Judge: 'Finger' is Protected Speech

A judge says a man who flipped his middle finger at a Pittsburgh police officer shouldn't have been cited for disorderly conduct.

David Hackbart of Pittsburgh made the gesture at another driver in April 2006, then made the gesture again when he heard someone yelling at him. After he made the gesture, he realized the second person was a police officer.

The ACLU sued on Hackbart's behalf saying the gesture is protected speech, and the judge agreed.

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