Eastman Man Ordered To Remove Signs From Yard

A man in Eastman was given a citation from the city because signs in his front yard are against city code.

Robert Rooks put several signs in his yard to protest the nearby Methadone clinic. Rooks says the clinic is simply another opportunity for people to receive drugs and get a high from them.

Rooks says his concern is that people will go to the clinic, get the drug, and then get in their car and cause an accident.

“I don’t want my children, or your children, or anybody else’s children to have anything to do with this methadone clinic,” he says.

But the clinic is only part of Rooks’ issue with the city. He says the city is infringing upon his rights because they are making him take the signs down. Rooks received a citation on Monday for not taking the signs down after receiving a warning last week.

“I’m exercising my First Amendment Rights, which is freedom of speech,” Rook says.

Rook obtained a lawyer to help him through the controversy.

His lawyer, James Wiggins, says Rook has a legitimate case to keep the signs on display.

“The legal issue, as I see it, is he has a constitutional right to freedom of speech…The city’s rules and regulations that they establish in the ways of ordinances, if they conflict with the constitutional right…I think the U.S. Constitution trumps the city’s council,” Wiggins says.

Rook is due in court on February 22nd. He and his lawyer both say they plan to fight this citation and the city, even if it means taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.