John Placek believes there is one human race and told WPXI in Pittsburgh that he's using the billboard to create a dialogue.
The owner of a digital billboard featuring three different ads that many deem divisive has gone on the defensive, asserting the messages were meant to provoke thought and conversation rather than hate.
This week, motorists along Route 422 in Worthington, Pennsylvania, were greeted by a new billboard displaying three slides: "Whites Have Rights, Too," "‘Black Racists' Men and Women in Congress" and a third featuring actor Jussie Smollett, who is mixed race and currently being investigated for allegedly falsifying a police report.
Pennsylvania resident and self-proclaimed "patriot" John Placek, who is white, maintains that he is not a bigot for purchasing the ad space for his messages. Instead, he asserts the billboard is meant to provoke "conversation," according to Pittsburgh outlet WPXI.
"Racism is misunderstood in America and I want to have the conversation," Placek stated.
For clarity, the blacked out sections of the image are dead pixels on the billboard itself.
The conversation, however, is not going as Placek hoped.
In particular, his "Black Racists" slide featuring several members of the US House of Representatives (all Democrats) such as Ilhan Omar, Maxine Waters and even civil rights leader John Lewis, has drawn extreme criticism from the American public on and offline.
Despite Placek telling the outlet he believes there is one race — the human race — his negative portrayal of Smollett and black representatives makes many question his intent. Nevertheless the Worthington resident stands by his assertion that he wants to bring "unity" to the nation.
"We gotta get people talking," he said. "We gotta get them excited. And that's what I've done. The board was never meant to hurt anybody. I would never do that. I'm a patriot. I'm an American. Period."
"We need to get over. I'm black. You’re white. You're Hispanic. Who cares?" Placek said. "I don't care about that. I do care about how you act and how you stand for my flag, our flag."
At least one Pittsburgh-area passerby finds Placek's statement offensive.
"I don't see it as thought-provoking," Michael Allshouse told WPXI. "I don't see it as instigating thoughtful discussion as much as it is provoking and agitating."
Placek said he owns two more billboards and hasn't yet decided how he'd use them.
