The Brief
- Jim Brownlow is fighting a $565 disorderly conduct fine in Muskego municipal court after allegedly chalking “Jan 6” messages at a post office.
- The city alleges the industrial chalk cost hundreds of dollars to remove.
- Brownlow argues his actions are protected free speech and denies writing the specific full message.
MUSKEGO, Wis. – A Muskego man said he is standing up for free speech, after the city fined him for a message he wrote in chalk.
Free speech case?
What we know:
Jim Brownlow is representing himself in a Muskego municipal court case. On Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, he was called to the witness stand by the city.
Brownlow said he went to the post office on Janesville Road and Parkland Drive on Jan. 6, 2025. He is seen on surveillance cameras bending down by the entrance. He admits he scribbled “Jan 6” on the sidewalk with chalk. But under oath, Brownlow said he did not write this.
“There was already a bunch of writing in front of the post office. I don’t know who wrote it,” Brownlow said.
The city said the message “January 6th we almost lost our democracy” was written in a type of industrial chalk that cost hundreds of dollars to erase and remained visible on the sidewalk for weeks.
What they’re saying:…