Owner
removes controversial sign; only to avoid fine
Joe Kolb
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A billboard at a local business, which fed local
debates about religious tolerance and the seeds of terrorism,
was removed by the owner Sunday or face $300 a day in fines
from the city.
Gene Dolney, 72, owner of USA RV Park, 2925 W. Hwy. 66, said
he received a summons from the City of Gallup which said he
was in violation of a city ordinance and would be fined $300
per day if it wasn't removed by Monday.
"I took the sign down Sunday night," said Dolney of
his reluctance to obey the summons. "I have never broken
the law so I did it, but I feel it is a form of intimidation,"
he said.
On November 10 Dolney placed a large vinyl sign in front of
his RV park which read, "Whom do you support, America and
its troops or Islam...You can't support both."
Since then Dolney said the sign has been vandalized numerous
times but did receive support from some residents and visitors.
"Personally, I am offended by the sign, but it is a right
in a democratic society," said Eric Honeyfield, Gallup
City Manager.
On December 29 members of Gallup's Islamic community approached
Mayor Bob Rosebrough expressing their concerns about the sign
which they believed was inflammatory and racist.
"What he (Dolney) is reflecting is totally wrong, said
Ehab Maadi in the January 3 Independent. "All of us should
stand together. He is not just hurting Muslims but America and
what it stands for."
Dolney said he is convinced the Islamic faith is an ideology
more than a religion and is based on violence and terror.
Mayor Bob Rosebrough sent Dolney a letter December 31 requesting
he "reconsider the portions of the sign which castigates
the entire Islamic faith."
"We are very glad that our local government got involved
on behalf of America's values," said Maadi. "For Americans,
this helps all of us."
Honeyfield disagrees with Dolney that this was a form of retaliation.
"We're under a billboard moratorium which the City Council
passed in the Fall," said Honeyfield. "We won't comment
on the content of the sign but since the fall, new signs were
not allowed." Honeyfield said the decision was made then
because of the unsightly proliferation of billboards throughout
the city.
Honeyfield said the city will be redrafting the billboard ordinance
within the next 30 days.
