Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Florida

picketing

can i get in any legal trouble if i make posters of a sex offender's flyer, and hold them up on a public sidewalk, or walking through a residential neighborhood? what are the laws as far as picketing go?


Asked on 12/01/07, 1:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Brandon Kolb Kolb, Cintron, & Associates

Re: picketing

The most sacred right Americans have is the right to engage in peaceful, public protest. If you decide to protest, there are three primary precautions to heed. MAKE SURE YOU ARE RIGHT (don�t make accusations that you can not confirm); DO NOT INCITE VIOLENCE (words that provoke violence will get you arrested); and COMMUNICATE A MESSAGE (not a threat, and not an unsupported accusation). Your protest should not be designed solely for the purpose of harassing any individual. Pickets should be designed to communicate what you want or your position, for instance �Pedophiles Not Welcome� is stead of �Chester is a Pervert�. A combination of pickets could be okay; for instance, �Chester Smith, Convicted Sexual Offender� together with �Pedophiles Not Welcome�. Additionally, you should also make certain to stay off private property, and check into the need for a permit if you are protesting in the streets. If you stay on the sidewalk, or other public right of way designed for pedestrians, you should be okay.

There may be more issues to be aware of; as with any other action, you should sit down with an attorney to be fully advised on the legality of your specific proposed actions.

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Answered on 12/02/07, 9:45 am


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