A resident in a suburban New York village has been instructed to take down a flag expressing support for President Donald Trump.
Leonard Amicola, a 67-year resident of Croton-on-Hudson, received a ticket and a notice that his “Trump Is My President” flag contravenes the village’s content-neutral code. This directive came from the local authorities, as reported by News12.
Amicola, who is a disabled Vietnam veteran, has been publicly expressing his allegiance to Donald Trump since 2021. He contends that his right to fly the flag is safeguarded by the U.S. Constitution.
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Amicola, an Italian immigrant, attributes his political stance to his father’s escape from a fascist dictatorship. His father’s experience in fleeing Mussolini’s Italy shaped Amicola’s belief in the importance of free speech, a right he argues is threatened by the directive to remove his flag.
Amicola has faced not only legal pressure but also social antagonism. Reports indicate that he has been threatened and his flag has been targeted with rocks. However, he also notes that there are those within his community who express support for his cause.
The village served Amicola with a violation notice approximately six weeks ago. Later, he was issued an appearance ticket from the village court, charging him with contravening the local code.
Both Amicola and his attorney, Roseann Schuyler, maintain his innocence. Schuyler suggests that the case may warrant federal court intervention, arguing that the village’s enforcement action unfairly targets the content of Amicola’s speech rather than its display. She asserts that his actions are protected under the First Amendment.
Meanwhile, the village mayor insists that this is a straightforward code enforcement issue and not a question of free speech. The mayor points to a long-standing, content-neutral code prohibiting banners on properties, which he says is applied uniformly. He adds that 17 other properties were recently asked to remove banners for the same reason.
Croton-on-Hudson is a predominantly Democratic village that supported former President Joe Biden with approximately 71% of the vote in the 2020 election. According to Best Neighborhood, the village leans more Democratic compared to both nearby cities and the nation as a whole.
In conclusion, a resident is challenging a local ordinance on constitutional grounds, sparking a debate on the distinction between content neutrality and free speech.