1st Amendment Group Challenges Franklin Flag, Sign Ordinance - Articles

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1st Amendment Group Challenges Franklin Flag, Sign Ordinance

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 30, 2025

A Franklin city ordinance is facing pushback from a First Amendment organization for potentially violating the Constitution by regulating how residents can display flags and signs on their properties. According to The Tennessean, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) sent a letter to Franklin’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week saying the city’s policies violate the First Amendment. The letter followed a September citation issued to a Franklin resident for displaying too many American flags in his yard. The ordinance regulates flags and temporary signs, stating that residents may display only two temporary signs at a time and no more than three flags. While the city has held workshops to explore revisions, FIRE contends the proposed changes still unlawfully restrict free expression and discriminate based on content, citing a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that referenced a 4th Circuit case finding such ordinances unconstitutional.