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A billboard advertising the Rationalists of East Tennessee, an atheist organization, was removed from its Kingston Pike location last week — five days into its month-long lease. The billboard, which read “Don’t Believe in God? You’re Not Alone,” was allegedly removed by Lamar Advertising after the property’s owner objected to the billboard’s message content, according to an employee of Arnwine’s Home Furnishings, which sits beneath the billboard’s location. During its short run, the billboard received several voices of support from the community, including Wade Bibb, a pastor at Central Bearden Baptist, which sits across the street from the billboard’s location. In an interview with WATE-TV, Bibb made it clear that while he disagreed with the billboard’s message, he supported the organization’s right to express it. “We’re very strong supporters of freedom of speech,” Bibb said of his congregation. “If you wanted that to be a pro-God message there, then I think you should have rented it out and put a pro-God message.” See BILLBOARD on Page 8
Volume 128 Issue 62
This billboard on Kingston Pike from the Rationalists of East Tennessee, an atheist organization, has prompted discussion of free speech rights after its removal. Tanner Hancock • The Daily Beacon
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Friday, April 17, 2015