"Bigfoot" actor pursues free speech rights in NH Supreme Court
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November 28, 2011
Concord, New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Supreme Court will soon decide whether or not dressing up as Bigfoot and hiking through a state park while videotaping constitutes free speech or falls under the state's requirements for permits for filming in state parks. The lawsuit originates from artist Jonathan Doyle, who for a project dressed as the mythical creature to stage sitings and record the results in Monadnock State Park in New Hampshire, which he later posted to YouTube. However, when Doyle attempted to repeat the experiment, State Park Rangers refused to permit him, arguing that he had to obtain a film permit and a $2 million bond to cover potential damage, the same as any Hollywood film studio. Doyle joined up with the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union to argue that the requirement stifled free speech and artistic expression. A district court judge disagreed, ruling that the law was correctly applied and in place to keep parks "free from unwelcome or unwarranted interference, annoyance or danger."[1] The Supreme Court heard the case on Thursday, November 24, and is expected to issue a ruling shortly.
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