Pearl River protesters debated whether curse words were protected by the First Amendment before they were arrested for using profanities at motorists and obstructing traffic.

Pearl River police arrested three people last month who were protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies at a prominent highway intersection, a move that sparked a larger gathering of protesters and counter protesters on Thursday and raised questions about free speech protections.

About 5 p.m. on Jan. 28, officers with the Pearl River Police Department arrived at the intersection of Louisiana 41 and Louisiana 3081 in Pearl River after receiving complaints that a small group were obstructing traffic and using profanity toward motorists and children on school buses, according to a police department news release.

One of the people, Lauren McKinney, 34, of Slidell, said she had held a sign that said “F— ICE” written on it, referring to one of the agencies leading the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Another person had been using a bullhorn to say the same phrase, and a similar one about Trump, McKinney said.

  • spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.worksOP
    41·
    2 days ago

    Pearl River Police Chief Jack Sessions watched the demonstrations along with around a dozen other law enforcement officers, including some in tactical gear with binoculars, who observed from nearby gas stations’ rooftops.

    “We stand for the First Amendment. We don’t have a problem with that,” Sessions said, looking out at the crowd. “As long as you stay civil,” he added.

    Tactical gear to deal with 30 peaceful protesters holding signs and a police chief deciding what people are allowed to say. I guarantee all the Maga trucks sporting “Fuck Biden” bumper stickers were just given a nod of approval.

    We live in a fascist country.

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      6 hours ago

      Yep.

      Always the same story.

      Republicans call women whores, say fuck the president, call female politicians cunt/bitch/etc… and its Radio silence at best, nods of approval and quiet applause at worst…

      Democrats say ass, and the Republicans grasp their pearls and demand life sentences for the incivility of it all.