt a more conciliatory tone. Regardless of one’s perspective on the billboard’s content, it has undeniably succeeded in one of its apparent goals: generating discussion about the intersection of religious figures, cultural identity, and contemporary social issues during a season when millions of visitors pass through one of the world’s most famous public squares.
