A billboard has gone up in Shenandoah County with a message supporting free speech after peaceful protestors have been forced to move their weekly gatherings off an interstate bridge.
Indivisible Virginia spearheaded an effort to place the billboard in the county and received donations from people throughout the state.
Visibility Brigades, the name for the bridge protestors, hold signs on highway overpasses about issues in the community.
People in Shenandoah County have been protesting on an Interstate 81 bridge since March. In August, the Virginia Department of Transportation erected no trespassing signs on both sides of the Woodstock bridge.
The sign reads in part that the “bridge is for travel purpose only” and “any non-travel purpose is prohibited and is considered trespassing. No stopping, standing, loitering or assembly.”
The protestors and free speech advocates believe VDOT has overstepped its bounds and is denying them their First Amendment rights to free speech.
VDOT said the reason the signs were placed was for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
“Signs and banners placed or waved over bridge railings directly over traffic pose a safety hazard to travelers should these items fall onto the roadway or create a distraction to drivers,” said Jessica Cowardin, VDOT’s assistant director of communications. “Additionally, the limited separation between groups of people on the bridge and adjacent traffic results in an increased risk of safety for both pedestrians and motorists.”
VDOT did not provide additional information we requested including who specifically requested the signs or if any other signs of this nature have been erected at other interstate overpasses in the Commonwealth. AFP also asked how many of these signs were placed at interstate bridges before and after the November election.
It’s worth noting that Shenandoah County voted 70 percent for Donald Trump.
The fight for free speech in Shenandoah County comes at a time when peaceful protests across the country have been met with tear gas and violence. Trump has also called up the National Guard in some larger cities where protests are taking place outside of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, offices.
Protestors issued warnings, tickets by State Police
Since the trespassing signs have gone up, a handful of protestors have been issued warnings or tickets for disobeying them.
In Virginia, a trespassing charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor for entering or remaining on property when forbidden to do so by signs. Penalties can include a fine up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail.
The founder of Indivisible Virginia, Freeda Cathcart, used Constitution Day to deliver letters to the VDOT office in Staunton and the Virginia State Police office in Edinburg. She also delivered letters to the attorney general, VDOT superintendent and VDOT commissioner.
In her letters, she raises issues with the trespassing signs, free speech, as well as the aggressive Virginia State Police troopers.
Cathcart believes there should be a solution that ensures everyone is safe and people’s constitutional rights are protected.
“The courts have consistently ruled for the rights of the people to peacefully demonstrate in places where they can be seen, town squares, parks and along the streets,” she wrote.
Shenandoah County protestors not deterred
While the homemade signs and banners are no longer visible from the interstate bridge in Shenandoah County, the group is not deterred. They continue their weekly protests on the side of the bridge.
The Shenandoah Visibility Brigade will gather again today at 5 p.m. beside the I-81 bridge at exit 283.
ICYMI
- Shenandoah County | Activist believes VDOT, VSP ignoring First Amendment rights
- Shenandoah County | Trespassing signs placed at I-81 bridge overpass to deter activists
- Roanoke | Group sends pointed message to Ben Cline via billboard
In addition to free speech, the billboard also expresses support for the Democratic slate of candidates: Abigail Spanberger for governor, Ghazala Hashmi for lieutenant governor, Jay Jones for attorney general and Cathy Rec, who is running for House of Delegates in the 33rd District.
Other billboards have also been placed in recent weeks in other areas of the state including Roanoke and Augusta County.
In Roanoke, the “His Votes, Our Deficit” billboard was placed by DoGood Virginia outside of Sixth District Congressman Ben Cline’s office highlighting his support for the Bill Ugly Bill and Trump agenda.
In Augusta County, a billboard read “What’s the big secret fellas” with a photo of Donald Trump and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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Crystal Graham
