Two Unknown Groups Advertise "Family Values ..." Rally in Pack Square on March 11 at 11 a.m.

Two groups that call themselves "Christians United" and "IBOM" recently paid for two full-page ads in the Thurs., March 9, 2006, Asheville Citizen-Times, to advertise a "rally" said to be held at Pack Square in Downtown Asheville on Saturday, March 11, 2006, at 11 a.m.

No addresses or telephone numbers of the advertisers were provided in the ads. 

Asheville Citizen-Times' representatives have not yet provided, were unavailable, or did not respond to requests by DowntownAsheville.com for more detailed contact information about the advertisers by the publishing deadline.

A religion reporter at the Citizen-Times was not familiar with either group, and could not provide any contact information.

"Christians United" is NOT to be confused with "Christian Believers United" at www.CBU.org, a 33-year-old organization, which is based in Montreat, NC. According to a CBU spokesperson, Christian Believers United is "not involved" with the advertised March 11th rally.

According to the copy of the ads published on pages C6 and C7 in the Home & Garden "Section C Living" of the March 9, 2006, Asheville Citizen-Times, the March 11 Downtown Asheville rally is " ... in support of Christian and conservative businesses and their right to operate according to family values sanctity of marriage (between one man and one woman) wholesome work environment (without oppression from the sodomites & the liberal media) ... "

Those in support of the rally stated in one of the ads, in part: "We that are listed below endorse the right of the management of Wolf Laurel Ski Slopes in their decision to maintain a clean family atmosphere at their resort." Hundreds of individuals, businesses and churches were listed in the ad, but without any contact information.

In fine print at the bottom of each of the two ads was the copy: "This is an advertisement paid for by Christians United with IBOM."

Apparently this advertised rally is to counter recent criticism of Wolf Laurel Ski Slopes, as previously reported in the Citizen-Times, MountainXpress and other media outlets. No explanation was given in either ad on why Downtown Asheville was selected as the rally location given that this Wolf Laurel Ski resort is located about one hour north in Madison County.

For more news, opinion, and background about the recent Wolf Laurel Ski Slopes controversy, visit the following links:

http://www.skiwolflaurel.com/

http://www.allterrainimages.com/wolflaurel/

http://www.mountainx.com/news/2006/0118wolflaurel.php;

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/NEWS01/60110040/1001; 

http://www.washblade.com/2006/2-10/news/national/ski.cfm; and

http://www.main.nc.us/wncceib/EEGL.htm.

DowntownAsheville.com will continue to attempt to uncover contact information and further details about "Christians United" and "IBOM."

The Asheville City officials who would know if a "rally" permit was applied for or would be required were unavailable when this report was written.

Copyright 2006 www.DowntownAsheville.com a MediaBear website
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