Someone is posting odd COVID-19 signs by roadkill in Georgia. Cut it out, cops demand
A police department just south of Atlanta is getting laughs on social media for a bizarre public service announcement asking people to stop putting signs next to roadkill.
The Henry County Police Department posted the brief — some called it hilarious — request Thursday: “Please stop labeling dead animals on the freeway. Thank you.”
A photo was included, showing a dead deer on the shoulder of Interstate 75. Nearby are two large messages spray painted on cardboard: “Died from COVID 19” and “Wear a mask.”
One of the signs included an arrow pointed at the dead deer.
The post has gotten 6,500 responses and comments in one day, along with 15,000 shares on Facebook. Many commenters have called it hilarious and even “inspiring.”
“We need some humor in these hard times,” Christa Archer wrote on Facebook. “This year has been tough for everyone. ...It’s hilarious that someone else wanted to take time out of their day to make people smile. We need it! I needed it this morning.”
Many people asked if the post is intended to be taken seriously, while a few have expressed outrage, prompting the department to explain it’s no joke.
“For everyone upset: We didn’t put those signs up,” the department wrote. “This is literally a post saying don’t put signs up on the freeway, especially next to dead animals...Someone had to see this deer, go home, make signs, drive back out, and place the signs.”
It’s unclear how many signs have appeared, or what charge the culprits might face. Support for the sign makers appears to be growing, with some insisting they’re working to stop the spread of COVID-19 in a creative way — driving around with a car load of signs to put beside dead animals.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” Andy Booher wrote on Facebook.
“I carry cardboard, markers, and get well balloons (and a tank of helium) just for these scenarios,” Laura Billings posted.
“If I can’t label animals on the freeway, is (the country) really free?” Matthew Benson wrote.
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 6:23 AM with the headline "Someone is posting odd COVID-19 signs by roadkill in Georgia. Cut it out, cops demand."