PHILADELPHIA — Two men who received citations for burning Trump campaign, Nazi, Confederate and Soviet Union flags at a political protest in West Chester are claiming civil rights violations.
Gene Stilp and Stephen J. Connolley filed a complaint Sept. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Borough of West Chester alleging civil rights violations.
The plaintiffs are both political activists who conduct protests against corruption and racial injustice, according to their complaint. They allege they were granted permission by the Chester County Commissioners to hold a public protest on Oct. 28, 2020, at the historical Chester County Courthouse that involved the burning of flags in front of a monument.
The plaintiffs claim the flags they intended to burn were a "cancel Trump postage stamp" flag, a Trump campaign flag sewn together with a Nazi flag, a Trump campaign flag sewn together with a Soviet Union flag and a Trump campaign flag sewn together with a Confederate flag. Stilp and Connolley further claim they were cited for violation of the Borough's Open Burn ordinance for burning the flags in violation of their civil rights.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Aaron Martin of Mette, Evans & Woodside in Harrisburg.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:21-CV-03989