Free Speech or Crime? Graffiti Tags City Hall

Freedom of speech or a crime?

That question front and center at Omaha City Hall today as graffiti marked the sidewalk up and down the City-County Civic Center.

The message was clear: Abolish ICE.

ICE of course is "Immigration Customs Enforcement," the federal agency that heads up the deportation of undocumented individuals.

According to the man in charge of the Civic Center's everyday operations, the tagger, who is responsible for the message, is well known to City Hall insiders and will not be charged with a crime.

We're told that because the graffiti was done in chalk and not paint, it is removable and not considered destruction of property which also means the message is considered free speech and is protected by the First Amendment.

City crews will remove the messages.