(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A northwest suburban restaurant owner is suing the village of Prairie Grove, saying his First Amendment rights have been violated.
It’s a fight that began around July 4. That is when Terry Trobiani, the co-owner of Gianelli’s Drive-Thru, put American flags outside and was fined.
The village said the flags were too close to the road.
Trobiani got some media coverage, and the village dismissed the fines. A village official was quoted as saying Trobiani was just trying to promote his restaurant.
Now, Trobiani says he wants to put the flags back out front and by the road. And he’s suing the village in federal court.
“It’s my constitutional right to fly the American flag. You cannot tell me how, when, where, how high, how low to fly the American flag,” he told WBBM Newsradio on Friday.
Trobiani says he’s a conservative and added: “I’m proud to admit who I am.”
He said village officials “hide behind their desk.”
The village administrator said he does not comment on litigation.
*story by Audacy