Federal judge blocks National Park Service from revoking permit for protests with ’8647′ flag

The protesters have argued that they are not calling for violence against the president, but instead are seeking his impeachment and removal from office.

Published: June 1, 2026 4:24pm

A federal judge Monday temporarily blocked the National Park Service from revoking a permit for an ongoing anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C., over the display of an “8647” flag.

Prosecutors argued the flag potentially calls for violence against President Donald Trump because of the violent rhetoric associated with the term "8647," which has been interpreted as a threat to kill Trump, the 47th president. 

Federal officers ordered last week that the flag be taken down in the aftermath of a shooting outside the White House last month, according to court documents, despite the protest taking place outside a federal courthouse a mile away.

“The government seeks to squelch core political speech without any articulable—much less evidentiary—basis for concluding the speech actually threatens the life or safety of the President,” U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss wrote in his 21-page opinion. “On the current record, Defendants have offered no basis to doubt that Plaintiff is engaged in fully protected First Amendment activity."

The protesters have argued that they are not calling for violence against the president, but instead are seeking his impeachment and removal from office. 

Federal prosecutors are also arguing with protesters over whether their signs amount to unprotected obscenity after some read, "Kids, if your parents are MAGA, they love child rapists.” Moss has not ruled in that case.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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