Can you believe this hogwash? In the heart of a so-called progressive paradise, a brave disabled Vietnam veteran battles a small-minded village government that’s hell-bent on yanking down his Trump flag. Leonard Amicola, a 67-year Croton-on-Hudson resident, waves his “Trump Is My President” flag proudly on his own property. Yet, local officials slap him with tickets and threats, claiming it breaks some sham “content-neutral code.” This blatant assault on free speech boils my blood! How dare they trample a hero’s rights just because his views clash with their liberal echo chamber?
Amicola served our country with honor, dodging bullets in Vietnam while these bureaucrats sat safe at home. Now, at 77, this Italian immigrant—whose dad escaped Mussolini’s fascist iron fist—stands firm against tyranny in his backyard. He hoists that Trump flag high between two trees, a simple act of patriotism. Why? Thieves swiped it from his pole before, and rocks have pelted it amid ugly threats from neighbors. Still, Amicola fights back, declaring, “My choices and my politics are my own—we all deserve free speech!” Supporters rally around him, but haters hurl hate. Furthermore, many locals cheer his stand, proving not everyone in this Democrat-dominated haven swallows the suppression.
Village Bullies Hide Behind “Neutral” Rules
Outraged doesn’t even cover it! Croton-on-Hudson, New York where 71% backed Biden in 2020, reeks of one-party rule under Democrat Mayor Brian Pugh. He dismisses Amicola’s defiance as mere “code enforcement,” insisting a longstanding ban on banners applies equally to everyone. Really? They ticketed 17 other properties for similar displays, Pugh boasts. But wait—Amicola’s attorney, Roseann Schuyler, calls foul. She argues the village twists his flag into a “banner” to dodge First Amendment protections. “He’s not selling ads; he’s shouting a political truth on private land!” Schuyler thunders. Moreover, this harassment echoes a failed 2021 crackdown, dropped after pushback. Now, in Trump’s second term, they revive it like vengeful ghosts.
Adding insult, the village once hailed Amicola as a “Hometown Hero” with their own veteran banner program in 2023. Hypocrites! They honor his service publicly but silence his voice privately. Schuyler vows a not-guilty plea and eyes federal court, slamming the code as “unconstitutional as written and applied.” Indeed, recent updates to the zoning rules in June 2025 carve exemptions for certain political flags on poles—yet they nitpick Amicola’s setup. This selective enforcement screams bias, especially as Trump’s August 2025 executive order shields flag displays from overreach. Consequently, Amicola’s battle could spark a nationwide uproar on property rights.
Stand Up for Free Speech—Don’t Let Bullies Win!
This travesty demands action! Amicola embodies American grit, refusing to bow to bullies who fled fascism only to mimic it. He writes in The Croton Chronicle, “I won’t surrender—I’m my father’s son, raised on Croton’s values of freedom.” Absolutely, we must amplify his voice before more vets face this outrage. Contact the village board, share his story, and defend the Constitution that Amicola bled for. Because if they crush one flag today, yours could flap in the wind tomorrow. Rise up, America—protect our heroes and halt this insidious free speech fiasco now!
