A former marine is celebrating a win for free speech after local officials revised their ban on an outlandish eight-foot sign which he installed on his porch, The Daily Mail reports.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania resident Dave Bliler said he had “shut down” the restrictions imposed on him by the borough and once again raised a ‘F**k the government’ sign on his property.
The Bliler family took legal action against what they called an “unconstitutional infringement” of their First Amendment rights after Olyphant Borough threatened to fine them.
According to The Daily Mail, Plaintiffs Dave, Chelsea, and Paige Bliler brought the case against the Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania and William Shigo, the Borough’s Zoning Officer.
Their suit followed an enforcement letter, alleging a violation of the sign ordinance. The letter also threatened a $500 fine and mandated a permitting process by the borough.
Shockingly, the rule imposed a one-sign limit, not exceeding six square feet, subject to a content-reviewing permitting process.
While The Blilers took down the offending sign, they also took legal action late last year.
Under this week’s settlement, the borough revised its rules. It now allows residents display up to three signs, each with a maximum size of sixteen square feet and has eliminated the need for a permit.
Bliler said he was inspired to fight the ban following a Supreme Court ruling that the government has no power to restrict expression.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Biller said “that ideal inspired me to put up my sign”
“I’m grateful that our lawsuit could shut down the borough’s restrictions on our most basic right to free speech.”
As historians will know, Americans have long distrusted their government, and complaints against it are common. Nonetheless, such sentiments are not always expressed in such direct terms as on the Blilers’ sign.
Recently, anti-government feeling has risen on the right. As such, the borough’s restrictions could be seen as partisan.
Their lawyer, Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and founder of the conservative Center for American Liberty, hailed a victory for the ‘foundational principle of our republic.’
Dhilon added that it “sends a powerful message that Olyphant Borough’s sign ordinance and enforcement actions flagrantly violated the Constitution by imposing unnecessary restrictions and outright banning protected political speech.”
The case parallels the recent case of a navy veteran who won the right to display a Trump and Biden sign saying “f— ‘em both” in her front garden.
After expressing her disapproval of both presidential nominees in rather strong terms, 40-year-old Julie Pereira was fined hundreds of dollars by the city of Lakeland, Tennessee.
Following her fine, Ms Pereira sued the city in federal court. She argued, that under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, she was entitled to express her opinion on a yard sign.
According to The Telegraph, “On Tuesday, the court in Memphis ruled in her favour, ordering the city to return her money and pay her $31,000 in legal fees, plus a dollar in damages”.
Reflecting on the debacle, Ms Pereira said she was pleased with the result but it was “unfortunate that it had to go this far”.
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