Atheist Accuses Jews of 'Religious Bigotry' After Landlord Refuses to Display 'Myth' Billboard

As The Blaze reported last week, members of the organization American Atheists are taking their quest to target non-believers to new heights.

Billboards written in Hebrew and Arabic are popping up in an effort to find and empower non-believing Muslims and Jews. But as this effort rolls out, it seems one Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood is fighting against the atheist groups' messaging.

The billboard, which reads, "You know it's a myth…and you have a choice," was prevented from appearing in the Orthodox Jewish community at the last minute when the landlord at the site -- Kenny Stier -- refused to display it. Stier was quoted as saying that he didn't want to get involved in the religious debate between atheists and Jews after he made his decision not to allow the sign.

MSNBC has more about the billboard's purpose:

It is an advertisement for the upcoming "Reason Rally" in Washington, D.C., billed as the biggest atheist gathering in U.S. history, and for the American Atheists' convention immediately afterward.

It was also intended to urge non-believers to overcome their fears and "come out" in their heavily religious communities.

American Atheists President Dave Silverman is extremely frustrated with the decision to prevent his organization from displaying the billboard and has stated his belief that rabbis pressured Stier not to allow the sign. In an interview with the Christian Post, Silverman said that the action is rooted in "religious bigotry."

"He looked at the vinyl and refused to allow the billboard company to post it. Then he went into 'no comment' mode," Silverman said, referring to Stier. "It disappoints me that a group which has been the victim of religious bigotry over the millennia has now become the purveyor of such bigotry."

After invoking the claim that the Jewish population in the Brooklyn neighborhood is discriminating against atheists, Silverman continued.

"Atheists have every right to advertise as we see fit, just like everyone else," he said. "I wonder how the Jews would react if they were told where they could advertise and what they could say, because some people might be 'offended' at their position."

Locals, though, disagree.

"I think it's their right," Rabbi Steven Burg explained. Burg, the managing director of the Orthodox Union, a Jewish organization, went on to say, "I think it's your right to say that something is too offensive to the general community….I don't have a problem at all with that decision."

Burg dismissed Silverman's claims of bigotry and said that the atheist group shouldn't be surprised by the reaction it has received in such a religious community.

Silverman's group has already selected a new location along the Brooklyn-Queens expressway and is slated to have the sign up today.

(H/T: Christian Post)