Group Behind ‘Impeach’ Sign Cancels Press Event

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A spokesman for Mahoning Valley Neighbors, the group that paid for the “Impeach” billboard that went up this weekend on South Avenue in Boardman, said some of its members would answer questions from reporters Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Peaberry’s in Canfield.

At noon, the spokesman apologized for the late notice and said the press event was canceled.

Peter Norris, a professor of chemistry at Youngstown State University, announced the press event and its cancellation. In an email to news organizations, Norris said the billboard “was paid for by Youngstown Neighbors through small donations from Mahoning Valley residents who are concerned about the direction our democracy  has taken this year.”

No other information was made available.

The company that owns the billboard, Genesis Outdoor Advertising, is based in Youngstown. When contacted yesterday, an employee said it was against company policy to disclose the individuals who secured the billboard or how long it would be posted.

The digital billboard, pictured above at dusk Monday, apparently went up Saturday and its existence began churning Sunday on social media.

A group that calls itself ProgressMV had postings on Facebook that explained how people could contribute to fund the campaign. That Facebook page has since gone from private status to secret.

While the page was still visible, one woman identified herself and listed her home address as to where contributions could be sent.

The Business Journal contacted a woman with the same name who operates a business in the Cornersburg area. She denied having anything to do with the billboard and hung up the phone.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.