Judge temporarily blocks NPS from removing protest flag

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the National Park Service from interfering with a protest group's display of an "86 47" flag near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, prevents the agency from revoking the group's demonstration permit or ordering the flag's removal for at least 14 days.

The group, Accountability Now USA, has maintained a round-the-clock protest on Constitution Avenue since at least April, advocating for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump. The group obtained a permit for the demonstration, which is valid through August 12, 2026. After filing a lawsuit in April alleging First Amendment violations, the group began displaying a flag bearing the numbers "86 47."

Federal officials, including the Secret Service and the National Park Service, later intervened. Park Police officers informed a volunteer last week that the government viewed the flag as a potential threat against the president and demanded its removal, warning that keeping it up would violate the permit. The group complied temporarily but amended its lawsuit to challenge this enforcement action.