Atheist billboard is moved after threats

[Pryderi]

CINCINNATI, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A pro-atheism billboard in Cincinnati was being moved to a different location in response to alleged threats two days after it was put up, sponsors said.

The copy on the billboard reads: "Don't Believe In God? You are not alone." It was put up Tuesday but was taken down Thursday because the owner of the property where it was posted reported receiving threats because of the message, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, reported Thursday.

Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason, which sponsored the billboard, said the organization was contacted by Lamar Advertising of Cincinnati on behalf of the landowner.

"We weren't given the landowner's identity or precise details," Edwords said. "Nor did we pursue them. It was sufficient to learn that multiple, significant threats had been received and that Lamar would act quickly to alleviate the problem."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/11/13/Atheist-billboard-is-moved-after-threats/UPI-87491258091561/

[Maccagirl]

1. Ah, free speech is a loverly thing isn't it?

They made a big deal about it here in Columbus too. Of course the only responses they showed were outraged fundies.

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Ywah. Free Speech and freedom of religion..to believe or NOT to believe.

Those who seem to be most vocal about practicing their rights are the least likely to allows others to do the same.
Is that merely ironic, or is it something far worse?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Pretty weak faith on the part of the people making threats.

If a billboard is all it takes, you didn't have much faith to begin with,

[loudsue]

18. That is so true. So many of these so--called Christians are so AFRAID

of anyone who doesn't reaffirm them by believing what they believe. It's not about Christ to them...it's about someone agreeing with THEM.

There are a bunch of sick people in this country.... in the world .... and I hope our health care plan covers more mental health counseling.

[Angry Dragon]

3. So one can threaten churches with their signs??

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Of course not. That would be persecution. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

14. Okay........so only your signs are wrong...gotha

[rd_kent]

21. I don't understand what you are getting at. Care to explain?

[Angry Dragon]

38. I was saying it seems to be a one way street

Churches can complain but if anyone says a word about them they are being attacked

I did not see your question earlier...sorry

[Luminous Animal]

15. Please clarify...

are you saying that this is a threat?

"Don't Believe In God? You are not alone."

[Angry Dragon]

25. Churches have signs up promoting god

other people put up signs promoting their views and then are threatened.........my assumption is by god fearing people

The point I was trying say (I guess not very well) was that it is okay for churches to have signs but not for anyone else that disagrees with them.

I am sorry if you took offense.

[Luminous Animal]

27. No offense taken!

I just wanted to know what you were saying before I weighed in with a response. And I agree with you!

[Fuzz]

5. These assholes are just like the terrorists without the commitment to blow themselves up.

[pleah]

29. +1

[Iggo]

31. Ouch.

:thumbsup:

[Fuzz]

40. Hurts so good.

;)

[nosmokes]

6. How very effin godly n/t

[whoneedstickets]

7. Athiests, one of the few groups that can be openly discriminated against.

This is a major civil liberties fight.

[JNelson6563]

28. It's encouraged even!

No one is more evil than the atheists!

Oy.

[liberal_at_heart]

8. That is outrageous.

I am not atheist but my daughter is and if that happened here I would be out protesting this on her behalf.

[daleo]

9. They must lack faith

I guess they think their God is less powerful than a billboard.

[Luminous Animal]

10. According to someone I was arguing with on DU the other day,

the billboard owner would be practicing political correctness for surrendering the billboard.

[Shell Beau]

11. I actually know the great grandson of the Lamar that started Lamar advertising.

I had no idea it was such a wide advertising company. I know he has lots and lots of money, but damn. I kinda thought it was more of a local thing, BUT who cares that this sign was up? I am a Christian, and it doesn't offend me at all. It doesn't change my beliefs. Some people want to gripe about any damn thing. It is so ridiculous, and it is wrong. As long as it wasn't a hateful threatening message then get the fuck over it already.

[safeinOhio]

12. If they believe in God

why not wait until lighting strikes it and burns it down? I never could understand why church steeples have lighting rods on them.

[Luminous Animal]

13. How is this so different than extremists issuing death threats

against the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, for publishing the Muhammad cartoons?

[Solly Mack]

16. Install cameras on/around the sign - and then arrest the idiots.

Trace the phone threats, turn over any written threats - turn it around on those making the threats.

If it is area businesses telling you they won't use your billboard company unless the sign is removed, out those fuckers too.

Don't give in to bigots - you only make it worse. Giving in to bigots only causes them to feel that much more entitled.

[FormerDittoHead]

17. ...and the police are... WHERE?

SOMEHOW I don't think the yahoos calling up with the threats aren't sophisticated enough to have routed their calls though Nigeria....

Great country we live in. I could see why we spend so much to defend it :sarcasm:

[Luminous Animal]

19. Most likely they are thinking the billboard was a provocation

and the landowner deserved it.

[rd_kent]

20. Gotta love it when the fundies cry about free speech...then oppose free speech...

[FormerDittoHead]

23. I WAS reminded of the 'war' against the right wing to 'silence' them...

Now if only I could stop HEARING them...

[jgraz]

24. Things like this will be much easier after The Rapture.

:crazy:

[rd_kent]

26. The Rapture already happened. None of them made it!

[jgraz]

41. Oh crap. God musta just taken George Carlin!

[OnionPatch]

30. I'm guessing it was a so-called "Christian" who made the threats, too.

Um, let's see....."Love Thy Enemy", "Turn the Other Cheek" .....making threats fits right in with Christ's philosophy, eh? :eyes:

[JonQ]

32. Craziness

how can denying the existence of god threaten anyones religious beliefs?

Either they're right in which case you have no reason threatening them, or they're wrong in which case they will receive worse punishment than death (according to most religions).

[DRoseDARs]

33. See? Terrorism works, except we don't call it that we call it "conservative Christian activism." nt

[imdjh]

34. Maybe if they mob in the streets of a European city and threaten the natives of that country we....

..... would see the similarity. Idiots making phone calls is not quite the same thing.

[hootinholler]

35. Well this is from the land of Touchdown Jesus n/t

[K8-EEE]

dupe, sorry

God is only as impressive as his peeps and the mean angry Bible God sure don't impress me much!

[K8-EEE]

36. God hates thinking and free speech, loves threats & violence

God is only as impressive as his peeps and the mean angry Bible God sure don't impress me much!

[Toasterlad]

37. Threats Are So Christian.

[Taitertots]

39. Atheism is the new black in America

Now we can't even have billboards without religious terrorists attacking it.

Where the hell are the police? Religious terrorists are threatening people and the government is nowhere to be seen.