Egyptian-American journalist and blogger Mona Eltahawy was taken into custody by NYPD officers yesterday as she was attempting to cover one of Pamela Geller's anti-Islam subway posters with purple spray paint.

During her protest, Eltahawy was accosted by Geller supporter Pamela Hall, who attempted to physically block her from defacing the poster. After a scuffle ensued, two police officers arrived and arrested Eltahawy.

She was booked on charges of criminal mischief and graffiti.

Eltahawy is not the first to express outrage over the posters put up by Geller and the anti-Muslim American Freedom Defense Initiative in 10 subway stations around the city. Stickers denouncing the ads — which call for the support of Israel over "the savage" — as racist have been spotted in several locations.

The MTA attempted to reject the posters, but were dragged into court and ordered to allow the "protected political statements" to be run.

"Our hands are tied," New York subway spokesman Aaron Donovan told The Guardian. "Under our existing ad standards as modified by the injunction, the MTA is required to run the ad."

[video via New York Post]