Atheists United highway sign defaced a second time
Highway sign cut down, defaced in second act of vandalism in three weeks
The Atheists United sign before it was defaced.
– The Atheists United San luis Obispo Adopt-A-Highway sign on southbound Highway 101, just north of the Santa Barbara overpass in Atascadero was sawed off from its post and spray-painted sometime on Tuesday, the second time the sign has been vandalized in the past three weeks.
A Caltrans official informed the organization that the sign was sawed off and that the first and last letters of “Atheists” had been painted over, according to the organization. The sign was new, having recently been replaced after a large red “X” was spray-painted on the sign on Sept. 19.
“Despite this act of vandalism,” said the organization’s president Steven Arkowitz, “AU SLO remains dedicated to making it acceptable to be a non-believer in this county.”
Caltrans has offered to move the sign to a different stretch of highway, but the group has said it would like to stay in the same location.
“Almost every week we have new members join AU SLO and tell us how happy and relieved they are to find our group,” said Arkowitz. ‘We are proud of the positive work we do in our community and the sign represents a small part of that work. Regardless of whether you share our beliefs, I hope that everyone would agree that we have a right to be here and that perhaps AU SLO plays an important role in our community.”
Atheists United has been cleaning up of the stretch of Highway 101 just south of Atascadero since May of 2014. The group also participates in local charity events, provides scholarships to students, and runs a public library book donation program, among other events and activities.
AU SLO is a non-profit community organization with over 400 members in San Luis Obispo County. The group is, “dedicated to providing a community for nonbelievers, educating the public about the positive aspects of atheism, and performing community service.” For more information, visit www.AUSLO.org.
just goes to show how today's so called christians obey their own doctrine…so much for the christian values my parents beleived in and taught us kids. we may not all be "christian" still ( I for one have given up all religion because of this type of hypocrocy and lawlessness i have found in EVERY church i have ever attended ) but we all still adhere to the human values my parents taught us….everyone has the RIGHT to choose whatever religion,if any, to follow WITHOUT persecution by ANYONE
How embarrassing for the vandals who demostrate quite plainly their ignorance of our great country's laws. Keep up the good work Athiest United and thank you for your contribution of making our town a little nicer for all of those who live here, no matter what religion they may choose to practice.
Chalk another one (or two) up for the American Taliban er. Christians. Here's a hint, if it's not directly affecting your life, just leave it alone. Signs, other religions or atheism, abortion, etc.
I'm not an atheist, but I want to join their club.
It appears your comments are as bigoted and overgeneralized as those you rail against. Same thing that's happening all over the country with the racial riots and attacks because people are blaming the masses without knowing all the facts. #1: You assume it was Christians who did this? How do you know they were not just vandals, skinheads or subversives trying to start a war between two opposing factions? Do you know for fact who did this and why? #2: True Christians do not behave this way towards those who do not agree with their beliefs. If you were aware of this you wouldn't be ranting about ALL Christians. #3: You are correct in that religion gives true Christianity a bad name-as does your public display of narrow mindedness. #3: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? I believe your comments are hypocritocal.
Robert Headley I believe we can infer that "Christians" are the culprits because the vandals painted out the T and S at the beginning and end of ATHEISTS, which spells? Oh, Gee! It spells THEIST! That looks like a signature to me. Either that, or someone is trying to frame Christians for the act, which seems less reasonable. That's called deductive reasoning. A skill most Christians these days appear to find challenging.
just goes to show how today's so called christians obey their own doctrine…so much for the christian values my parents beleived in and taught us kids. we may not all be "christian" still ( I for one have given up all religion because of this type of hypocrocy and lawlessness i have found in EVERY church i have ever attended ) but we all still adhere to the human values my parents taught us….everyone has the RIGHT to choose whatever religion,if any, to follow WITHOUT persecution by ANYONE
How embarrassing for the vandals who demostrate quite plainly their ignorance of our great country's laws. Keep up the good work Athiest United and thank you for your contribution of making our town a little nicer for all of those who live here, no matter what religion they may choose to practice.
Chalk another one (or two) up for the American Taliban er. Christians. Here's a hint, if it's not directly affecting your life, just leave it alone. Signs, other religions or atheism, abortion, etc.
I'm not an atheist, but I want to join their club.
It appears your comments are as bigoted and overgeneralized as those you rail against. Same thing that's happening all over the country with the racial riots and attacks because people are blaming the masses without knowing all the facts. #1: You assume it was Christians who did this? How do you know they were not just vandals, skinheads or subversives trying to start a war between two opposing factions? Do you know for fact who did this and why? #2: True Christians do not behave this way towards those who do not agree with their beliefs. If you were aware of this you wouldn't be ranting about ALL Christians. #3: You are correct in that religion gives true Christianity a bad name-as does your public display of narrow mindedness. #3: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? I believe your comments are hypocritocal.
Robert Headley I believe we can infer that "Christians" are the culprits because the vandals painted out the T and S at the beginning and end of ATHEISTS, which spells? Oh, Gee! It spells THEIST! That looks like a signature to me. Either that, or someone is trying to frame Christians for the act, which seems less reasonable. That's called deductive reasoning. A skill most Christians these days appear to find challenging.