WASHINGTON (AP) – Amnesty International has criticized the Washington Metro’s rejection of an ad campaign featuring depictions of U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

A spokeswoman for the human rights group, Kharunya Paramaguru, tells The Washington Post the intended four-week, $35,000 ad campaign was intended to support “a new era of activism” in response to “hateful rhetoric” from global political leaders. Metro rejected the ads submitted Feb. 12, citing its policy banning issue-oriented advertising.

That advertising ban has drawn controversy since it was adopted in 2015, when an anti-Muslim group tried to place ads featuring an offensive depiction of the prophet Muhammad.

In a Thursday statement, Amnesty International USA executive director Margaret Huang said Washington was the market where advocacy ads are needed most. (PHOTO: Amnesty International)