The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Trump administration Thursday after national park officials determined signs about the president displayed at a permitted protest on the National Mall contained “unprotected obscenity.”
The National Park Service earlier this month informed Accountability Now USA, an unincorporated group of volunteers who oppose President Donald Trump, that two of its signs referencing allegations of sexual misconduct by the president, and related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, must be removed.
The organization interpreted the park service’s demand as a threat that its demonstration permit would be revoked if they did not comply, according to a court filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Just because a Trump appointee finds a message distasteful does not make it illegal,” said Laura Follansbee, a staff attorney at ACLU-D.C. in a statement. “The First Amendment protects everyone’s right to engage in political discussion, and government officials can’t stop speech simply because it criticizes President Trump.”
