Vandals Strike Godless Billy Graham Pkwy. Billboard

For Immediate Release
(Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2010.) Over this past weekend, one or more
vandals defaced with spray paint part of the "One Nation Indivisible"
billboard on the Billy Graham Parkway. The words "under God" were
added below "One Nation Indivisible," with an arrow indicating their
placement between "One Nation" and "Indivisible." The billboard had
first appeared Monday, June 21, and is near the Boyer intersection.
"This act shows just how needed our message is," declared Joseph
McDaniel Stewart, founder of the North Carolina Secular Association
(NCSecular.org), sponsor of the statewide campaign. "Inserting 'under
God' on our billboard is like inserting it into the original Pledge in
1954: it divides us as a nation. Our sign doesn't say 'One nation
under no God'; it is inclusive. It says 'One Nation Indivisible.' All
we are asking for is a level playing field and the same consideration
that any other citizen would expect for him or herself. We think
everyone should do unto others as they would have others do unto them.
But some people seem to have missed that part of our message."
The police were notified on Sunday and an effort is underway to review
security video recordings from the nearby gas station.
Will Warren, spokesperson for the Charlotte Atheists and Agnostics,
the local ad sponsor, added, "We intend to restore this sign just like
we are attempting to restore the original words to the Pledge of
Allegiance. We've asked the billboard company to repair or replace the
billboard this week."
Warren continued: "In our view, this as an isolated act by one or more
misguided individuals that isn't representative of the larger
religious community in Charlotte. We've received a lot of positive
responses overall and have welcomed 58 new members to our group in the
past week, many of them glad to find out they aren't alone."
An image of the vandalized billboard, free for media use, can be found
at
www.ncsecular.org/images/Billboard_Charlotte_Vandalized.jpgThe original press release from last week, announcing the billboard,
can be found at
www.ncsecular.org/Charlotte.html* * *
The North Carolina Secular Association (NCSecular.org) is a coalition
of secular, humanist, nontheistic and skeptic groups across North
Carolina that has come together to for mutual cooperation and to
deliver a patriotic message of national unity.
Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics (CharlotteAtheists.com) exists to
create and foster a close-knit community of non-believers and to put a
positive face on atheism through education, public outreach and
community service. It is affiliated with the Atheist Alliance
International and the American Humanist Association.
* * *
For more information contact:
William Warren
Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.charlotteatheists.comJoseph McDaniel Stewart
Founder
North Carolina Secular Association
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.NCSecular.org