A Marine veteran named Dave Bliler is taking Pennsylvania officials to court for allegedly infringing on his First Amendment right to post a yard sign criticizing local government.

The Bliler family erected a four-by-eight-foot sign in front of their house that read, “F*** the Government.” It was a result of being frustrated for years with the local authorities and they wanted their voices to be heard.

The local officials were not amused or moved and ruled that his yard sign was illegal and had to be removed, setting the table for legal action. A threatening notice was sent to the family that they violated the Olyphant Borough’s sign ordinance.

“The Blilers were told if they did not take the sign down, they would be taken to court and could be fined $500 for each day if a judge finds they are in violation of the sign ordinance,” Fox News reported.

Former Marine Dave Bliler put up a “F*CK THE GOVERNMENT” sign to express frustration with his local government. Now, Olyphant, PA wants to silence him, threatening a $500/day fine. The Center for American Liberty stands with Dave, fighting to uphold his right to free speech. pic.twitter.com/f6J1nIw6Wc

— Center for American Liberty (@Liberty_Ctr) December 12, 2023

“The family also claims they were targeted by the local government, as other homes in the neighborhood have what appear to be signs that did not receive a permit to post,” the news outlet added. “The borough only permits residents to have one sign on their property, which cannot be larger than six square feet, and must be submitted to the borough for approval.”

Bliler’s attorney is asserting that the order violates his client’s First Amendment right to free speech.

“That’s a large political sign for a candidate or party or a religious sign — those would all be unlawful under this ordinance and that’s a violation of the First Amendment,” attorney Eric Sell with the Center for American Liberty, told Fox News in an interview.

“Residents are also required to pay $40 to erect the sign and must wait for an unspecified amount of time for the government to review and approve the sign permit,” Fox News noted. “While residents are required to go through this process, the borough is not subject to the ordinance and is permitted to post as many signs as it wants.”

“The sign must be submitted to the Borough for approval.”

They get to decide what you’re allowed to say? I don’t recall reading that section in the first amendment.

— gnosis_carmot (@gnosis_carmot) December 13, 2023

The suit against the borough will head to court. The Center for American Liberty is vowing to hold local government officials accountable. In a press release, the organization charged that the local authorities cannot restrict speech because it is critical of the government.

“Sell said the lawsuit was filed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, adding that he had not heard back from borough officials as of Wednesday afternoon. It is unclear whether the borough will fight the issue in court or revise the ordinance,” Fox News elaborated.

Sell said the family took the sign down and put it in their garage for the time being.

“This ordinance is very legally significant because it completely exempts the borough from the ordinance,” the attorney remarked. “They can put any sign they want up, it can be on any topic they want, they can put as many of them as they want up. They can be on political issues, on any kind of ideological issue, yet they’re limiting residents from putting up signs on their own private property. It’s very, very concerning that a government would do this.”

Hey Dave. Never back down. Love the sign by the way.

— Marinerick (@Marinerick2375) December 13, 2023

The family is standing their ground on the issue.

“Peacefully expressing political speech through signs on one’s own property is a central liberty protected by the First Amendment,” their lawsuit contends. “The right to display opinions on matters of public concern has long been vital to the concept of American identity and trumps all but the most important government interests. Attempts to regulate such speech carry a heavy presumption of invalidity.”

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