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Posted: Monday, 14 January 2013 7:39AM

Is it a right, or just rude?



The question of whether or not you may arrange a light display on your property that resembles the shape of a hand with an extended middle finger goes before a federal judge today in Louisiana.

It is a continuation of the saga that began when a Denham Springs woman arranged her Christmas lights in the shape of hand -- giving the finger toward her neighbors.  Authorities ordered her to take it down, until federal courts stepped in with a temporary injunction.

Now a judge will decide if that injunction should be permanent, or if the display, as the city claims, is a threat to public safety.

"It's their burden to show that this speech is likely to inflict injury or that it's likely to lead to an immediate breach of the peace," said Dane Ciolino, a professor at Loyola School of Law, "not just that people are offended."

Ciolino says based previous freedom-of-speech cases like this, he'd be very surprised if the city wins.
(Photo used by permission of Sarah Henderson)
 

Filed Under :  
Topics : Law_Crime
Social :
Locations : Louisiana
People : Dane CiolinoSarah Henderson
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