Live Free or Pay Up? Is Political Sign Freedom of Speech or Breaking the Rules?

When Coosaw Commons' management company sent a letter to resident Diane Cushing asking her to remove the political sign in her townhome's front window, she said she had one option:

Leave it there. 

"I totally ignored it. I am not taking it down," Cushing told Patch.

The letter states: "Please remove the political sign from the front window of your home. Thank you for your cooperation."

The rules clearly state: "No signs are permitted, including signs inside windows, except Board approved 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' signs."

But there is no mention of the political signs in the quick reference guide online. Community Management Group has not responded to a request seeking an interview about their bylaws for Coosaw Commons, but an employee affirmed the information in the letter is correct and that political signs are not allowed in the neighborhood.

Cushing said she expects to be fined and she looks forward to the fight ahead.

"It's time we challenge the bylaws — what is more important than participating in  electing a new government?" Cushing asked. "They allow us to put up Christmas decorations and Halloween decorations ... (Neighbors) put out crosses and people have business placards on their cars ... Why not go after everybody? How do they know putting out religious symbols aren't offensive to me?"

Cushing added that they are not offensive to her, but that her point is one is advertising religion, another is advertising a business and her sign is advertising a political expression. 

The Barack Obama sign isn't Cushing's first political sign on her home either. The Democrat also has a sign that reads "I stand with Planned Parenthood" on her front door, which has remained without issue since last spring, Cushing said. 

"As far as I'm concerned, the First Amendment trumps bylaws," Cushing said. "But I could see putting limits on how you express that ... They're not allowing lawn signs, and I actually agree with that. But I cannot see why putting a sign on the inside of a window is a problem."

She called the sign "fairly discreet," and her husband even said when the sign was first put up, a neighbor asked them if they were selling their home.