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NEW YORK, April 28, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The mother of the six-year-old girl featured on a massive pro-life billboard that was torn down in New York amidst controversy in February is suing the pro-life group behind the ad.

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Tricia Fraser filed the lawsuit Tuesday against the Texas-based Life Always, who had erected the billboard in SoHo, Manhattan as part of a national awareness campaign.

Along with the young girl’s picture, the billboard stated: “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.”  It then directed viewers to the website ThatsAbortion.com, which documents the frightening levels of abortion in the African American community in the U.S., including a nearly 60% abortion rate in New York City.

Facing denunciations by community members and city councilors, the billboard was removed after just two days.  Fraser had complained vehemently about the use of the image of her daughter in February and demanded an apology.

Fraser’s suit calls the billboard “racist” and the use of her daughter’s image “defamatory, unauthorized and offensive.”

Though she signed an agreement allowing the use of her daughter’s photos, which were taken in a modeling shoot, Fraser claims the agreement prohibited them from being used in a defamatory way.

In a statement Thursday, Life Always emphasized that they operated appropriately within a contractual agreement, but had nevertheless promised to cease using the image out of respect for the family.

“Life Always did not violate its contractual obligations but rather properly exercised its constitutional rights to engage in free speech on a matter of significant public interest,” they stated.

“Life Always will continue placing advertisements across the country to educate and raise public awareness of confrontational truths about abortion,” they added.

For more information visit ThatsAbortion.com.