An Internet activist hopes some 200 people will join him in a vocal protest of Middleboro’s new anti-profanity bylaw on Monday.

An Internet activist hopes some 200 people will join him in a vocal protest of Middleboro’s new anti-profanity bylaw on the Town Hall lawn at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

On June 11, 183 voters approved a change in how the town’s 1968 cussing bylaw would be enforced. The measure shifts violations from a criminal offense to a non-criminal offense punishable with a $20 ticket.

The bylaw stirred debate nationally and made phones ring off the hook at Town Hall.

Now, Adam C. Kokesh, 30, a Marine veteran who transmits from a studio in Arlington, Va., said he is using his podcasts to rally his 27,000 FaceBook followers to bring a bullhorn and their foulest vocabulary to Middleboro and engage in the most profane conversation possible.

“Let’s show these uptight (expletive) what freedom of (expletive) speech is all about!” he posted on Facebook.

Despite that rallying cry, Kokesh said in a telephone interview with The Enterprise he does not want the Monday demonstration to offend people.

“I don’t think we should be loud or disruptive, I don’t want to (expletive) people off,” said Kokesh, who said he is a Libertarian.

“I hope I get a citation,” he said. “I’m not expecting to get arrested, but I’m ready for it.”

Town Manager Charles J. Cristello said the town does not require a permit for the demonstration. Police Chief Bruce D. Gates said his department has not been formally notified of a protest.

“We’ve heard so many rumors about different things. We don’t operate on rumors and suspicion. If something happens and we’re needed, we’ll be there,” Gates said.

Middleboro blogger Mark Belanger – nemasket.net – said he doubts more than a couple dozen people will show up.

The small number of voters who passed the bylaw, which still has to pass constitutional muster with the state attorney general, grabbed Kokesh’s attention.

“It was particularly offensive to see 183 people vote on something that would refrain 20,000 people,” Kokesh said.

Aeon J. Skoble, professor of philosophy at Bridgewater State University, said a fine for swearing could be a constitutional violation. He suggested it would be more effective to control swearing in downtown Middleboro by fining people for disorderly conduct.

“The voters have spoken,” said Selectman Stephen J. McKinnon, who opposed the bylaw as quashing freedom of speech.