Yellow ribbon ban riles N.J. town
Ribbons appear all over town in backlash
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Dee Petrosilli, left, and Diane Johnson hang a yellow ribbon on the already-bedecked town sign in defiance of the ban on ribbons on public property.
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FIELDSBORO, New Jersey (AP) -- Yellow ribbons and all other private displays have been banned from public property in Fieldsboro, New Jersey, a decision that has drawn criticism from residents and business owners who want to show their support for American troops fighting in Iraq.
The Fieldsboro Borough Council approved the ban last month. Mayor Edward "Buddy" Tyler said it does not prohibit residents from placing memorials on their own property.
A candlelight vigil protesting the decision has been planned for Thursday and a protest was scheduled for Saturday. The town's sole police officer has called state police for help policing the expected crowds.
Meanwhile, the mayor appears to be backing down.
Tyler defended the ban Wednesday, but said people could get permission before tacking up troop-supporting ribbons. If such symbols don't pose a safety hazard and aren't aesthetically objectionable, he said he would allow them.
Meant to stop political signs
The ban was intended to keep public property free of political messages. Backers said they passed the law to ensure controversial symbols, such as Confederate or Nazi flags, didn't appear on public property in the town of 522 residents.
A yellow ribbon hangs outside the Fieldsboro Town Hall.
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The backlash against the ribbon ban is evident nearly everywhere in town. A local radio station placed a bouquet of yellow ribbons on the "Welcome to Fieldsboro" sign last week.
Yellow ribbons are affixed to the chain-link fence on the Little League field directly across from the mayor's house. The stop sign at the end of the mayor's street is adorned with a ribbon, as is the street sign at the intersection closest to his home.
A protest of the ban is scheduled for Thursday in Fieldsboro.
