Censored Version of Atheist Group’s “Genocide and Incest Park” Billboard Also Rejected by Vendor

A couple of months ago, the Tri-State Freethinkers responded to the soon-to-open Noah’s Ark theme park (Ark Encounter) by raising money for a billboard reminding everyone what that story also represents: genocide and incest.

While they have a legal right to celebrate their mythology, we find it immoral and highly inappropriate as family entertainment. Help us remind the surrounding community and potential patrons that the biblical story of Noah’s Ark is immoral and should not be encouraged as a family fun day.

They raised more than $10,000, far more than their $2,000 goal and more than enough to cover the costs of multiple signs.

Unfortunately, the media coverage of the campaign may have spooked the billboard company that was going to put it up. Said Tri-State Freethinkers President Jim G. Helton in a press release:

… When the story hit the local press, Lamar [Advertising] backed out. They were unwilling to work with me to try to find a solution that would have resembled anything close to our original concept for the billboard.

Recently, the Tri-State Freethinkers submitted another billboard to Lamar Advertising, this time with a giant “Censored” sticker over the words “genocide and incest” and a Bible quotation referencing God’s genocidal ways.

But that sign was also rejected. Check out the group’s press release and pay attention to what the advertisers offered as an explanation for their decision:

… Lisa Guill, General Manager of a [Lamar Advertising] Kentucky office, and Jeff Day, Assistant General Manager of the Cincinnati office, informed Tri-State Freethinkers that the design could not be accepted as it violated the following policy:

Lamar reserves the right to reject advertising copy for any reason, but rejects copy for the following specific reasons:

• The copy is factually inaccurate, misleading, fraudulent or deceptive.
• The copy is obscene, offensive or otherwise inconsistent with local community standards.

Since the only copy on that billboard is a Bible quotation, that must be what Lamar has a problem with.

Helton noted that in his response:

“We agree with Lamar that the Bible is offensive, misleading, fraudulent and deceptive. We also believe in our First Amendment rights and we find it hard to believe that we can’t even put up a censored version of our billboard” said Jim G. Helton, President of the Tri-State Freethinkers.

For now, unless they can find another vendor, the (uncensored) billboard will only be seen at a protest of Ark Encounter on its opening day, July 7.

(Large portions of this article were posted earlier)