A 75-year-old woman said she would prefer to find herself behind bars
than take down her signs supporting President Donald Trump.
After authorities demanded that Rockland, Maine, resident Susan Reitman take down the signs in front of her property, she refused and said she’d rather go to jail than get rid of them, according to New England Cable News. Reitman refused to compromise her pride in the nation’s president, made evident by signs that read, “I love Trump” and “He Won, Get over it.”
“I was shocked,” she told the local television news outlet on Tuesday, expressing confusion over why authorities were allowed to ask her to remove the signs decorating her house. “This is my freedom of speech. People have a right to voice their opinion,” she said.
“If I have to sit in jail for the rest of eternity, that’s my choice,” Reitman added. “I guess I’m being stubborn … but I’m not going to back down from what I believe.”
The order to remove the signs came after a Rockland resident complained that Reitman’s signs were too large, according to Rockland Assistant Code Officer Bill Butler.
“I admire your passion for our president. Truly, I do,” Butler wrote Monday in an email to Reitman, according to the Portland Press Herald. “However, we have received a complaint and I have to do my due diligence and I have determined your signs are not in compliance with the Rockland Code.”
After authorities demanded that Rockland, Maine, resident Susan Reitman take down the signs in front of her property, she refused and said she’d rather go to jail than get rid of them, according to New England Cable News. Reitman refused to compromise her pride in the nation’s president, made evident by signs that read, “I love Trump” and “He Won, Get over it.”
“I was shocked,” she told the local television news outlet on Tuesday, expressing confusion over why authorities were allowed to ask her to remove the signs decorating her house. “This is my freedom of speech. People have a right to voice their opinion,” she said.
“If I have to sit in jail for the rest of eternity, that’s my choice,” Reitman added. “I guess I’m being stubborn … but I’m not going to back down from what I believe.”
The order to remove the signs came after a Rockland resident complained that Reitman’s signs were too large, according to Rockland Assistant Code Officer Bill Butler.
“I admire your passion for our president. Truly, I do,” Butler wrote Monday in an email to Reitman, according to the Portland Press Herald. “However, we have received a complaint and I have to do my due diligence and I have determined your signs are not in compliance with the Rockland Code.”
Residents must apply for a permit if they wish to have a
sign that exceeds the size restrictions. Residents then have the option
to appeal if their request is denied. Reitman, however, insists that
she did not know about the size limit and the city should allow her to
keep the signs. Reitman wants the ordinance changed to allow for
unrestricted free speech.
Authorities will fine her up to
$1,000 a day after Friday if she does not remove the Trump signs. The
city could file a land-use complaint in court.
