Jay-Z clashes with MKE billboard company over message critical of suspended officer – WISN Milwaukee

Lawyers for music and entertainment mogul Jay-Z want advertising company Lamar to reconsider its decision not to allow a billboard critical of a local police officer in the Milwaukee region.Those lawyers, which represent Team ROC, said Lamar initially told them it had billboard space available and asked the team to submit a proposal.The sign read, "Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson, Antonio Gonzales. They did not deserve to die. Officer Mensah must be held accountable."Cole, Anderson and Gonzales were shot to death by Wauwatosa police Officer Joseph Mensah within a five-year period. The city's Police and Fire Commission recently suspended Mensah, although the district attorney cleared the officer of wrongdoing in the Anderson and Gonzales shootings. Cole's February death is under review by the district attorney.Lamar denied the billboard request, Team ROC's lawyers said."The reason given, and I'm quoting the language here, 'It could have an affect on a future action,' Team ROC lawyer Jordan Siev said. "So we went back and looked at their copy acceptance policy and that's not a stated ground. They purport to look to protect people's First Amendment rights and specifically say they will do so, but they turned down this billboard when it seems to certainly fit within their copy acceptance policy."In early July, Jay-Z called for Mensah to be fired.PREVIOUS REPORT: Music, entertainment mogul Jay Z calls for Tosa officer to be firedSiev said his team tried again after making some changes. The second draft kept the names, but changed the message under them to read, "They did not deserve to die. Police officers shouldn't murder innocent people."Lamar blocked the second proposal as well, Siev said."The billboard copy from Team Roc was vetted through our usual copy acceptance process and rejected on the basis that we do not post copy concerning potential crimes, unless there has been a judicial determination of guilt," Lamar Advertising Communications Director Allie McAlpin wrote in an email to WISN 12 News. "Team Roc is welcome to resubmit amended copy that complies with our policies."The email appeared to be different than the message Siev said Team ROC received from the advertising company."The only logical conclusion that we can reach from this is; despite what their copy acceptance policy says -- that they are looking to protect people's First Amendment rights -- they're, in fact, engaged in an act of censorship here because they're afraid of a controversial billboard or message," Siev countered.When asked if Team ROC sought to have its message appear on billboards owned by companies other than Lamar, Siev said when Team ROC did its initial search for billboard space, Lamar had the only space available in the area at the time."We're hopeful that they will see the error of their way and reverse course and allow us to put up the billboard, and if they don't then we'll assess what our legal rights are and consider next steps," Siev added.

Lawyers for music and entertainment mogul Jay-Z want advertising company Lamar to reconsider its decision not to allow a billboard critical of a local police officer in the Milwaukee region.

Those lawyers, which represent Team ROC, said Lamar initially told them it had billboard space available and asked the team to submit a proposal.

The sign read, "Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson, Antonio Gonzales. They did not deserve to die. Officer Mensah must be held accountable."

Cole, Anderson and Gonzales were shot to death by Wauwatosa police Officer Joseph Mensah within a five-year period. The city's Police and Fire Commission recently suspended Mensah, although the district attorney cleared the officer of wrongdoing in the Anderson and Gonzales shootings. Cole's February death is under review by the district attorney.

Lamar denied the billboard request, Team ROC's lawyers said.

"The reason given, and I'm quoting the language here, 'It could have an affect on a future action,' Team ROC lawyer Jordan Siev said. "So we went back and looked at their copy acceptance policy and that's not a stated ground. They purport to look to protect people's First Amendment rights and specifically say they will do so, but they turned down this billboard when it seems to certainly fit within their copy acceptance policy."

In early July, Jay-Z called for Mensah to be fired.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Music, entertainment mogul Jay Z calls for Tosa officer to be fired

Siev said his team tried again after making some changes. The second draft kept the names, but changed the message under them to read, "They did not deserve to die. Police officers shouldn't murder innocent people."

Lamar blocked the second proposal as well, Siev said.

"The billboard copy from Team Roc was vetted through our usual copy acceptance process and rejected on the basis that we do not post copy concerning potential crimes, unless there has been a judicial determination of guilt," Lamar Advertising Communications Director Allie McAlpin wrote in an email to WISN 12 News. "Team Roc is welcome to resubmit amended copy that complies with our policies."

The email appeared to be different than the message Siev said Team ROC received from the advertising company.

"The only logical conclusion that we can reach from this is; despite what their copy acceptance policy says -- that they are looking to protect people's First Amendment rights -- they're, in fact, engaged in an act of censorship here because they're afraid of a controversial billboard or message," Siev countered.

When asked if Team ROC sought to have its message appear on billboards owned by companies other than Lamar, Siev said when Team ROC did its initial search for billboard space, Lamar had the only space available in the area at the time.

"We're hopeful that they will see the error of their way and reverse course and allow us to put up the billboard, and if they don't then we'll assess what our legal rights are and consider next steps," Siev added.

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Jay-Z clashes with MKE billboard company over message critical of suspended officer - WISN Milwaukee