Nurse sues over ticket for anti-Bush bumper sticker
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — A woman who was ticketed for having an obscene anti-Bush bumper sticker filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday against a county in the state of Georgia and its officials. Denise Grier, 47, of Athens, Georgia, got a $100 ticket in March after a DeKalb County police officer spotted the bumper sticker, which read “I’m Tired Of All The BUSH**.” A DeKalb judge threw out the ticket in April because the state’s lewd decal law that formed the basis for the ticket was ruled unconstitutional in 1990. Grier is seeking damages from the county for “emotional distress,” according to the lawsuit. Grier also seeks a declaration in federal court that her bumper sticker is considered constitutionally protected speech because she is “uncertain and insecure regarding her right to display her bumper sticker in DeKalb County,” the lawsuit said.
Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away…well, HERE, to be exact…free speech was a cherished and protected right. Of course, 9.11 changed everything, and since we’re at war…well, loose lips sink ships, don’tcha know?
The only reason I don’t have a similar bumper sticker on my own vehicle is that I don’t want to clutter things up…and believe me, if I did have an anti-Bush bumper sticker, it would be MUCH worse and probably significantly more profane.
Don’t tell me that police officers in DeKalb County don’t have better things to do than to harrass an American citizen who was simply exercising her Constitutionally-protected right to free speech and expression. This incident is little more than official oppression, and it sickens me that a police officer not only cannot recognize Constitutionally-protected free speech, but apparently has nothing better to do than to harrass a woman over a bumper sticker. Never mind that the officer was enforcing a law declared unconstitutional in 1990. What I truly cannot understand is why the officer in question still has a job.
It’s people like Denise Grier who should make us all proud to be Americans. No, she wasn’t doing anything particularly unusual or morally repugnant…unless you’re a Republican. All Grier was doing was expressing herself- a right guaranteed under the Constitution. When that right was violated by an agent of the State, she took action. Frankly, I hope she cleans up.
Rule #1: Free speech can be, and sometimes is, objectionable speech. We all have different standards; that in no shap, manner, or form gives any of us the right to deny free speech to someone simply because we disagree.
Rule #2: When in doubt, refer to Rule #1.
