Judge Orders Florida Rainbow Sidewalk Chalk Protestor Released From Jail

placing rainbow-colored chalk under his shoe and walking across the crosswalk, leaving a trail of rainbow footprints.

Safety first!

[His] attorney pointed out that crosswalks are not included in the state’s legal definition of traffic devices. Moreover, courts have repeatedly ruled that sidewalk chalk is protected First Amendment speech, not graffiti, because of its temporary nature.

Sounds right.

police escalated: three more individuals were arrested under the same charge that had been thrown out by a judge just 24 hours earlier. [The earlier defendant's lawyer was there] and accused [the cops] of knowingly violating protesters’ rights.

ACAB. Kinda surprised these cops didn't go to ICE for the signup bonuses, tbh.

Governor Ron DeSantis, however, has tried to deflect responsibility, claiming that he is simply enforcing laws passed by the legislature. “There’s laws that are on the books that I enforce that I may not fully agree with, but I took an oath to do it and so that’s the way the cookie crumbles, and so but there was a change in law,” he said. Republican legislators pushed back on that framing almost immediately, with at least one pointing out that crosswalks or painted streets were “never brought up” in the law DeSantis cited.

There are laws on the books that he refuses to enforce all the time, he just doesn't want the heat from this one.

8 comments

You’re really sending people to jail for drawing chalk rainbows?
Not the pedophiles, the rainbow chalk guy
- Yes. They must protect their own. That's why the pedos walk free.
These Rainbows are HURTING OUR CHILDREN!
-People who Voted for Jeffrey Epstein's BEST FRIEND!
Those protestors are heroes for putting their lives on the line for what they believe. Truly an inspiration.
- The only real patriots.
placing rainbow-colored chalk under his shoe and walking across the crosswalk, leaving a trail of rainbow footprints.
Safety first!
[His] attorney pointed out that crosswalks are not included in the state’s legal definition of traffic devices. Moreover, courts have repeatedly ruled that sidewalk chalk is protected First Amendment speech, not graffiti, because of its temporary nature.
Sounds right.
police escalated: three more individuals were arrested under the same charge that had been thrown out by a judge just 24 hours earlier. [The earlier defendant's lawyer was there] and accused [the cops] of knowingly violating protesters’ rights.
ACAB. Kinda surprised these cops didn't go to ICE for the signup bonuses, tbh.
Governor Ron DeSantis, however, has tried to deflect responsibility, claiming that he is simply enforcing laws passed by the legislature. “There’s laws that are on the books that I enforce that I may not fully agree with, but I took an oath to do it and so that’s the way the cookie crumbles, and so but there was a change in law,” he said. Republican legislators pushed back on that framing almost immediately, with at least one pointing out that crosswalks or painted streets were “never brought up” in the law DeSantis cited.
There are laws on the books that he refuses to enforce all the time, he just doesn't want the heat from this one.
The fact that they would imprison ("detain") someone for that is insane to begin with.
Florida man ... Checks notes🧐.... Draws a rainbow? 🤨