Town says it can’t remove vulgar sign

Town of Grafton officials have expressed concern about a controversial sign on private property that uses profanity directed at President Biden but said they cannot legally prohibit the display.

In an Oct. 21 announcement, the town stated it has received numerous complaints about the signage and asked a resident to remove it or change the offensive words.

 Town officials specified they opposed the profanity of the sign, not the political viewpoint.

However, the resident declined the request which they said prompted the announcement.

The town stated the First Amendment does not restrict speech based on the content and that recent efforts by local governments to enforce content-based restrictions have been unsuccessful and costly.

“The Town of Grafton supports the Freedom of Speech but does not condone the use of profanity to express disfavor,” the announcement states.

“Recalling our nation’s rich history of passionate advocacy, it is during the more heightened times in particular, that perhaps it is also important to remember who we are as Americans and neighbors — a people who can disagree respectfully with one another without resorting to the use of expletives.”