My Funny Picture

Is it legal to display violent images that disturb children in a 'peaceful' public protest?

On way way in and out of town,I have to drive by a women's clinic (on a busy road) that is always crowded with protesters. They are usually very quiet and peaceful, and I've never minded their presence, at all. BUT, This week, a woman has taken to displaying a big 6-foot posterboard with a very graphic, bloody, violent, dismembered baby. The image is HUGE, looks very real and very disturbing. My 5 year old son panicked (and even cried) the first time we drove by this huge picture. He doesn't normally see crowds along the road, so he always looks at them out the window and waves when we drive by, because he is intrigued that they are there, and he got a good look at the picture before I realized what had happened. Is it legal to display images disturbing to children in public? Tthis is similar in violence to something you would see in an R- rated horror movie. I understand that the protester wants to be honest and make people think, but does anyone think I could have the police remove the sign from public? Since my son asked "who hurt the baby?", and "what is wrong with the baby?", then aren't the kids that fill the schoolbus that drives by more than likely asking the same questions and having the same fears? My neighbors and I talked tonight about going to the police, but we are not sure they will be able to do anything. One woman in my neighborhood, who has a 7 year old daughter, politely asked the woman to stop displaying the sign for her kids' sake, and she refused to take it down. Freedom of speech applies here, I think, but don't we censor violent, pornographic and otherwise 'disturbing' to children images? Are the rights for images different from the rights of words? Any police officers, lawyers, etc, insight on this would be great. I live in Massachusetts. Also, any similar experiences and how you resolved the problem would be wonderful. Thank you for the help.

Public Comments

1. Well, these folks think that these fetuses are people and that they are being murdered. That this makes your kid cry is the point and by the way, congratulations, mom, you have raised a sensitive human being and that is a good thing. So their right of free speech trumps your right to protect your kid against the ugly facts of life. May I suggest an alternate route and when your wonderful boy is 13-15 and you are explaining to him the facts of life and his responsibilities in that department you can explain about propaganda, grand standing, exaggeration, selective quotation, the big lie and double talk as well as honest differences of opinions in political discussion.
2. This is an exception to censor rules because it is freedom of speech and it is a political protest. If they censored the picture, they would have to censor pictures of people killed in street gang battles, dead soldiers, neo-nazi's and KKK members in uniform. You can approach the city/town council, but they will probably have limited options. They have worse pictures in Wichita, KS, but it gets people talking and does show what takes place in an abortion. It is protect by freedom of speech.
3. it would be considered disturbing the peace and corrupting children. You would have a case in court, I think.