OC organization finds their sign vandalized

Orange County Atheists Adopt A Highway sign on FM 1135 was discovered vandalized on October 27. The signs were erected two weeks ago. Gilley said she contacted someone with the Texas Department of Transportation who said new signs are being ordered at no charge to the group.

David Ball - For The Record

One Orange County organization had a surprise Tuesday morning albeit not a pleasant one for them.

Some members of Orange County Atheists discovered their Adopt A Highway sign on FM 1135 was vandalized with spray paint. The group had the signs erected two weeks ago.

Member Clara Gilley said she has been very angry all morning.

"We were going to hold a meeting soon for our cleanup day. We haven't even had a chance for that," she said. "It's scarier acknowledging we're atheist in public (since the vandalism). My husband said he's surprised it wasn't shot in addition to being spray painted."

Gilley said she contacted someone with the Texas Department of Transportation who said new signs are being ordered at no charge to the group. Gilley said she doesn't know who vandalized their signs, but she said Orange County Atheists would like to reach out to local churches and come up with a discussion panel in order to prevent this in the future and maybe come to a mutual understanding.

"The Constitution allows us to believe what we want to or not believe," she said. "We're planning a holiday drive for either food, or toys, or both for the needy. We helped with the school supplies drive and we work at a local dog pound. We aren't opposed to accepting help from anyone when it comes to our charity events. The whole point is to help as many people as we can."