Man Says Obscene Gesture Is Free Speech

[dogday]

A motorist believes the constitutional right to free speech includes obscene hand gestures.


Thomas Burns, of New Castle, contends he was denied his First Amendment free speech rights when he was cited for giving an obscene hand gesture to a construction worker in April, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday in Pittsburgh.


Burns had become frustrated with a traffic delay and showed the gesture at a construction worker. The worker reported it to a police officer, who cited Burns for disorderly conduct, according to the lawsuit.


The citation was dropped, but Burns filed a lawsuit because he believes he was maliciously prosecuted.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/14/national/a064356S72.DTL&feed=rss.news

[Betsy Ross]

1. Which gesture?

I assume it was the bird, but there are many others used throughout the world that wouldn't get him arrested. Why is is ok to say schmuck on tv or radio? People are so stupid about this stuff.

[LiberalVoice]

2. Of course this happened in Pittsburgh.

:P

[sam sarrha]

3. in early pre Christian Rome that was called "Digitus Profundus"..

so what else is new...

[sam sarrha]

6. maybe free speach, but still rude and chickenshit when the people that you

do it to cant get to you and kick your ass.

[rpgamerd00d]

4. Give Bush a Citation ! He flipped bird to entire crowd of people (pic)

[sam sarrha]

5. he has done it numerous times, even on TV during his first campaign

nothing but a sissy cheerleader

[magellan]

7. Much ado about nothing

Cited for an obscene gesture? Must've been a slow day for the Center Township, PA police.

[mark11727]

8. Well, whoop-de-freaking-do.

If you don't see at least two or three flipped birds on the Long Island Expressway, then you ain't travellin' during "rush hour". Heh.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. I thought that was the "Expressway Salute"...is my face red.

:blush:And I owe an apology to the Archbishop and his driver.

[mark11727]

12. "Ooops! Sorry, Your Eminence...!"

O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8)

[Crankie Avalon]

9. Has Cheney been communicating on the floor of the Senate, again?

Whoops, just some guy on the freeway. :blush:

[catmandu57]

11. I thought this was about the punk in the senate yesterday

and I was going to say yes you have the right to free speech, but, when one reaches that level whether intern or senator, one is supposed to have enough class not to emulate the vp.