McDonald's 'something for everyone to love' billboard to replace 'white genocide' sign in AR town

The owner of a local McDonald's in Harrison, Arkansas agreed to buy out the advertising space currently occupied by a controversial white nationalist billboard, KY3 reports.

The sign contains part of what is called "The Mantra," an argument attributed to former Reagan appointee Bob Whitaker in which he allegedly stated that, "They say they are anti-racist. Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white."

In a statement issued through the company that manages the sign, the anonymous individual who paid for it said that "[o]ften white people are called racist for opposing the President’s policies. On the other hand a non-white person was never called racist for opposing President Bush’s policies. There is a double-standard in this country regarding differences of opinion. Those differences of opinion do not make a person racist. The first amendment right to freedom of speech is for everyone. That is the point of the message."

This individual's one-year contract with Harrison Sign Co. expired this month, and local McDonald's owner Jay Herrin told KY3 that he was quick to buy up the advertising space.

"It was divisive for our community," he said. "I won't say that people don't have a right to say or do what they think, but at the same time it was divisive. It may provide some healing for our community."

Ironically, the company's current slogan is, "There's something for everyone to love at McDonald's."

The sign has a negative effect not just on morale within the city, but economically.

Nate Jordan, a member of the Community Task Force on Race Relations, said that "people have posted pictures of that sign [and captioned them] 'Well, we'll never stop in Harrison, we won't spend money in Harrison, I don't even get gas in Harrison.'"

Below that sign is another sign with KKK ties, also purchased by an anonymous individual, that directs drivers to a website that boasts about the town's 98 percent white demographics and its connections to white supremacist leaders.

That sign, however, only went on display in April, so it will remain below the McDonald's sign when it is put in place next week.