Judge allows ‘86 47’ flag to be used by protesters

Published June 2, 2026 7:37am ET | Updated June 2, 2026 8:03am ET



A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Monday that protesters displaying a flag bearing the message “86 47” near the U.S. Capitol were engaging in protected political speech and not making a threat against President Donald Trump.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, sided with Accountability Now USA, an advocacy group that has maintained a round-the-clock protest near the Capitol calling for Trump’s impeachment. The ruling came after members of the group said they were repeatedly pressured by law enforcement officials over several months to remove the flag and other signs.

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