Atheism Billboard Blocked In Brooklyn

The atheism billboard that some of you felt was unnecessarily provocative has been blocked from being posted in one of Brooklyn's Hasidic neighborhoods.

Landlord Kenny Stier refused to allow workers from the advertising company Clear Channel into his building, according to American Atheists president David Silverman. Silverman claims powerful neighborhood rabbis convinced Stier to block the non-believing billboard and called the religious leaders and the landlord “anti-atheist bigots.” “The Jews have stopped the billboard,” said Silverman. “It’s really ugly bigotry. As a former Jew, it’s repugnant to see Jews act like this.”

The billboard would have greeted drivers as they exited the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn.

The plan immediately outraged Williamsburg’s Jewish like Rabbi David Niederman, who called the sign “inappropriate” and the atheists a “group of crazies.” “They lost their purpose in life,” said Niederman, who heads the Jewish social services group United Jewish Organizations. “They’re not even going to make a dent. It’s a disgrace. The name of god is very holy to us and to the whole world.”

A companion Arabic billboard has been posted in one of New Jersey's heavily Muslim neighborhoods. (Via Gothamist)