Crimesider
Crimesider
June 27, 2012 9:24 AM

Marine veteran leads protest of Mass. town's ban on public cursing...with some choice words

By
Barry Leibowitz
Topics
Daily Blotter

Downtown in Middleboro, Mass., where battle lines have been drawn over public cursing.

/ CBS Boston

(CBS) MIDDLEBORO, Mass. - A Marine veteran led a protest chock-full of profanity to denounce an ordinance that imposes a $20 fine for cursing in the southeast Massachusetts town of Middleboro, CBS Boston reported.

Activist Adam Kokesh of Virgina aimed a profanity-laced tirade at town officials who supported the ban on public swearing, calling it one more way government tries to intimidate the people.

"What we're here to do is stand up to the bully. And in this case it may be a bully that is 183 voters and a police department, but it is a bully nonetheless," said Kokesh.

He was referring to the number of people who supported the recently approved ordinance, endorsed by the police chief.

Resident Loraine Robbins thinks Kokesh should mind his business and go back to Virginia.

"Number one, they don't live here. It's almost like they're invading the town," said Robbins.

Kokesh says the anti-profanity by law is a violation of free speech.

"I think in America of all places we should have the right to use the full colorful range of language afforded to us to express ourselves," said Kokeish.

But, a Reverend of LifeHouse Church told CBS Boston it's not about free speech.

"There's got to be a certain kind of respect for people, I think there is a lack of it and there should be common decency among people," said the Reverend.

The anti-profanity bylaw still has to pass constitutional muster with the state attorney general's office before it can take effect, the station reported.

More on Crimesider
June 12, 2012 - Profanity banned in Middleborough, Mass., no !%^@!#$%&*!!!!



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