In Occoquan, Virginia, local authorities asked Andre Soriano, a sort of “Liberace copycat,” to remove 11 pro-Donald Trump signs from the exterior of his building. A four-story building houses Soriano’s store on the ground floor and his residence on the second floor.
His Trump signs, flags, and dress offended a woman who walked into the store looking for him. The designer, who had created a gown imprinted with the Trump-inspired slogan “Make America Great Again” for the 2017 Grammys for Joy Villa,
After the individual, whose name he never asked, complained to town officials, Soriano was told to remove them.Soriano placed a “Women for Trump” sign in his store window, sparing him a violation.
On the other hand, the 10 other signs that he had moved to the second floor were not compliant with the town’s ordinance that signs on residential properties not exceed 8 feet x 8 feet. As a result, it does not violate the First Amendment.It violates the size, material, and location of a historic district in this case.
Originally from the Philippines, the 54-year-old designer moved to the U.S. at the age of 15 and became a citizen the following year. I don’t really care whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. I do care about being an American. Let me exercise my First Amendment right,” he said. Continue reading →