A Florida man is facing backlash and daily fines after he hung roughly three-story-tall banners reading “Trump Won” and “Let’s Go Brandon.”
Marvin Peavy is being fined $50 a day because his display violates the county’s land development code, according to a report.
“I’m here on the beach, and I got a lot of traffic, and people needed to see what I believe in,” Peavy said. “That’s free speech, and I wanted everyone to know that I’m a Republican and I’m supporting Donald Trump.”
‘LET’S GO BRANDON’ CHANT HITS THE STREETS
The code is meant to preserve the visual aesthetics of the community and the local beach, but Peavy said the daily fines are a violation of his free speech.
Some officials have echoed his sentiment.
“People admire people that stand up, and we have got to start standing up,” said Chairman of the Walton County Republican Executive Committee Bill Fletcher, referring to Peavy. “He is the epitome of somebody who will stand up for his First Amendment right.”
“I’m here on the beach, and I got a lot of traffic, and people needed to see what I believe in,” Peavy said. “That’s free speech, and I wanted everyone to know that I’m a Republican and I’m supporting Donald Trump.”https://t.co/R00akYIX77
— WBTW News13 (@WBTWNews13) November 2, 2021
Peavy will reportedly not be removing the banners any time soon, and he said he has received messages of support from people all over the country, including pledges to help pay the fines.
Peavy first hung a “Trump 2020” flag during the president’s election campaign, which did not infringe on the county code due to its hoisting during an election year, according to the report.
The former was hoisted in May, and the latter was raised Saturday, Peavy said.
“Let’s go Brandon” refers to a slogan stemming from a NASCAR event where a journalist misreported the chant “F*** Joe Biden” as praise toward winning driver Brandon Brown.
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A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17, and Peavy will be subject to pay the fines if a compliance magistrate determines he has violated the code again.
