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This billboard ad on Interstate 85 near downtown Montgomery, paid for by the League of the South, has been removed by the advertising company after complaints. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- A billboard with the one-word message "Secede" had a short stay on Interstate 85 in downtown Montgomery.

The billboard, paid for by the League of the South, a 20-year-old organization that advocates secession by southern states, went up on Friday.

Michael Hill, president of the league, received an email on Saturday afternoon from Lamar Advertising saying that the company had received several complaints and several customers said they would discontinue advertising if the sign was not removed.

The message has been removed. The company told Hill he would be issued a credit for the amount charged.