Press Release

For Immediate Release

(Cincinnati, OH, June 7, 2016) Tri-State Freethinkers recently submitted a censored version of their Genocide & Incest Park billboard to Lamar Advertising. A censored stamp now covers the accurate but “offensive” words genocide and incest, leaving an Ark housing two giraffes and a quote from Genesis 6:13, which states “So God said to Noah, I am going to put an end to all people”. Lisa Guill, General Manager of a 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 followin g 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.

“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. The organization has raised over $11,000 to put up billboards in the tri-state area of OH, KY and IN drawing attention to the Ark Encounter currently finishing construction in Williamstown, KY.

Since Tri-State Freethinkers are unable to find anyone to put up their billboard, they have decided to put up the censored version, if a company is willing to run it. The uncensored version will be displayed for one day at the protest on July 7th in Williamstown, KY for the grand opening of the Ark Encounter. “Their mission is anti-science, the story is immoral, and they practice discriminatory hiring practices while receiving up to $18 M in state tax incentives. We are making a stand for equal rights and the separation of church and state” said Helton.

More information regarding the Tri-State Freethinkers or the protest on July 7th can be found on the group’s website: www.tri-statefreethinkers.com .

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For more information, contact:

Jim G. Helton

President–Tri-State Freethinkers

tsfreethinkers@gmail.com