Federal Judge Upholds Anti-Trump Protest Permit

A federal judge has determined that the National Park Service (NPS) cannot revoke a permit for an anti-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C., despite concerns over the display of the “86 47” flag.

Officials had linked the “86 47” phrase to a possible call for violence against former President Donald Trump. In response, federal authorities had requested the flag’s removal following a recent shooting incident near the White House, according to court documents.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss noted in his ruling that, “The government is attempting to suppress core political speech without any clear, let alone evidence, to conclude that the speech actually threatens the life or safety of the President.” He further added that, based on the current information available, there was no indication that the protesters were engaging in anything other than protected First Amendment activity.

Judge Moss, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, emphasized the lack of justification for the government’s actions against the protesters.

Meanwhile, there have been ongoing disputes over whether the signs used in the protest could be classified as unprotected obscenity, but a decision on that matter is still pending.

Protesters have been carrying signs with messages like, “Children, if your parents are MAGA, they love child rapists.”

This lawsuit comes after weeks of continuous protests near the George Gordon Meade statue, located at the crossroads of Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NW, adjacent to the federal courthouse.

Members of the protest group Accountability Now USA have stated that their purpose is to engage with passersby and advocate for Trump’s impeachment, operating in shifts throughout the day and night.

Last month, tensions heightened as demonstrators began waving flags emblazoned with the phrase “86 47.” The term “86” colloquially means to dispose of something, while “47” refers to Trump being the 47th president of the United States. These numbers are also connected to the legal issues surrounding former FBI Director James Comey.

Protesters insist that their intention is to merely call for impeachment and not to provoke any threats. However, the Secret Service took a different stance, notifying the court that individuals displaying the flag were under investigation.

Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn expressed concern in a letter to the judge, stating, “Based on my training and experience, I believe that this term, as it is understood today, has the potential to incite violence by others.”