A sheriff in Texas reportedly made a threat to bring charges
of disorderly conduct against a truck driver for showing a vulgar anti-Trump bumper
sticker on a truck’s rear window.
Sheriff Nehls of Fort Bend County said to the Houston
Chronicle that he’d received multiple complaints regarding the sticker that
read: “F--- TRUMP & F--- YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM.”
According to SF Gate, the driver of the truck turned out to
be 46-year-old Karen Fonseca, a previous employee of the sheriff’s department with
the county jail. Fonseca stated that the truck is the property of her husband,
but she occasionally drives it. The truck’s sticker was shortly put on after the
president was sworn into office last January.
According to Fonseca, it isn’t to cause animosity or hate,
it is just freedom of speech and she is exercising it.
In the meantime, Nehls’ message on his Facebook drew complaints
from the ACLU of Texas that posted on its own page on Facebook: ‘Memo to @SheriffTNehls:
You cannot prosecute speech simply because it has the word “----” The truck’s
owner ought to consult @ACLUTx.’
However, later Wednesday, at a news conference, Nehls backed
down from pursuing charges, stating that he supports freedom of speech and
acknowledges a 1971 United States case by the Supreme Court which overturned
the conviction of a male for disturbing the peace by dressing in a jacket that
had a curse word as part of an effort to make a protest against the Vietnam War
and military draft.
According to Nehls, he has not threatened anyone with
arrest. He hasn’t written any citations. However, he thinks now would be an
excellent time to have meaningful conversation with that individual and express
all concerns out there concerning the truck’s language.
What do you think? Should people be allowed to put such
stickers on their car? Add your comments in the comment section. We love
hearing from you!
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