Woman Irked By Trump Display Responds With Pro-Democrat Billboard

HATBORO, PA — A Hatboro woman who couldn't get a neighbor's pro-Trump yard display taken down has now decided to fight back in a different way — countering with an election year display of her own.

Last week, Marianne McGowan, of Central Avenue in Hatboro, filled her yard with signs supporting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and other Democrats. That's after she'd argued that the house across from hers, which has featured a motley array of pro-Donald Trump and anti-Democrat signs since 2016, violated borough sign ordinances.

"As a result of (a previous Patch article) about the Trump signs on my neighbor's lawn, we received much encouragement and support from neighbors and friends near and far," McGowan said Monday. "We decided that since the Trump signs and rants would remain on my neighbor's lawn, we should put signs on our lawn promoting the Democratic candidates we support and to help folks remember they have a choice in November."

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In response to McGowan's initial complaints, Hatboro officials said they have spoken to neighbor Richard Gottshall about the signs but, at the end of the day, his First Amendment right to free speech protects them.

McGowan had argued that the signs were up longer than Hatboro ordinances allow political signs to be displayed and violated other local law, including ordinances about illuminating signs. She said she hopes her display says something about the nation in an emotionally charged election year.

"We feel the contrast on the two lawns is very representative of what is going on in the country today," she said.

Over the weekend, her cause got some in-person support when Local Majority — a group that supports Democratic turnout, particularly in legislative races, in battleground states like Pennsylvania — made a stop at her place.

The group put together a local car parade that included a mobile billboard urging Democrats to vote early in the Nov. 3 election. Founded in Virginia last year, the group is now active in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan.

Photos from the Central Avenue stop show the Dem-friendly billboard lined up just feet away from the pro-Trump signs across the street.