A Florida man was arrested for displaying an obscene bumper sticker on the back of his truck, one that either expressed his sexual preferences, or his love for a four-legged animal.
After Dillon Shane Webb was told the sticker was “derogatory,” he claimed his freedom of expression was violated, and the deputy’s office asked if he was using his free speech to express his desire of “eating a donkey.”
Keep reading to learn why Webb was arrested over a bumper sticker!
In 2019, a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy was driving behind a pickup truck when he noticed a vulgar sticker plastered on the middle of the rear window.
Dashcam footage shows Deputy Travis English stopping his cruiser in a parking lot behind the brown pickup, operated by Dillon Shane Webb, 23, with the bumper sticker in clear view.
The letters on the sticker – printed in bold white – reads, “I EAT A**.”
In the video, the deputy approaches the passenger side of the truck and after saying, “hello gentleman,” he explains that he pulled the car over due to “the derogatory sticker” displayed on the back of his truck.
In Florida, law prohibits “any sticker, decal emblem or other device attached to a motor vehicle containing obscene descriptions, photographs or depictions.”
“How’s it derogatory?” Webb asks from inside the car.
The officer replies, “How’s it not derogatory?”
“Some 10-year-old kid sitting in the passenger seat of his momma’s vehicle looks over and sees ‘I eat a**’ and asks his mom what it means,” English says. “How is she going to explain that?”
Sniping back, the driver provides the wrong answer: “That’s the parent’s job, not my job,” Webb says before he’s asked to present his driver’s license and registration.
After stepping out of the vehicle, Webb is searched, and the deputy tells him the sticker is a “misdemeanor violation of Florida’s obscene materials law.”
“I have four kids…if my 6-year-old was to look at me and like, ‘dad what does I eat a** mean?…he’s curious…and the way [you] handled this situation, I’m not pleased with,” English said before offering Webb the opportunity to explain his sticker to the court system.
Next, the deputy suggests Webb remove one of the letters from the word “A**” to read “AS.” But Webb refused, citing his constitutional right to free speech.
A few minutes later, things take a nasty turn for Webb.
After confirming with his supervisor that he had reasonable rights within the law, English steps out of his cruiser and approaches Webb, who’s leaning against his car, looking at his cellphone.
“All right Mr. Webb. Place your hands behind your back,” Webb is told. When he asks “why?” he learns “because you’re going to jail.”
Asking “for what?” English explains that he was given “the option to take that off” the window, but he “refused.”
He was then arrested and charged with the additional offense of “resisting an officer without violence.”
‘Perverted mind’
“They’re just words,” Webb later told First Coast News. “If that’s how they feel, if they have a perverted mind, that’s on them.”
But according to Sergeant Murray Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, it wasn’t just the words on the sticker that Deputy English determined was illegal.
“It was the obscene phrase depicting what the deputy thought was a sexual act, which is obscene by definition,” said Smith. “What would a reasonable citizen think? Is the guy eating a donkey or is he doing a sexual act?”
The incident captured the attention of a lot of social media users, the majority who defended Webb.
“So what if he eats donkey. What’s the big deal?” asks one netizen. Another, referring to English speaking of his child’s potential reaction to the sticker, says, “Since when are a cop’s feelings deserving of an arrest?”
“I live here and as soon as we heard he got arrested we all went and got the sticker and put it on [our] trucks,” pens a third.
Another adds, “He better keep his kids off the internet. They will see far worse than this.”
The State Attorney’s Office cited the First Amendment and the charges against Webb were dropped. Later, Webb sued for alleged violations of his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights, but U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida ruled that the arrest was “arguably justified under Florida’s obscenity law,” giving the officer and his supervisor “qualified immunity,” which means they are protected from the lawsuit.
This case underscores the ongoing debate in the U.S. over free speech and its boundaries, especially around expressions some might find offensive or derogatory. It also reflects how the First Amendment remains a contentious issue, with some insisting their right to free expression is under threat, while others argue for consideration that certain messages will have on the population.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please share your thoughts with us and then share it with your friends so we can get the conversation going!
Miss Italy Pageant Holds Ground Against Woke Pressure, Remains “Only Women Since Birth”
Like Miss America, Miss Italy has made the audacious decision to honor tradition by announcing that only biological women would be permitted to vie for the esteemed title. The event’s creator, Patrizia Mirigliani, resolutely declared that Miss Italy will preserve the essence of authentic womanhood in the competition and refuse to jump on the flashy bandwagon of trans activism.
Recent Miss Netherlands pageant events, in which a biological male winner emerged victorious, have provoked intense discussions and outcries of transphobia from numerous quarters. Miss Italy, however, is unwavering in its determination to uphold the competition’s integrity and honor the natural beauty of women who identify as female.
Mirigliani gave a clear response to the issue when she said, “I think it’s a bit ridiculous that beauty contests have been trying to make the news lately.” However, Miss Italy will not sacrifice its morals in the name of political correctness. Participation is restricted to biological women; individuals who do not identify as such are not permitted.
Miss Italy has welcomed applicants with tattoos, piercings, and hair weaves as a way to accommodate changing social norms throughout the years. But the pageant crosses the line when it comes to redefining what it means to be a woman.
“Since its inception, our competition has upheld that participants must be women from birth,” Mirigliani added. This choice is a reflection of our awareness that beauty may change and that we must stick to our essential principles. We will not compromise on what it means to be a woman, but we will celebrate individuality and expression.
Rikkie Valerie Kolle, the transgender winner of the Miss Netherlands contest, talked about her experience and path toward empowerment. Although Miss Italy’s victory demonstrates her personal development, her unwavering choice pays homage to the pageant’s heritage of showcasing female beauty and its history.
Their conviction has not wavered in the face of the controversy regarding Miss Italy’s position. They remain steadfast in the face of opposition and criticism, refusing to yield to contemporary narratives that seek to conflate the distinctions between the biological sexes.
Conservatives everywhere are praising Miss Italy for her choice to honor custom and stress the value of honoring women who have encountered particular difficulties and experiences. Many people view the pageant as a timeless institution, thus it is admirable that Miss Italy is committed to maintaining its historical roots.
Even though the world is changing quickly, Miss Italy is still a steadfast champion of femininity who presents women’s beauty in its purest form. As the tournament go forward, it sends a strong message to aspirant women everywhere, encouraging them to embrace their individuality and inherent beauty instead of letting attempts to redefine womanhood get in the way.
In a culture where limits are being pushed, Miss Italy’s choice shows that customs don’t have to be given up in order to welcome change. They continue to provide an enticing platform where women may shine, inspire, and make a lasting impression by being true to their ideals.
The Miss Italy pageant is an institution that celebrates femininity, honors history, and highlights the strength of being a woman, not merely a competition. Miss Italy remains steadfast and unwavering in its dedication to womanhood and encouraging future generations of women as the journey progresses and new tales are recorded.
Leave a Reply