“Criminals Control Norfolk County” on a sweatshirt is protected speech, not a crime.
The Center for American Liberty, alongside Randazza Legal Group, just scored a major First Amendment win. Prosecutors dropped all charges against Erica Walsh after she stood up to an illegal arrest outside the Karen Read trial. Police arrested Erica for wearing a sweatshirt that said, “Criminals Control Norfolk County.” She broke no law. She stood silently, expressing an opinion. A federal judge confirmed what we already knew: that’s protected speech.
This ruling shuts down efforts to weaponize the law against peaceful dissent. Erica stood her ground—and won.