A HOMEOWNER has fought against city officials and won after she was fined for her political yard sign.
Julie Pereira decided to go against city officials after they deemed her yard sign obscene.
Julie Pereira sued her city after they found her for her yard signCredit: ABC 24
The yard sign showed disapproval for both President Biden and Donald TrumpCredit: ABC 24
In January, Pereira got into trouble after putting a sign on her front yard in Lakeland, Tennessee that said F**k ’Em Both 2024.”
A city code enforcement officer told her she needed to “remove the sign displaying the cuss word or cover the word to where it cannot be viewed from the road and neighboring parties,” according to The New York Times.
At first, she put a blue tape over a letter to comply with the city’s rules, according to court documents.
However, she changed her mind and removed the tape from the sign.
As a veteran, she admitted she felt the need to stand up for herself.
“We certainly did not join and agree to uphold everything just for me to come back and have my own country, my own city, my own state, violate my rights,” she told the municipal court of Lakeland in February.
“It is still in my yard,” she added. “The election is not over until November.”
City officials noticed and began to fine the homeowner $50 per day, which totaled up to $700 in fines.
Pereira decided her only hope to resolve this was to take legal action.
In June, she sued the city of Lakeland in federal court, claiming that she had a First Amendment right to have the sign in her yard.
She also pointed out that “cuss” words are not constitutionally obscene.
U.S. District Judge Mark Norris agreed with Pereira, stating that the city cannot lawfully regulate the point of view of others on Tuesday.
The judge ordered the city to reimburse Pereira for the fines that she paid as well as pay $1 in damages for violating her First Amendment rights.
The homeowner also received about $32,000 to cover her legal fees, and the judge barred the city from taking any additional action against her.
After the ruling, her lawyer spoke out about the big win.
“We are proud to have protected Mrs. Pereira’s right to express her political views and to have achieved a successful outcome in this important First Amendment case,” said Daniel Horwitz, Pereira’s lead attorney.
Pereira also spoke out about the news, stating she was “happy” she was about the verdict to the New York Times.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I think this is important as far as the Constitution goes and, as far as American citizens being able to have their right to free speech protected.”
As of Wednesday, it was revealed that she still has the sign in her yard.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the City of Lakeland for comment.
