Crime & Safety
Saturnalia Billboard Focus of Attempted Arson
The billboard was erected by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has complained about the 'Keep Christ in Christmas' banner in Pitman.
Someone tried to burn down the billboard proclaiming “Keep Saturn in Saturnalia” this week, nj.com reports.
An off-duty police officer from another town was in Pitman with a group of friends when he saw two people attempting to light the billboard on fire, according to the report.
The fire didn’t catch, and when the two people realized they had been seen, they fled in a blue and silver Chevrolet Model 1500 pickup truck, according to the report.
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The billboard was placed near the intersection of West Holly Avenue and Lambs Road by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has complained for years that the “Keep Christ in Christmas” banner hung in downtown Pitman endorses the Christian faith.
The foundation erected the billboard in protest this year.
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Saturnalia is a two-week festival held during the days of the Roman Empire. It took place between the winter solstice and the new year
According to the report, a Santa Claus stood by the billboard in protest earlier this week, and a man, woman and child attempted to climb the billboard and paste a picture of the manger on it before being stopped by police.
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