Billboard company dumps racist, antisemitic images displayed in Michigan, apologizes

A billboard company has removed three billboards in Michigan and is apologizing after being accused of displaying images of Hitler and a racist message on roadside displays.

The move came after an unidentified user posted images of the billboards to an X account titled "White Lives Matter Michigan" at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Two of the billboards are alleged to have included neo-Nazi messaging celebrating Adolf Hitler's April 20 birthday. Another said "Go Back To Africa!"

"White Lives Matter Michigan permeated censorship to obtain three roadside billboards throughout Southeastern Michigan to dog-whistle morale boosting messages to pro-Whites for this 4/20 Day of Action!" the X post read.

Billboard4Me.com, a custom billboard website whose brand was pictured prominently in one of the images in the X thread, said the group used "silhouetted images, acronyms, and other deceptive tactics to get past our initial screening process."

It said became aware of the images on X and "immediately" removed the boards.

"On Apr 20, 2024 3 billboard ads were posted in Michigan that our organization does not support or agree with in any manner whatsoever," Billboard4Me officials said in a statement Tuesday. "The billboards were ordered by an organization that disguised itself and its purpose with deceptive imagery and wording. Upon doing so they violated our terms of use."

Billboard4Me officials said the company has since implemented "better safety protocols to screen all billboard ads that come through our system" to ensure "no hidden agendas are being promoted in the ads."

"We recognize that we made a huge mistake by not catching these hidden messages before they were posted and sincerely apologize to the communities in Michigan and everyone who had to see them," website officials said. "We pledge to do everything we can so that something like this never happens again."

CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid called for a rejection of messaging on the billboards.

"We condemn this deceptive campaign to honor one of history's worst mass murderers and to promote racism and white supremacy," Walid said in a statement Tuesday. "All Americans must reject the hatred and bigotry these billboards represent."