New England resident allowed to keep 'Impeach Trump' sign after fight

This fight involving Donald Trump wasn't over a border wall, but whether a resident in the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, could keep a sign with a political message up on the front of his home. Dan Chiasson was in a battle with town leaders after he refused to take down an “Impeach Trump” banner that he put up on his house. The Wellesley College professor said he received a letter from the town, demanding he take the banner down or face a fine of $300 a day. "There was no way I was gonna take it down, and there was no way I was gonna pay it," Chiasson said. The letter said the sign was too big and too high up, violating town codes that said signs can be no bigger than 6 feet across and no taller than 3 feet off the ground.Chiasson, a poet and contributing writer to magazines, vented on Twitter, saying this is less about zoning and more a battle over free speech."The bigger issue is that these kinds of town bylaws are often unconstitutional," Chiasson said. Chiasson stood firm, and the town of Wellesley reversed its decision."Recently, there have been a number of federal court cases regarding political signs, so now we have to take a look at those and also review the language in our bylaw," Stephanie Hawkinson, communications manager for the town of Wellesley said. Chiasson said for him, it's a victory for the First Amendment.

This fight involving Donald Trump wasn't over a border wall, but whether a resident in the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, could keep a sign with a political message up on the front of his home.

Dan Chiasson was in a battle with town leaders after he refused to take down an “Impeach Trump” banner that he put up on his house.


The Wellesley College professor said he received a letter from the town, demanding he take the banner down or face a fine of $300 a day.

"There was no way I was gonna take it down, and there was no way I was gonna pay it," Chiasson said.

The letter said the sign was too big and too high up, violating town codes that said signs can be no bigger than 6 feet across and no taller than 3 feet off the ground.

Dan Chiasson receives letter from town demanding he removes ’Impeach Trump’ sign

Chiasson, a poet and contributing writer to magazines, vented on Twitter, saying this is less about zoning and more a battle over free speech.

"The bigger issue is that these kinds of town bylaws are often unconstitutional," Chiasson said.

Chiasson stood firm, and the town of Wellesley reversed its decision.

"Recently, there have been a number of federal court cases regarding political signs, so now we have to take a look at those and also review the language in our bylaw," Stephanie Hawkinson, communications manager for the town of Wellesley said.

Chiasson said for him, it's a victory for the First Amendment.