Atheism billboard in Fresno hit by vandalism

[Kadie]

Atheism billboard in Fresno hit by vandalism
Posted at 01:31 PM on Friday, May. 06, 2011
By Jim Guy / The Fresno Bee


A Blackstone Avenue billboard that says it's OK to be an atheist lasted just two days before it was struck by vandalism, but the people behind the message say they aren't going away.

The billboard at Blackstone and Saginaw Avenue in Fresno reads: "Don't believe in God? Join the club." Friday morning, the word "don't" was partially erased and a signature of a graffiti tagger was placed below the message.

The billboard was put up by the Central Valley Coalition of Reason, a collection of three Valley atheist groups, with $5,176 in funding from the Washington, D.C.-based United Coalition of Reason.

"This shows loud and clear just how necessary our message is, because prejudice against people who don't believe in a god remains very real in America," said David Costa, coordinator of the Valley group.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/06/2378831/atheism-billboard-in-fresno-hit.html#ixzz1LbzXdLBt



MARK CROSSE / THE FRESNO BEE - Mark Boyd, media representative for Central Valley Coalition of Reason, poses in front of a billboard in Fresno that was defaced sometime Friday. The word "don't" in the message "Don't Believe in God? Join the club" was painted out. A prominent graffiti tag also was painted on the sign.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Since the vandal didn't erase the question mark the message is still the same.

Knuckle Head.

[Ian David]

6. They also left the web address visible. n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I'm wondering which group was responsible...

There is a certain group (which shall go unnamed) that is based in Fresno...

Of course, it could have been anyone.

:shrug:

[valerief]

3. Idiots United, I suspect. nt

[Melinda]

14. That's a very economically depressed part of Fresno...

Blackstone is one busy (3 lanes each side) street which runs North to South, and this particular intersection sees lots of traffic. It's not at all your typical Republican neighborhood; lots of economic hardship, drug use, and prostitution (along Blackstone) in that area. I think you may be on to something, Peggy... it could well be the work of that unnamed right wing fanatical website and their cro-magnun ilk. Well could be. ;)

[Ian David]

4. Why do Atheists capitalize the word "god?" n/t

[RebelOne]

8. I'm an atheist and I don't capitalize god.

It's the same as stating that I do not believe in gods or goddesses or any other deity.

[provis99]

9. why did you capitalize atheist when atheists don't?

[TheManInTheMac]

10. Why spend the money on a billboard?

Why have a club? I don't believe in the tooth fairy or Santa Clause or Bigfoot, either. I don't feel the need to advertise.

[progressoid]

11. To show other atheists that it's OK to come out of the closet and

that they aren't alone.

And as more and more come out, it will help counter the loud, rabid, religious right.

[Ian David]

5. I think this may be who did it...

Graffiti Artist MadC Bombs a 350-Foot-Long Wall

http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Article/madc-and-the-700-wall-021242947419241

[progressoid]

16. Ya think?

Seems a little too sloppy for her. I wonder if somebody else just used her sig.

[Permanut]

7. Whoever did this...

is prolly gonna burn in hell for violating that do unto others thingie. If there's a hell, of course.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Typical theocratic temper tantrum.

The all-powerful invisible magic man in the sky can handle anything, except someone daring to suggest publicly that he may not actually be there.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Here's my response: "Hell doesn't exist

Fresno'll do."

[WatsonT]

15. Whether or not there is a god is easily proven

just wait until you die. If you go somewhere else for either punishment or reward or just to hang out for a bit while they get your new body ready then there is a god.

If everything goes black and you cease to be then probably not.

We'll all find out too soon, why waste so much time arguing over it?