A California-based atheist group’s adopt-a-highway signboard was recently vandalized by an unidentified party. The Atheists of Butte County allege their billboard off Highway 99 was recently vandalized when someone pasted a sticker reading ‘God Loves’ right before the group’s name. Atheists of Butte County President George Gold said in a statement that the vandalism was garish and only went on to prove how necessary the presence of his group is in California.

“This is why our group works to offer a safe space for freedom of conscience. Whenever an atheist is public about her or his identity, there are others who will seek to impose and proselytize their opposing views,” he said.

Atheists of Butte County has now removed the stickered message and reported the incident to the California Department of Transportation. The organization, founded in 2009, is associated with other groups like Secular Student Alliance at Chico State, Coalition of Reason and Chico Skeptics.

According to local media, this is not the first time that an adopt-a-highway signboard of the atheist group has been vandalized. According to Gold, another signboard was previously tinkered with when someone pasted a sticker reading ‘Pray’ to it, and adding that the organization’s members are morally corrupt. In fact, Coalition of Reason also stated in 2012 that a billboard of theirs had been vandalized in a similar manner.

In a statement offered by United Coalition of Reason’s National Coordinator Jason Heap, he hoped some good comes out of these vandalisms.

“Hopefully this vandalism will inspire more nonreligious people in Butte County to realize how important it is to join with others of like mind. Only by working together can we end bigotry against philosophical and religious minorities,” he said.

Photo Credit: United Coalition of Reason