STAMFORD — Michael Picard and Michael Friend, two free speech activists, don’t hold back when it comes to expressing themselves.

Their latest protest, which took place Thursday morning on the first floor of Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd., was against the city’s proposed use of negotiations or eminent domain to acquire a Pulaski Street private residence, a process that requires approval from the Board of Representatives

“I’m here to protest about the city’s threatened use of eminent domain,” said Picard, a South Windsor resident who was strapped with a GoPro camera and was holding a sign saying, “‘F---ck your property’ - Stamford.”

Picard and Friend arrived around 11 a.m., surprising onlookers, some of whom some asked what Picard and Friend were referring to.

The protest alludes to the city’s efforts to fully acquire the sole house on the north side of Pulaski Street in order to widen the street to ease traffic congestion. The same traffic plan also calls for the widening of Washington Boulevard.

The Board of Representatives Land Use/Urban Redevelopment Committee has not yet issued a vote on the item. First, a decision to enter into negotiations with the Pulaski property owner has to be approved by the Board of Representatives.

“I’m here because I think eminent domain is wrong. Even if you give someone some sort of compensation (for their property), it’s wrong,” Picard said.

Enacting eminent domain, city officials have said, is a last resort.

“What are we here for? Property rights,” said Friend, a Stamford resident.

A security officer told Picard his sign was inappropriate, especially as there were children were in the lobby. Police were called shortly thereafter, and about seven officers confronted Picard and Friend.

The protesters were ordered out of the government building by police.

Once outside Friend was detained by police; Picard was arrested on charges of breach of peace and interfering with police. He was released on a promise to appear in court, but his GoPro camera and poster were seized.

Capt. Diedrich Hohn said the arrest was appropriate for the circumstances. He said Stamofrd officers talked to a dozen people in the lobby at the time who said they were offended by the sign Picard was carrying.

“We understand there is a fine line where someone may think this is a violation of their free speech rights. However, from the public safety point of view, there has got to be a line in the sand,” Hohn said. “Is it a violation of free speech when multiple people are offended by such signs, or words or whatever? That fits the breach of peace charge and we feel in this situation it was applicable to make an arrest due to the number of public people offended.”

Hohn said the interfering charge against Picard was made because he would not identify himself when asked repeatedly who he was by police.

Picard said he believes he was arrested because his sign was critical of the city.

“If this was a sign that said ‘I f---king love Stamford,’ they wouldn’t have had a problem with it,” Picard said.

Picard and Friend have had previous run-ins with public agencies for their signs and protests.

Back in April 2018, Friend was arrested after warning drivers about nearby police officers who were ticketing for cellphone use while driving. Two weeks later, Picard, carrying a sign that read “F--- Free Speech - Stamford PD” in response to Friend’s arrest, was later arrested for breach of peace.

The charges against Friend were nolled and those against Picard were dropped.

Picard, earlier this year, sued then Police Chief Jon Fontneau, alleging that he had been harassed and arrested for exercising his First Amendment rights. That suit is ongoing.

Picard is also suing Connecticut state troopers over an arrest at a 2015 drunk driving checkpoint.

humberto.juarez@hearstmediact.com