Anti-war group challenges fines

An anti-war coalition has filed court papers challenging fines levied against it by the District of Columbia for putting up posters the city said are difficult to remove.

Last week, the D.C. Department of Public Works ordered the ANSWER Coalition to remove the signs within 72 hours or face $10,000 in fines. That deadline came and went, leaving the signs still covering electrical boxes and lampposts throughout the city.

{mosads}ANSWER spokeswoman Sarah Sloan said the posters conform to city regulations, adding the group used water-soluble glue that is easily removed.

So far, the group has been fined $150 for each of the 66 citations it has received. The group expects the fines to increase to possibly tens of thousands of dollars.

Those fines might come from the Montgomery County, Md., police, who have asked ANSWER to remove signs.

“These things are like wallpaper; they don’t come off. It’s destruction of property,” said Sgt. Marco Eichrio of the Montgomery County graffiti eradication team, adding that police are considering charges against the group.

The coalition is planning a Sept. 15 march from the White House to the steps of Congress.

The court papers, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, allege the city’s posting regulations create a biased “hierarchy of speech.” Organizers said election or crime-prevention posters are displayed freely, but posters addressing grassroots political issues are restricted and often penalized with hefty fines.

The posters display slogans such as “March to Stop the War” and “End the War Now” to advertise the rally.

Coalition organizers said in a statement that the fines are part of a “politically targeted harassment campaign” between the D.C. government and the National Park Service, which detained sign-posters earlier this month, Sloan said.

“They are coordinating this effort because at this time opposition to the Iraqi war is at its height,” Sloan said.

She added that the government’s attempt to disrupt the organization of the rally has “backfired,” strengthening support for her group’s anti-war cause.

“The District hosts marches and protests all the time and we never weigh in on the merits of the issues, rather our role is to keep the city neat,” stated Linda Grant, a city spokeswoman.