Several political signs are causing quite a stir in an uptown neighborhood of New Orleans.
Maya Rodriguez reports for WWLtv's Eyewitness News, Sept. 28, 2011, that on Wednesday, crowds gathered in front of a house in the 1500 block of Calhoun at the corner of Coralie, looking at several signs depicting Obama as either a dunce, a puppet or a crying baby in a diaper.
The home is owned by Timothy Reily, who declined to be interviewed about the signs.
Dozens of protesters came by the house throughout the day, demanding the sign come down.
Skip Alexander said, "It disrespects the nation -- and President Barack Obama represents our nation. He represents everybody, not some people." C.C. Campbell-Rock said, "He wouldn't do that to [President] Bush, I'm sure. It's just insulting. It's insulting. He's going to have to take them down." Raymond Rock said, "This is nothing put pure racism. This is a disgrace."
Even former Mayor Ray Nagin showed up at the house and went inside to speak with Reily. He emerged later and would not comment on what they discussed.
Reily has supporters, among whom is neighbor Harold Gagnet, who said, "He can put up a sign if he wants to. It doesn't bother me." Katherine deMontluzin also thinks "it's fine. It's on his property. He can say whatever he wants."
The signs have created such a firestorm of controversy, though, that police came to the scene-- called in by City Council Member Susan Guidry. She represents the district where the home is located. Guidry said she was concerned about public safety and was trying to figure out if the sign was even legal. She also said she spoke to Reily, but didn't get far.
"We have to determine that there is a zoning law that prohibits perhaps the size of the sign, perhaps the way that it's erected, that it is leaning over onto public property," Guidry said. "Whatever we can use, we will, but of course, we do have to balance that with First Amendment rights."
As of now, the signs remain in place, fanning the flames of a free speech debate on both sides of the fence.
H/t beloved fellow Tina.
~Eowyn
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