Controversial lawyers Stephen and Virginia Pearcy came to Sacramento State on March 30 to discuss “Freedom of Expression in a Time of War.”

Both are Sacramento natives who came into the spotlight in February when they hung a soldier’s uniform from a noose on their Land Park home to protest the war in Iraq.

The couple addressed a full house in the University Union’s Hinde Auditorium, describing what happened when they began to put up signs of protest at their home and how freedom of speech became an issue.

Their opponents tore down a number of their displays, many which were caught on tape. The couple lives in Berkeley during the week and in Sacramento on the weekends.

The Pearcys were the only speakers at the event, except for the moderator, Kristen Hamilton, Sacramento State’s debate team coach. The audience was permitted to ask questions by writing them on an index card that was given to Hamilton.

Sac State student Sean Catanese, event coordinator for the Progressive Students Union and a State Hornet columnist, said a direct question and answer period had been planned, but they had run out of time. The Pearcys’ presentation lasted nearly 90 minutes. Cantanese said four security officers were hired to ensure safety.

“They weren’t what I expected; just ordinary, educated people,” said Kay Malone, Sac State senior, of the Pearcys after the event. “My dad fought in Vietnam. I support their freedom of speech, but you would have thought they could have picked a different image.”

“Our First Amendment is often taken for granted,” Hamilton said. “There are chilling effects when people try to quell others’ opinions.”

Stephen Pearcy began the talk by introducing his wife as having been California’s youngest attorney when she graduated.

“We began to put out some signs soon after 9/11,” Stephen Pearcy said. “At that time we were still getting along with our conservative neighbors.”

He said they noticed a problem after they put up a sign that said, “Boycott SUVs.” Their neighbor across the street put up a sign that said, “Boycott liberals.”

“For Gay Pride Week, we put up a rainbow flag,” Virginia Pearcy said. “The police came by and said it didn’t comply with a city ordinance.”

Stephen Pearcy said the police told them if they didn’t take the flag down they would be investigated.

“It was meant to send up a chilling message,” Stephen Pearcy said.

After the Pearcys put up the soldier’s uniform, they were called about the ordinance again. But the Pearcys said the city couldn’t make them take the display down because it would be “selective enforcement,” since other people put up Christmas decorations and Halloween displays.

“All the reasons the city cited had nothing to do with freedom of speech,” Virginia Pearcy said. “Everyone kept coming back that we were within our rights. Then the story broke on Channel 3.”

Both Pearcys told of how the displays were torn down and that the city’s District Attorney Jan Scully said there wasn’t enough proof to prosecute the vandals, even though two incidents were caught on tape.

“I’m very concerned about the district attorney’s flagrant disregard of the truth,” Virginia Pearcy said. “They simply chose not to prosecute because they don’t agree with our point of view.”The couple spoke of the protest held on their street by the Move America Forward organization. The Pearcys said the police claimed it was the largest protest ever held in a residential area.

A few days after the event, Stephen Pearcy said he thought the event went “very smoothly,” but wished there had been more time to answer questions directly from the students.”We are open to coming back and having open discussions, or even speaking to classes,” Pearcy said.

From April 14 to May 20, the Sacramento County Public Law Library will showcase the Pearcys’ protest displays.

Karen Marie Watson can be reached at [email protected]