Federal Judge Upholds Protesters' Right to Display ‘8647’ Flag Near Capitol
Judge allows ‘8647’ flag to be used by protesters
Image: Washington Examiner
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that the '8647' flag displayed by protesters near the U.S. Capitol is protected political speech and not a threat against President Donald Trump. The decision supports Accountability Now USA, which has been advocating for Trump's impeachment.
- 01U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled that the '8647' flag represents protected political speech.
- 02The flag's numbers refer to the term '86,' often interpreted as slang for killing, and '47,' denoting Trump as the 47th president.
- 03Accountability Now USA has maintained a continuous protest near the Capitol, advocating for Trump's impeachment.
- 04The group faced pressure from law enforcement to remove the flag and other signs, including contentious messages about Trump.
- 05The Justice Department noted over 1,300 instances of the phrase '86-47' being investigated by the Secret Service.
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A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that the flag displaying '8647' used by protesters near the U.S. Capitol is protected political speech and not a threat against President Donald Trump. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss sided with Accountability Now USA, which has been protesting Trump's impeachment continuously. The ruling followed months of pressure from law enforcement to remove the flag and other signs. The numbers '86' and '47' have sparked controversy, with '86' historically meaning to 'throw out' or 'refuse service,' while '47' refers to Trump as the 47th president. The Trump administration suggested that '86' could imply a violent intent. Despite the government's claims of a strong interest in investigating threats against the president, Moss noted that the flag's message does not meet the threshold for a threat. Accountability Now USA plans to renew its protest permit, which is set to expire in August, despite facing scrutiny and demands from law enforcement.
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The ruling supports the right to protest and express political views near the Capitol, impacting how law enforcement interacts with demonstrators.
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