Don’t take it off her lawn.
Federal Judge This week’s ruling The court ordered the city of Lakeland, Tennessee, to pay back fines and fees it paid to the city, as well as $31,000 in attorney’s fees, after Julie Pereira argued that the sign she put up in her front yard to express disappointment in this year’s presidential candidate selection, reading “Fuck Both of Us in 2024,” was not obscene.
Pereira filed suit last month after neighbors complained that his lawn sign was obscene and fines began piling up, and since he installed it earlier this year, the sign has sometimes been adorned with an American flag and shone a spotlight on it.
Lakeland city officials initially fined Pereira $50 a day for five days for the sign, but local officers said it was a violation of city rules prohibiting “lewd, indecent or immoral speech.”
“Content that violates public order and morals” and “obscene remarks, words, or images.” The lawsuit she filed on June 6th In a federal court in Tennessee,
She refused to remove the sign and ended up paying $688.45 in fines and other fees.
She initially paid the fine and covered the “U” with tape.
Pereira said the city has since left her alone, but she took the matter to court, arguing that the city’s fine violated her free speech rights.
“To protect not only my rights but the rights of all Tennessee citizens, this lawsuit has moved to the next level because of the constitutional implications it has,” Pereira said. Post to Facebook After filing the lawsuit, he said he hoped “this will be the end of the violation of free speech in this region.”
She claims in her lawsuit that she made the sign because she was disillusioned about having to choose between Donald Trump and Joe Biden again in the November election.
Some neighbors didn’t agree with that statement.
“It implies language that we feel is inappropriate for young people,” said neighbor Nathan Scullon. He told a local ABC affiliate in February. “There is a right to be protected, but that does not give them the right to behave immorally or inappropriately, especially with regard to children in the community.”
Pereira has previously been in court over the signs, which also contain expletives written on Christmas decorations, and has vowed not to remove them until after the November election.
“I’m not afraid to say what I stand for and what I believe,” Pereira said.
She also began selling signs the morning after last month’s disastrous debate.
“Listen, I think I’ve realized something,” she said. Post to Facebookhere’s a link to purchase it on Amazon for $19.95. “Get yours here now before they sell out!”
