Controversial NYC anti-abortion billboard taken down

Even if it's likely more of a testament to the power of political pressure than to common decency, this is kind of a relief: Life Always, the Louisiana anti-abortion group behind this controversial New York billboard targeting African Americans, has taken down the ad, originally placed "in honor of Black History Month."  The billboard began generating controversy when it went up in New York's Soho district earlier this week, as did Life Always pastor Stephen Broden's statements explicitly comparing abortion in the African American community to genocide.

"It sent a clear message that it was against a woman's right to choose, and [exhibited] classic racial profiling," said an Al Sharpton spokesperson of the billboard, adding that Rev. Sharpton "salutes the company" for its removal and is cancelling planned protests.