Journalist Complains About Exercise of Free Speech
by TChris
Edward Mueller filed a municipal complaint against Stephen Acropolis, alleging that Acropolis violated a Brick Township, New Jersey ordinance that prohibits the display of political campaign signs more than 30 days before an election. Mueller listed eight addresses where Acropolis’ signs were posted. Why this should be Acropolis’ problem is unclear, since the signs weren’t on his property, but Mueller wants Acropolis to be held responsible because he was “at the top of the ticket.â€
Acropolis reasonably points out that the ordinance stifles political speech and is likely unconstitutional. He also wonders why Mueller, a journalist as well as a losing candidate, would want to squelch political expression:
[Acropolis] finds it peculiar that Mueller, who publishes the weekly Brick Township Town News and Sampler, would try to stifle a residents' right to free speech. “If Ed Mueller was a newspaperman who cared about free speech, he wouldn't have signed the complaint," Acropolis said.
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