Article Courtesy of Local 10
News ABC
By Andrew Perez
Published October 18, 2018
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PLANTATION - A Plantation homeowners association cut down two palm trees to
remove a provocative pro-Donald Trump campaign sign Monday morning after a
homeowner refused to take it down.
After the sign was removed and the trees
were cut down, Karl Payne, who lives in the 800 block of
Northwest 10th Court, responded by hanging additional signs
and Trump flags on his home.
"I’m putting this up to support our president, and they
don't have the right to take it down," Payne said.
Payne's Lauderdale West community has strict rules about how
homeowners can decorate their properties. The homeowners
association does not allow campaign signs and campaign
flags.
The front lawns of the properties also are maintained by the
association, and the trees and other foliage in front of the
homes in Lauderdale West are in common areas owned by the
association.
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Neighbors complained about the initial sign, which read,
"Trump 2020: No More Bulls---."
Payne filmed the encounter with the
homeowners association. A man from the association can be
heard on the video calling the sign "vulgar."
Plantation police officers were also present, but the
department said the officers were only there to keep the
peace and didn't take part in the removal of the sign.
"They forced me to stay out of the way while the sign was
removed," Payne told Local 10 News.
The Lauderdale West homeowners association did not respond
to requests for comment.
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Payne said that, if the dispute over the sign is not
about the politics and just about the rules, he should be fined or taken to
court.
"If you take it down, it's going right back up," Payne can be heard saying
in the video.
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