Hometown free speech hero attracts praise from President Donald Trump.
We went from a quiet village on the Hudson River to the target of Trump's DOJ in just a matter of days.
Last Monday I posted here about a free speech fight in our village of Croton-on-Hudson, population about 8300. Lenny Amicola, a resident who has lived in our village for 67 years, and who is also a disabled military veteran (isn’t that always the way), refused to take down a “TRUMP IS MY PRESIDENT” banner or flag despite the village’s claim that he was violating a local code.
What a difference a week makes.
Since my last report, the following events have occurred:
— Village staff received death threats from an apparent right-wing MAGA supporter.
— The village dropped the violation charges against Lenny Amicola.
— President Trump praised Lenny Amicola for his fight for free speech (see above.)
In dropping the charges against Lenny Amicola, the village issued a statement saying more of less that death threats, Trump administration threats, and the village’s reputation being tarnished as it went viral on social media, were more than our little community could be expected to handle.
The Croton Chronicle, which I publish and edit, continued to cover the saga as the week went on, asking lots of questions about how this had all come about and publishing an analysis of the legal issues by a local attorney and commenter on village affairs.
The Chronicle also published an editorial entitled “Free speech for me but not for thee?” pointing out that both “sides of the aisle” are often hypocritical about free speech and that no one comes to such a debate with clean hands.
In the middle of all this, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, an event which raises its own questions about the nature of speech and what it can lead to. I might have more to say about that later on, or at the very least I will feature what some others have had to say that makes the most sense to me.
One thing is sure: We live in “interesting times,” as the proverb goes, and not in a good way.
More soon.
Lenny and his attorney on Newsmax.
**********************************************************************************************************
To share this post, or to share The Croton Chronicle, please click on these links.
Comments policy: Please be polite and respectful at all times.
mmmmmmmmmmmm