I hate to break Cyrus' achy heart, but Satan wasn't involved, not even a little. It really was Atheists United (AU), a not-for-profit organization active since 1982 that advocates for the separation of government and religion while providing an environment where nonbelievers and “freethinkers” can connect and serve their communities.
About 12 years ago, in an effort to maximize their exposure while cutting down on costs, member Steve Gage enrolled AU in California's Adopt-a-Highway program run by the California Department of Transportation, where in exchange for a sign, individuals, businesses or groups can adopt a stretch of highway that they help maintain with litter pickup, graffiti removal and more.
A 2-mile stretch of the Glendale (2) Freeway was available. Now, members gather every month to help keep the stretch of highway clean. Sometimes, they even go to Zankou Chicken to eat afterward.
Though the freeway is relatively traffic free, many passing through have made it a point to stop at AU's sign. Since 2000, it has been vandalized several times with spray paint, industrial glue, uprooted, knocked over and driven in to, while its 'A' has also disappeared on occasion.
Toni Heath, a UCLA student and AU member who volunteers with cleanup, has even found Christian tracts, pamphlets used for religious purposes, scattered near the sign, along with a shocking amount of cigarette butts and alcohol bottles, she said.
Originally from Alabama, Heath, like others who make the trek from all over Los Angeles to participate in the litter pickup, feel like they're contributing to their community in a positive way.
