Tools

Protest Planned: Controversial Obama Billboard Taken Down

by Hilary Martin

Story Created: Oct 15, 2010 at 2:17 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 15, 2010 at 10:29 PM MDT

A new controversial billboard along I-70 Business Loop was taken down Friday. The cartoon characters show President Obama dressed as different characters, including a Muslim and holding bombs.

According to the billboard's owner, whom NewsChannel 5 is choosing not to identify, he called to have the image taken down Friday morning. He says his family was receiving calls that were making them uncomfortable. He says they were not threatened.

According to businesses near the billboard, the image was taken down between 9:30 and 10:00 Friday morning.

The person or group that paid to have the image put up has still not been identified.

Local artist Paul Snover was paid about $500 to paint the billboard. He says he was receiving mild threats.

"You don't have the right to put that up you're creating hate," described Snover of the messages he was getting from around the world.

"The intention of the billboard was not a hate message, it was a statement about the direction the president and his administration are taking the country," explained Snover.

Snover and his still undisclosed Mesa County client, as well as Tea Party activists say the backlash is in violation of the First Amendment.

"I'm personally insulted by it...its their freedom of choice---their freedom of speech," said Tim Fenwick, President of G.J. Result/Tea Party,

Meanwhile, local Democrats are glad to see that the billboard is down. ""It's great that it's gone there's no question about," said Martelle Daniels, Chairwoman for the Mesa County Democrats. She added that the public's threats were not right but were a consequence of their actions.

"[It's] something that is homophobic racist and it speaks volumes about the people who support it," said Daniels.

But Snover says he supports his art as well as pushing the envelope.

"Get rid of the p.c., political correctness stuff, it's damaging us," said Snover.

Snover says his client paid an estimated $2,000 for the billboard and artwork.

So, where's that big vinyl billboard? Snover says it's in an undisclosed locked location. And, if you're interested, Snover and his client plan to auction it off in the future.

Fenwick says the group is planning to protest the billboard being taken down. The protest is planned for 2:30 p.m. Saturday in front of Mesa County's "Old County Courthouse" on Rood Avenue.








You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Glenn B said on Saturday, Oct 16 at 5:12 PM

This is a perfect example of the amount of IGNORANCE, BIGOTY and HATE, That still exists in this community and country. Ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hate and that is what is driving this type of behavior and the country right now. Wake Up GJ and America! these

Dustin in GJ said on Saturday, Oct 16 at 4:41 PM

Its maybe safer over in Iraq now... as a result of our brave soldiers. Just you wait until judgement day. God will clean up all the mess that lost wayward sinners have made, like our fearless leader has helped to compound upon. I want to see Obama worry about how he is going to provide for his family.

Kc said on Saturday, Oct 16 at 4:19 PM

I think it's sad the billboard was taken down... That was the most "CHANGE" I have seen since Obama was elected... Oh and the fact that I know more people around the valley who are unemployed....

Becky said on Saturday, Oct 16 at 12:07 PM

The government did not take down the billboard. Freedom of speech was not violated. The person who paid for the billboard chose to take it down as a result of other people using their freedom of speech. The protest is only a way to bully, harass, and provoke those who disagree with the Tea Party's conservative, racist, and bigoted point of view.

J C Winters said on Saturday, Oct 16 at 12:46 AM

The sign was an embarrassment to the entire community,Democrat and Republican alike, Again, the rest of the world thinks we are a bunch of backwards hillbillies...

Floyd said on Friday, Oct 15 at 6:09 PM

DaveInGJ, go ahead and move to Iraq, they shoot homosexuals over there. We wouldn't want you to live so uncomfortably like you do here. At least you could feel safe over there.

S.K. said on Friday, Oct 15 at 5:53 PM

Please add Martel Danials picture she is one of the bad ones. She needss to go to Washington now that would be a blessing to Grand Junction.

Randall Mettscher said on Friday, Oct 15 at 5:09 PM

That is sad that people have learned the citizens name of paying for the billboard and now have made comments to him that forces him to take it down in regards for their safety. If it were me that did this and recieved these calls or letters I would say bring it on cause I will not back down.

MrWhoHa said on Friday, Oct 15 at 3:05 PM

Its Just a Cartoon Like YOUR FEARLESS LEADER! Grow Up !

DaveInGJ said on Friday, Oct 15 at 2:53 PM

Of course the Tea Party will protest its removal as they are homophobes and racists. If they gain power in either house, never mind a socialist state under Obama. That will be nothing to the autocratic theocracy it will be under the Tea Party. These are people who thinks its unconstitutional to have healthcare for everyone but is constitutional to have guns for everyone. So if some nut goes to Walmart and buys and gun, thats ok, but for me to have healthcre isnt.more people died in the US because of guns each year of the US invasions of Iraq than were shot or blown in Iraq. Its safer in Iraq than the US and they dont want you to have healthcare here. So make sure if you get shot your dead otherwise your in BIG trouble. ANd if the Teap Party gains control of the senate and congress and the House of Representatives we may as will live in Afghanistanor Iran anyway. It will be the same autocratic theocracy just a different "religion".

DaveInGJ said on Friday, Oct 15 at 2:45 PM

Darn it, I wanted to see it so I could stand in front of it and do a NAZI salute. No I NOT a NAZI, but that is pretty much what this poster is about. Its racist and homophobic, and of course the Tea Party will protest its removal because they are homophobic and racists. The avergae citizen may as well pack up and move to Iraq or Afghanistan if the Tea PArty take over congress and the sante as it will pretty much the same over there than it is here. Possibly safer in Iraq. 77000 people died between 2004 and 2008. An average of 20000 people die in the US as a result of guns. So you are actually marginally safer in Iraq

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KREX - News, Weather, Sports for Grand Junction | Montrose | Glenwood Springs - Coverage You Can Count On and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
News Channel 5 Weather