(WFOX/CNN) - Hundreds of people are calling for a billboard attacking Islam to be removed from its spot next to a road in North Florida.
Just like any other billboard, it’s lit up clear and in bold letters along A1A in St. Augustine and has a message critical of Islam.
The signs says "ISLAM BLOODY ISLAM" with the caption beneath that says "DOOMED BY ITS DOCTRINE!"
Jim Morrow lives in the neighborhood just feet away from the billboard. He says his wife pointed it out to him on the way home from a doctor’s appointment.
“I thought it was kind of strange. Signs like that I think are always inappropriate," said Morrow.
Another neighbor said she saw it on Facebook before noticing it in person.
"Politics, religion that kind of thing, people seem to get pretty heated about it, so I try to leave that kind of stuff alone," said neighbor Cynthia Cournoyer.
Resident Lonny Rosen said a friend told her about and she had to see it for herself.
"I was expecting a small 5x3 homemade sign," said Rosen.
Rosen says her friend also sent her the link to sign a petition to have it removed and that she plans to sign it.
At last check, the petition had already received more than 5,000 signatures.
"This is horrifying. This tells me that they want everyone in the whole city to see this," said Rosen.
WFOX-TV reached out to Robert Harry Jr. of St Johns Outdoor Advertising, who put up the billboard.
Harry Jr. declined an interview on camera, and said he couldn't say who paid for the billboard space.
He did confirm that it was an individual, not an organization or church, and he called it freedom of speech.
"I think freedom of speech has its limitations, like anything else," said Morrow.
The woman who created the petition demanding the billboard be taken down says even if the billboard remains, she wanted people to see through the petition that there are people in the community who stand against its message.
Courtesy: WFOX via CNN Newsource