Tea Party protesters claim the La Crosse County Town of Campbell has violated their free speech rights by banning signs from a pedestrian overpass on Interstate 90. The La Crosse Tribune reports signs were out in August as part of a national “Overpasses for Obama’s Impeachment” effort, urging drivers to honk if they agree with that sentiment.
Police received resident complaints about the honking and numbers of people on the bridge. Campbell Town Chairman Scott Johnson said noise from ongoing road construction in the area was enough of a distraction without adding the noisy protests, and that residents near the bridge wanted some peace-and-quiet. The Town Board approved a pair of ordinances last month, banning signs, flags, banners, and other items within 100-feet of the freeway bridge. Ticket and
Protester Tony Curtis told the Tribune that the police and elected officials are “hiding behind safety as an excuse.” Protestors threaten a legal challenge, but Johnson said a similar ordinance in Madison has already been upheld in court.