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WEBVTT E SIGN.>> Reporter: A GROUP WILLGATHER THIS WEEKEND FOR WHATTHEY CALL A PEACEFULDEMONSTRATION.THEY TELL ME THISY ARE NOTPROTESTING -- THEY ARE NOTPROTESTING THAT THE SIGNEXISTS, BUT RATHER THE MESSAGEBEHIND THE SIGN THAT READS"REAL MEN PROVIDE REAL WOMENAPPRECIATED."IT IS THAT MESSAGE ANDRESPONSE FROM OTHER WOMEN INTHE COMMUNITY THAT PROMPTEDMOLLY GRACE TO ORGANIZE APROTEST.SHE SAYS THE GOAL OF THISWEEKEND'S DEMONSTRATION IS NOTPOLITICALLY MOTIVATED, BUT TOSTART A DISCUSSION.SHE TELLS ME THE SIGNREPRESENTS A MIND-SET THATSHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE INTODAY'S SOCIETY.>> I TAKE IT ALSO AS A VERYDELIBERATE JOB.WOMEN WHO DEMAND EQUALITY ANDDEMAND TO BE SEEN AS EQUALSAND THOSE WHO ARE VOCAL.SO TO ME IT IS ALSO A VERYBLATANT STATEMENT ABOUTWANTING TO SILENCE WOMEN ANDTELLING THEM TO ACCEPT THE WAYTHINGS ARE.>> Reporter: SO FAR JUST OVER200 PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSEDINTEREST IN THIS WEEKEND'SDEMONSTRATION WHICH WILLHAPPEN ON SUNDAY AT 11:00 A.M.ORGANIZERS ARE ENCOURAGINGBOTH MEN AND WOMEN TO BRING

Advertisement 'Real men provide, real women appreciate it' billboard draws controversy Protesters plan peaceful protest in response to the sign's message Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Women are speaking out about a billboard on a North Carolina interstate that they find offensive. The sign reads, "Real men provide, Real women appreciate it." The billboard belongs to Whiteheart Outdoor Advertising and is near the westbound lanes of Business 40 and Linville Road, between Winston-Salem and Greensboro. "I take it as a very deliberate jab at women who demand equality and demand to be seen as equals and are vocal," said Molly Grace, who has organized a protest in response to the sign. "So to me it's also a very blatant about wanting to silence women and tell them to just accept the way that things are." Grace, who owns Kleur, a boutique business in downtown Winston-Salem, has created a Facebook event to protest what the sign represents. She said they're not protesting the fact that the sign exists, but the message behind the sign, and believes the sign represents a mindset that should not be acceptable in today's society. The demonstration is planned to start at 11 a.m. Sunday and last until 6 p.m. under the billboard. On Facebook, organizers of the demonstration stated, "We are protesting patriarchy and sexism, and that this antiquated way of thinking about women exists at all. We are protesting the implied demand that women be silent and appreciate, regardless of whatever circumstances, their role as non-providers." So far, more than 200 people have expressed interest in the demonstration.Organizers are encouraging both men and women to bring signs to voice alternative views. WXII 12 News has reached out to the person who purchased the sign but has not received a response.