December 10, 2019
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MTA Orders County Clerk in Buffalo to Cease and Desist from Using Trademarked Phrase to Target Immigrants |
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today ordered Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns to immediately cease and desist from the abhorrent use of the MTA’s trademarked slogan, “if you see something, say something”. Clerk Kearns is using the phrase to ask members of the public to report suspected undocumented immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The MTA has given County Clerk Kearns until 5:00 p.m. EST to remove all signs using this slogan.
A copy of the MTA’s letter to County Clerk Kearns is attached.
The phrase “if you see something, say something” was created in the aftermath of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 by Allen Kay, chairman and chief executive of the advertising agency Korey Kay & Partners, then working under contract for the MTA. The MTA subsequently trademarked the phrase, and has periodically permitted the phrase to be used for appropriate law enforcement and public safety purposes.
An image of County Clerk Kearns’ signs is available at this link:
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