D.C. Judge Rules '86-47' Protest Slogan Is Protected Speech

A D.C. judge ruled on June 1, 2026, that law enforcement could not prevent the protest group Accountability Now USA from displaying the slogan '86-47' on flags and signs, stating it is protected free speech under the Constitution. Justice Randolph D. Moss, appointed by former President Barack Obama, noted that the number '86' is often used in slang to mean 'to throw out' rather than to suggest violence. The White House has claimed that the slogan implies a threat against President Trump, who is identified by the number '47' as the 47th president. Moss emphasized that the demonstration was focused on constitutional impeachment and removal of the president, and he found it difficult to see how a reasonable observer would interpret the slogan as a true threat. The ruling comes amid a separate legal case against former FBI director James Comey, who faces charges related to a post he made on social media that included the same slogan.