A controversial billboard posted along State Road A1A on Anastasia Island has led to the creation of a petition aimed at its removal that’s attracted support from all over the world.
But the billboard’s message — “Islam Bloody Islam, doomed by its doctrine” — is especially disturbing to some members of the St. Augustine community who think the sign misrepresents the city as a whole.
Becky Williams, 31, created the petition Saturday on Care2’s petition website after noticing the billboard on her drive home from work the night before.
“Many of us feel like someone has taken the voice of our entire community and blasted it on a billboard in a way that has nothing to do with our own beliefs or feelings,” Williams said.
Williams said the petition is meant to rally support for the Muslim community.
“We didn’t want all of this to get lost in a debate over freedom of speech,” Williams said. “Whether or not the billboard gets removed, there’s at least been a feeling of support and community and showing that love and tolerance has a more powerful voice.”
The billboard is owned by St. John’s Outdoor Advertising, but it’s unclear who paid to have the message posted and owner Robert Harry Jr. did not respond to interview requests.
The company’s phone number was out of service on Monday and no one answered the door at the business during repeated trips to its Riverview Drive address.
The petition has already gathered thousands of signatures of support from those in the U.S. and beyond. New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Spain are just some of the many countries represented among those rallying for the billboard’s removal.
“I knew there would be support, but I had no idea it would grow to this level,” Williams said.
Ayman El-Sawa, 50, a member of the Islamic Center in St. Augustine, said the threat isn’t just against Muslims, it’s against all communities.
“Because we don’t want someone tomorrow to put up a sign against Christianity or Judism or white or black,” El-Sawa said. “We don’t want this to happen not only to Islam, but to anyone. We don’t want this to happen to our country.”
The Islamic Center has tentative plans to meet next weekend with other local churches and groups to organize peace and unity rallies.
El-Sawa said they also hope to meet with local government and St. Augustine Beach Mayor Rich O’Brien to discuss the billboard.
“I believe as an activist, we should work with our local government,” El-Sawa said. “I believe every great thing that has happened in this great country happened because people came together and worked with the government.”
O’Brien did not return calls to confirm whether a meeting will take place.
In the meantime, the petition continues to tally signatures and permeate social media with its message of tolerance.
“That petition is a symbol of unity and of people standing together,” El-Sawa said. “Sometimes great things come out of bad things.”