Did a federal agent ban anti-Bush signs in downtown storefronts? calling businesses to tell them not to put up any negative signs in their windows

Memphis Flyer :: Issue 837 :: BARNSTORMING EXCLUSIVE!: "Did a federal agent ban anti-Bush signs in downtown storefronts? | CHRIS DAVIS | 3/12/2005

“The man who called was very polite and nice,” says John Gasquet, owner of Empire coffee at 2 N. Main in Downtown Memphis. “He said he was special agent Something-or-other. He said that due to the fact that in some states the President had been to, there were issues of security regarding area businesses, he was calling businesses to tell them not to put up any negative signs in their windows that were negative toward President Bush. He said there were designated areas of protest and this would cut down on the possibility of problems.”

Gasquet didn’t have any negative signs in his window, and he hadn’t been planning on posting any signs at all. As a businessman—about to pass his business off to new owners—it didn’t seem logical to post material that might antagonize half his clientele.

“I thought sure, okay. Fine. But then it started to irritate me. I’m a veteran… I’ve served my country. I was happy to do it and I would do it again. And it bugged me that someone from the Federal Government would try to tell me not to do this.”