(N.J. Supreme) Court: Giant inflatable rat has free speech rights

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-MSNBC

TRENTON, N.J. - Even a 10-foot inflatable rat has free speech rights in New Jersey, the state's Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a case that pitted an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union local against a central Jersey town, the high court ruled unanimously that the rodent is protected speech under the First Amendment.

"The township's elimination of an entire medium of expression without a readily available alternative renders the ordinance overbroad," Justice John E. Wallace Jr. wrote for the court.


Brian Branch-price / AP
A large inflated rat such as this one, put up by union protesters in Woolwich, N.J. in 2001, has been guaranteed free speech rights in the state.

The super-sized rat, sitting on its hind legs and bearing fangs, is a national symbol used by organized labor to signal a labor dispute. It had been blown up and displayed at a 2005 labor event in Lawrence Township until police enforced a law that bans banners, streamers and inflatable signs, except those announcing grand openings.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29034656/

[John Q. Citizen]

1. It's a lame headline but it's a win for the union and for everyone's speech rights.

[Kolesar]

2. It was that or a ten foot tall, inflatable scab

[GinaMaria]

9. ewwwww eom

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. I thought giant inflatable rats have long had free speech rights

I mean, no one ever interrupted Shrub when he spoke. :shrug:

[Beetwasher]

4. It's A Giant Rat, Whose Gonna Argue W/ It?

Giant rat gets what giant rat wants.

[damntexdem]

5. The rat ate up that cheesey ordinance.

;-)

[AsahinaKimi]

6. so long as its not...

A mickey mouse proposition? :hide:

[Shipwack]

8. Now you're just being Goofy...

:)

[pleah]

7. Me likes blow up rat.

:evilgrin:

[nichomachus]

10. Saw the headline -- thought it was referring to Rush Limbaugh n/t

[Deja Q]

11. I'm not the only rat who's speechless:

[pacalo]

12. "...except for grand openings."

:rofl:

[Deja Q]

13. How come that rat has two large warts in a very peculiar place?

:hide:

[blueclown]

14. What a dishonest title.

Fucking corporate media. What a bunch of sacks of shit.

[moggie]

15. At last, victory for Rodents of Unusual Size

[chollybocker]

16. Who couldn't love a mascot that frightens small children?

Scabies the Rat says, "Give me a raise or I'll gnaw off your kneecaps."

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. All this addresses is the aesthetics ordinance

There would still be private property issues to be addressed, noise, and not blocking sidewalks etc. Call me cynical, but other ways will be found to block it while allowing trucks with massive pictures to be allowed.

[happyslug]

18. Actual Opinon:

http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/courts/supreme/a-73-07.opn.html

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

19. and yet, gays still can't have marriage rights/.... go figure

[readmoreoften]

20. I love the rat. Inflatable rats make me happy.

I personally like what they have to say.