Donald Trump supporters rally for resident projecting campaign image on water tower in Massachusetts
HANSON - A resident of Hanson, Massachusetts has been projecting a Donald Trump campaign logo on a town-owned water tower for more than a week now. He's been facing daily fines, so dozens of Trump supporters came out to support him Sunday.
Trump supporters event
The group met at the intersection of Routes 14 and 58 holding Trump signs, about a mile away from the water tower on High Street.
Since Friday, October 11, an unidentified resident has been shining the image on the tower. The town issued a cease and desist order and has been fining him $100 a day until he stops.
"Supportive of him, supportive of Trump, support of each other, supportive of all these people that are in the traffic that you hear behind us," one man at the rally told WBZ-TV. "A lot of these people are actually afraid to do what we're doing. And we're trying to bring some comfort to them, that it's OK, that they're not alone in the way that they think."
The highway department put out a spotlight to shine on the water tower to dim the projection each night.
Someone has also started a fundraiser online to help the resident pay the daily fines. The town said in a statement last week that the fines probably won't cover the expenses.
"This individual's actions have the potential to cost a significant amount of taxpayer dollars, including attorney fees, overtime to pay Highway Department workers to turn the spotlight on and off each day, and the potential for having to rent or purchase stronger lighting equipment," Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green said in a statement last week.
Hanson, Massachusetts divided
The issue has left Hanson divided. Supporters say it should be allowed under freedom of speech. The town said it respects free speech, but it does not endorse candidates for office and it does not allow political signs on public property.