A controversial billboard in Muncie, Ind., set off an angry debate that is illustrative of the high emotions around the country following the wave of policemen killed by gunmen,
The Star Press reports.
A Muncie resident, Megan Thomas, who noticed the billboard and was offended by it decided to post a photo on Facebook and received a full range of reactions.
The billboard read "Hate cops? The next time you need help call a crackhead."
Thomas said she was offended by what she called a message that was "vulgar and discriminatory to many different classes of people in our city," as well as stoking racial tensions.
She was especially upset about the timing and the placement of the billboard, as a demonstration against police brutality was set to begin just a few blocks away.
Thomas questioned on her Facebook post whether tax money had funded the sign, and more than a thousand people reacted, both positively and negatively.
The message was taken down from the rotating electronic billboard and replaced the following day by notices that read "Love, Respect, Support Law Enforcement" and "Love, Support, Support Law Enforcement."
It was unclear who was responsible for putting up the original wording on the billboard.
The International Business Times reports that the original message that fueled emotions is quite widespread.
It has been commonly used on social media to express solidarity with law enforcement for the past few years, and T-shirts with the slogan are even available for purchase online.
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