In a quiet New York suburb, a battle over free speech is brewing as a disabled Vietnam veteran faces village orders to take down his "Trump Is My President" flag. Leonard Amicola, a longtime resident of Croton-on-Hudson, has been slapped with a ticket for daring to express his political views on his own property. It’s a classic case of bureaucracy clashing with constitutional rights, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Newsmax reported that in short, Amicola’s display has sparked a legal showdown with Croton-on-Hudson officials, who claim it violates a so-called content-neutral code, while the veteran and his attorney argue it’s a clear-cut matter of free expression.
Amicola, an Italian immigrant whose father fled Mussolini’s fascist regime, has called Croton-on-Hudson home for 67 years. A proud supporter of Donald Trump since 2021, he first flew his flag on a pole—until it was stolen under the cover of night. Not one to back down, he strung it between two trees to keep it safe from further theft.
"I did at one time have it on the pole, and one night somebody came and took it, and it was gone," Amicola recounted. Well, isn’t that a fine welcome to the land of the free—stealing a man’s symbol of belief right off his lawn? It’s a sad irony for a veteran who fought for the very freedoms some seem eager to snatch away.
Despite the theft and even rocks thrown at his flag, Amicola hasn’t wavered. He’s also faced threats, though much of the community has rallied behind him. It’s heartening to see neighbors stand up for a man’s right to speak his mind, even in a village where roughly 71% backed Joe Biden in 2020.
This isn’t just a flag to Amicola; it’s a symbol of the values he grew up with in Croton. "People ask me why I don't surrender and take down my flag. It is because I am my father's son," he declared. That’s a powerful reminder of why some fights are worth having—honoring a legacy of liberty over petty village rules.
About a month and a half ago, the village served Amicola with a notice of violation, claiming his flag counts as a banned banner under their zoning code. Later, they escalated with an appearance ticket from the village court. It’s almost as if they think piling on paperwork will make a veteran fold.
Amicola, backed by his attorney Roseann Schuyler, plans to plead not guilty to the charge. Schuyler isn’t mincing words, arguing this isn’t about zoning but about stifling speech. "He's making a political statement on his own private property," she told Newsmax, and she’s right—since when does a homeowner need permission to voice an opinion?
"I think the village has characterized Mr. Amicola's flag as a banner... to shoehorn their enforcement action into a provision... that applies to commercial speech," Schuyler added. Let’s call this what it is: a flimsy excuse to silence dissent in a Democrat-leaning enclave. If this isn’t a textbook overreach, what is?
Village officials, speaking through Bryan T. Healy on behalf of Mayor Brian Pugh, insist the code bans banners as signs but allows flags on poles. "Mr. Amicola has been told that he could do so and not be in violation," Healy noted. Yet, Amicola’s choice to keep it between trees feels like a stand against being told how to express his beliefs.
Croton-on-Hudson leans heavily Democratic, with voter stats showing a stronger progressive tilt than nearby areas or the nation at large. That political backdrop makes this case feel less like neutral enforcement and more like a jab at a dissenting voice. A content-neutral code shouldn’t mean content-neutralized speech.
Amicola’s own words cut to the core of this fight: "My choices and my politics are my own." In a village quick to ticket rather than tolerate, that simple truth feels like a rebellion. Shouldn’t a man who fought for this country get to wave his flag without a government permission slip?
Schuyler has hinted that this dispute might head to federal court if the village doesn’t back off. That’s a bold move, but when local rules trample on First Amendment rights, sometimes you’ve got to take the fight upstairs. Amicola’s resolve could turn this small-town spat into a national conversation.
For now, the veteran stands firm, a lone flag fluttering between trees as a symbol of defiance against overzealous regulation. In a nation built on free expression, it’s hard to see how a village code trumps a constitutional guarantee. Maybe it’s time for Croton-on-Hudson to remember what makes America worth fighting for.
This case isn’t just about one man or one flag—it’s about whether local governments can dictate personal beliefs under the guise of neutrality. As Amicola holds his ground, many will be watching to see if liberty or bureaucracy wins out. After all, if a veteran can’t speak his mind on his own land, who can?
