Pro-Trump Banners Removed, Homeowner Cites $10,000 Legal Costs
- Derek Bratton
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
SILVERTON, Ore. — A contentious dispute over large pro-Trump banners on Westfield Street near Safeway has ended, with the homeowner removing the displays by the April 18, 2025, deadline, citing steep legal costs. “The lawyer said it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to fight it in court,” the homeowner told Derek2Earth Media, hinting they may paint their fence with a similar message. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Derek2Earth Media under Oregon’s Public Records Law revealed that complaints to the city primarily targeted the banners’ pro-Trump content, with one complaint addressing unrelated signs on C Street, fueling debates over free speech in this small Oregon town.
The Westfield banners, proclaiming “Silverton Loves Trump” and other political messages, faced criticism for allegedly violating Silverton’s sign code. A March 23, 2025, complaint cited municipal code 15.16.110, prohibiting permanent residential banner signs, illuminated signs, and signs on fences. A March 10 complaint flagged size and duration issues at 338 Westfield. A separate March 14 complaint targeted “off-premise” signs on a fence at the former Tillamook Smoker plant on C Street, unrelated to the Trump banners. A March 17 complaint argued the banners undermined the town’s inclusive ethos, noting over half of Silverton’s 2020 votes went to a non-Trump candidate.
Emails to city officials, including a March 18 message, defended the homeowner’s First Amendment rights, warning that targeting the banners could infringe free speech and noting other displays like LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter flags faced no scrutiny. Silverton’s sign code (Chapter 15.16) exempts political signs from many restrictions, though “abandoned” signs—unused or unrepaired for 90 days—face removal. The homeowner regularly updated the banners, complicating enforcement.
The FOIA request showed complaints often focused on the Westfield banners’ content, with the March 17 email decrying their link to “misogyny, racism, sexism, fascism, and homophobia.” A March 13 complaint objected to the use of “Silverton” in the message, arguing it misrepresented the town. City Manager Cory Misley, in a March 14 response, noted cities can regulate sign dimensions but not content. Debate flared in the private “Silverton Progressives” Facebook group, with 296 members, including Mayor Jason Freilinger, where leaked screenshots revealed frustration over delays.
Facing over $10,000 in legal fees, the homeowner removed the banners but suggested painting their fence, potentially reigniting tensions in Silverton, a town of about 10,000. Freilinger did not respond to requests for comment.
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