Can you get arrested for being in public with something that has a cuss word on it?

Question

I will be protesting at the Republican National Convention and I was wondering if I could get arrested for having "The world doesn't believe that you're fighting for freedom, 'cause you f---ed the Middle East and gave birth to a demon" on a picket sign. What are the laws for protesting? The RNC is in Minneapolis in 2008. So I'm just wondering what the limits are for protestors in situations like that. Can you get in trouble for having cuss words on signs? Is there a website that goes over rights for protestors?

Please, no politics in here. If I could I would leave out the political aspect alltogether, but I don't think I would get an accurate answer relating to the situation. I'm asking this as a serious question.

Answer 1

Play it safe. Try protesting in a respectful and truthful manner. Profanity raises eye-brows much more than often than it gives rise to thought. Intelligent speech causes intelligent thought and dialog providing you are not trying to converse with a brick wall.

Your risk....your choice.

Answer 2

if it is written the same way as you typed it with the dashes you will probley be fine i would have used the word screwed.

Now for the rest of my answer i really don't find it a cuss word but things have changed so much in the definition of language base off of religious belief that we now call a lot of discriptive words cuss words. Cussing in origination was cursing not cussing and was to curse. Which is to curse someone, like " you go to hell" you have put a curse on the person of who you were speaking. In total use what you want but be ready for some kind of repercussion weather legal or not.

Use Yahoo search and type in protestor rights there is allot of information there for you.

Answer 3

There was a case called Cohen v. California which went up to the U.S. Supreme court in 1970. A guy walked into and around in a L.A. courthouse with a jacket with the F word written on it and he was arrested for public obscenity. But the SC ended up overturning his conviction on first amendment grounds.

So it would appear that, based on the case law, you would probably not be arrested, or if you were, you would probably be able to get the charge thrown out.

I gotta say officially that I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not trying to give you specific legal advice. I'm just letting you know that there is a precedent dealing with a SIMILAR situation.

Answer 4

In general the freedom of speech and expression is covered under your constitutional rights as an American. The only way you could get in trouble is if the community as decency standards. Even these are not really arrestable offenses; more along the lines of citations (think jaywalking.) You should be alright though because I do not believe Minneapolis has any of these rules in effect.

Answer 5

No, you won't be arrested. I was visiting the Statue of Liberty last fall and someone was wearing a shirt that said, "This is my f*****' Halloween costume." So, in other words, it's US govt approved!

Answer 6

No, it conflicts with freedom of speech.

You can however (in schools, workplaces, etc) get booted out because they have their own rules for what is acceptable behavior. You can't however go to jail.

Answer 7

There is a thing called free speech. unless your on school grounds you cant be arrested and if you are you can sue the state and you will win.

Answer 8

If I were you I would write it as you have here. They f***ed you. Everyone will get the message.

Answer 9

nice...... But its a bit too strong. Does it have to matter?

Answer 10

I would imagine you'd be asked to leave.