Friend of the Blog, Lee Yoshimatsu, a Vietnam Veteran, is fighting a lonely battle for our free speech against ignorant and authoritarian police officers and city officials in his hometown of Wickenburg.
Full disclosure: I have spoken with Lee several times, and found him sincere and brave, and given him some advice on this matter.
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I have mixed feelings on the sign. In the end, I guess its legality depends on the local ordinance, which can limit or ban signs so long as the rule is content neutral or it is not a political campaign sign within the permissible time window. Although I find the the penis depiction offensive, even if 1st amendment protected. George Carlin was a great comedian but if I were in my car with young children, it would still be in bad taste to have those words broadcasted. Just because you can do something does not mean that a decent person would do it.
However, I do take issue with your characterization of the cop as authoritarian. In the video, he was polite and even deferential. Do you have other information on the police encounter or encounters that depict authoritarianism or are you calling that encounter authoritarian. I do not think the one in the video was authoritarian.
It is not a cop’s demeanor, but his or her actions that make an interaction authoritarian. Whenever they violate citizens’ rights, that makes an encounter authoritarian. Although I suppose even an encounter that is lawful could still be problematic based on the officer’s demeanor…
The cop was probably enforcing the local sign ordinance, which he did not write.
Hey Kav, local ordinance is always superseded by the US Constitution. You seem to have missed the point. The whole idea is to protest the sea of “F*** Biden” signs in town. When the town refused to do anything because the signs are protected by the 1st Amendment, I said, “Here, hold my beer while I show you how to design real political signs.” After all, what does “F*** Biden” really say or mean? That’s just a RWNJ dog whistle for uneducated morons. It sounds like 8 year olds on a school playground.
Besides, all this could be alleviated if the town and PD simply put a permanent notice on their FB page and website to the effect, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Rude, crude, vulgar signs make the whole town appear to be redneck, uncouth morons. That can affect businesses and the economy.” I’d also want the notice published every month in the local rag since their editor is the one who says, “If you don’t like the “F*** Biden” signs, don’t look at them.” Great christians.
Only unconstitutional sign ordinances are superceded. Towns can regulate signs, even ban them, if the law is content neutral.
Try to stay on track. The topic is “political signs.” These signs aren’t advertising free donuts. The first cop threatened felony arrest for displaying obscene material visible to minors. Only one statute fits that description, ARS § 13-3507. He ignored paragraph C1 which states, “…does not include any depiction or description which …possesses serious … political… value.” If trump stealing US secrets doesn’t qualify as serious political value, then you must be another draft dodging, election denying, conspiracy theorist
The 2nd cop quoted ARS § 13-1402A which says “A person commits indecent exposure if he or she exposes his or her genitals or anus…” A sign is not indecent exposure. He didn’t even know what law he was citing nor did he know what the law covered. The town atty and MCAO both told WPD the signs are protected speech, as in 1A protected. Bottom line, neither cop knew what the laws said or meant. A 2 minute Google search would have clarified it for them.
I realize you have a lot of free time on your hands. https://blogforarizona.net/az-gqp-legislators-find-new-way-to-bilk-taxpayers-get-paid-to-do-nothing/ Try searching for critical thinking skills exercises.
Political signs cannot be put up anytime of the year. State law only protects them for roughly a few months before elections and a couple of weeks after. So unless this municipality is unusual and allows political signs or all signs year-round, that person’s sign is illegal. In fact, it probably wouldn’t even be protected by the state’s political sign law because it is not advocating for or against an election issue or candidate. So the cop may have also been there for an illegal sign offense.
Johnny Boy, you’re conflating political signs with campaign signs. Or do you not understand the difference?
Thanks, Wileybud. I realized I was trying to use logic and facts with a MAGA moron living in a fact-free, alternate reality. He’s a legend in his own mind.
Thanks Mike. What’s really struck me is the number of “closet” progressive I have in my neighborhood. A number of people who take daily walks past my house have indicated support for the signs. It’s a shame we’ve let RWNJ MAGA morons dominate our fears.