Man told to take down Trump flag says it's a First Amendment issue. Mayor says it has to be on a flag pole
Amicola says he originally had his flag on a flagpole but decided to move the sign to a higher location after it was stolen off his property.
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson says property owner Leonard Amicola's political flag has to be removed because it does not follow the village's "content-neutral code." Amicola disagrees, saying to take the Trump flag down would be an infringement on his First Amendment rights.
Amicola says he has had a President Trump flag on his property since around 2021. His current flag says "Trump is my President" and hangs between two trees on his property. It has now been the center of attention in the village, with Amicola saying he has had "a few circumstances" of rocks being thrown at the flag, and threats made to himself and the flag. He also told News 12 that many in the community have been supportive.
Amicola is a disabled Vietnam Veteran who has lived in the village for 67 years.
Croton-on-Hudson Mayor Brian Pugh says the village has a content-neutral code which has had a "longstanding prohibition on banners" and is applied to all properties. Mayor Pugh added that as of recently, 17 other properties were asked to remove banners that did not adhere to the code, saying its a "straight forward code enforcement matter, not a free speech issue." He says residents are urged to have signage up in compliant ways such as using a flag pole.
Amicola says he originally had his flag on a flagpole but decided to move the sign to a higher location after it was stolen off his property.
About a month and a half ago, Amicola's attorney says the village served her client with a notice of violation. His attorney then says he was served with an appearance ticket from village court charging him with violating the village code.
At this time, both Amicola and his lawyer say they will be pleading not guilty. Depending on the outcome, his lawyer says this "may be a matter we need to bring to federal court."
