Billboard Calling Trump 'Our Leader The Idiot' Divides NJ Town For Some Reason

Nothing truly gets across to people that you are pro or anti-Trump like a giant sign. Since he was elected, we've seen animated billboards in Times Square, lawn art, and phone booth takeovers pop up in our area. And now, a town in New Jersey has been torn asunder due to one such anti-Trump billboard, proclaiming him "Our Leader The Idiot."

Neil Harrison told News12 that he paid about $1,000 to put the anti-Trump billboard up on Morris Avenue in Union Township recently. "Manafort was convicted. Cohen's giving up everything he can, and we're hoping that Trump is next," Harrison said. "Basically that's what we are out here for. I'm an activist and that's what I do. And we're trying to drum up some real support here."

Harrison, who actually lives in The Bronx, decided to put the billboard up in NJ because he claimed NYC does not allow political messages on its billboards.

Harrison added that he was planning on producing a documentary on Trump, which is mentioned on the billboard. This is particularly significant because the Township of Union has been responding to angry comments on Facebook by telling people "they are purporting this as an advertisement for an upcoming film and as such it doesn't violate any ordinances or laws."

What is a bit strange is that the Township—or at least whoever is in charge of their Facebook page—keeps apologizing for the billboard, and has been "encouraging the residents (and non-residents) offended by the advertisement to contact Out Front Media, the owners of the Billboard, and reiterate their demands and complaints to them." If it's a private billboard that has been paid for and doesn't break any laws, why would a local government actively try to encourage people to complain about it, with the implication being that officials want it taken down as well?

That's because they really do want it taken down. Union Township Public Information Officer Natalie Pineiro told the Daily Record that Harrison's motive in putting up the billboard was "transparent."

"It's clear what his intentions were and now the township has been the recipient of his circus-like crusade," Pineiro said.

However, the billboard does not reflect the town's values, she said. Pineiro said much of the outrage is because people believe it is a reflection of the community.

"No matter what, it's about common decency and respect for us," she said, noting the town has a strong unity campaign in the town no matter what someone's politics or beliefs are.

And during a Union Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, they unanimously passed a resolution denouncing it (but not barring it, because legally they can't). "The Township Committee prides itself on the Township’s diversity and inclusion, and does not promote hate speech of any kind," states the resolution. "The Township of Union does not support hate speech of any kind in the Township of Union, nor does it support or condone a billboard in the Township of Union that is critical of the sitting President of the United States."

Hmm, considering the fact that Union Township voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton over Trump in the last election (16K votes for Clinton vs. 6K for Trump), it seems that Harrison's message might not be so extreme to locals.

Harrison noted during the meeting that he was planning on keeping the billboard up at least through September, and possibly longer. He added that he doesn't even care if anyone sees his upcoming documentary, as long as the billboard is out there: "I think it’s awesome that people are getting together all over the world to protest. Mass protests are so crucial and it hits the news and that’s great. But then it’s over. The billboard keeps it out there."

If Trump tries to Google "Idiot" today he might not like what he finds...