Supporters Raise Money, Plan Protest For Victim Of Car Break-In
LYNN (CBS) - A Swampscott man's fight to protect his property has blown up into a larger fight for justice. Anthony McKay is facing a felony charge for punching an alleged armed robber breaking into his truck in October.
He says he was just protecting his property. His supporters have held fundraisers for his defense, and now his brother Ken McKay, is organizing a protest.
He plans to picket in front of Lynn District Court during his brother's pretrial hearing January 24th. Now Lynn Police have told him he can't. According to Massachusetts state law, anyone who "pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court shall be punished."
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports
"I was in absolute awe that there would be a law on the books that would limit what you could say and where you can say it," says Ken McKay. According to the statute, he could face as much as $5,000 in fines and up to a year in prison. He plans to do it anyway. "I was brought up that the Bill of Rights is inalienable. Obviously the state of Massachusetts thinks otherwise."
A spokesperson with The Essex County District Attorney's office says prosecutors are, "reviewing this matter to determine the appropriate course of action."
