(WATE) – A local organization is hoping to catch your attention while you’re driving. The East Tennessee chapter of Freedom From Religion Foundation, or FFRF, put up a billboard message referencing the separation of church and state. The billboard was installed on Monday and can be seen on Highway 129 in Maryville if you’re heading north. East Tennessee FFRF chapter president, Aleta Ledendecker, says the billboard is up now simply because it happened to be when space was available and she hopes the message gets people thinking.
The billboard reads: “God & Government, A Dangerous Mix. Keep state & church separate.” “Our government is really supposed to be a secular government. Lots of people in East Tennessee are very comfortable with the idea of inserting religion into government and I think this is a very important message for people to see,” said Ledendecker. Ledendecker says FFRF’s message is in support of the First Amendment and they chose this spot in Blount County simply out of convenience. “The billboard wasn’t targeting any particular issue, just the general idea of keeping state and church separate,” she said. READ MORE
