As vehicles leave Indiana, they encounter an electronic sign that reads: “Now Entering Michigan: Really? You’re sure about this?”
Likewise, southbound travelers are greeted with a sign as they cross into Indiana that reads: “The Great State of Indiana Welcomes Michiganders To A Free-To-Roam State. We Thank You for the Revenue!”
But the man behind the billboards said they are actually meant to support Michiganders during their quarantine, not poke fun at the restrictions in place.
“It’s not politically motivated at all,” Steve Swick, president and owner of the Swick Broadcasting Company which purchased the billboards, told CNN.
Michigan has been on lockdown since March, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has extended the stay-at-home order several times. It’s now in effect until at least June 12.
Swick said that he wants the billboards to get people “thinking.” He wants those who see it to know that the state of Indiana is open for their business.
So far, he said he feels that the message has been successful — though it’s unclear how long he will keep the billboards up.
“Maybe we’ll tweak something based on the government in Michigan, and in Indiana for that matter,” he said.
Indiana has 32,437 confirmed cases of the virus, and 2,030 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
CNN’s Kelly Mena and Eric Bradner contributed to this report.
Source : CNN