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Judge Protects 8647 Flag and Bars Park Service From Seizing Protest Signs

A federal court ruled the slogan is core political speech and restricted federal agencies from using permit rules to remove the group's displays.

Overview

  • The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, converted an earlier temporary order into a permanent injunction that forbids the National Park Service from revoking Accountability NOW USA’s permit or confiscating its flags and signs over the slogan.
  • Moss found the group's materials fall within protected First Amendment political speech and said they do not meet the narrow legal tests for obscenity or a true threat against President Donald Trump.
  • Accountability NOW USA has maintained a 24/7 pro‑impeachment demonstration in Washington, D.C., since December 2025 and uses '8647' as a protest symbol combining '86' (remove) and '47' (Trump as the 47th president); the phrase gained wider attention after James Comey posted an image of the numbers.
  • Federal officials had ordered removal of the flag and Secret Service agents reportedly questioned a volunteer and read her Miranda rights during the dispute, actions that helped prompt the group's April lawsuit and the June preliminary injunction.
  • The ACLU, which represented the group, hailed the decision as a First Amendment victory and the ruling narrows how agencies may regulate provocative political signage, though the administration has not said whether it will appeal.