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Houston Billboards Call On White House To Work To Free Kidnapped Journalist

The parents of Austin Tice are also circulating an online petition addressed to President Obama.

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tice_billboard_full.jpg
A billboard calling for more to be done to free kidnapped jounalist Austin Tice.

The electronic billboards feature a picture of Austin Tice, with the words “1,000 days in captivity for being a journalist.”

The Houston native disappeared while covering the conflict in Syria, and his parents hope to keep the pressure on the White House to make his return a priority.

His father Marc Tice says they have credible evidence their son is alive, but they still don’t know who’s holding him captive. The elder Tice was speaksing near one of the billboards on U.S. 59 near FM 1960.

“Unfortunately we’ve had no contact with him. We can’t be certain without knowing who has him, of much else,” Tice said. “Especially the important thing, which is what do we need to do to bring him home.”

And to do that, mother Debra Tice says there needs to be strong diplomatic efforts.

“So we call on the United States government and the Syrian government to do all they can, to use all their resources, to find Austin and return him safely home,” she said.

Private donations are paying for four billboards that are going up around greater Houston. The Tices are also circulating an online petition addressed to President Obama.

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Gail Delaughter

Gail Delaughter

News Anchor

From early-morning interviews with commuters to walks through muddy construction sites, Gail covers all aspects of getting around Houston. That includes walking, driving, cycling, taking the bus, and occasionally flying. Before she became transportation reporter in 2011, Gail hosted weekend programs for Houston Public Media. She's also covered courts in...

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