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Trump projection in Hanson becomes Punisher skull after election
The Town and an unnamed resident have been in a battle since the resident began projecting a Trump 2024 logo on the water tower in October.
A Massachusetts town has spent weeks fighting a resident projecting a “Trump 2024” logo on the water tower, but after former President Donald Trump’s decisive victory, it displayed a different message.
The “Trump 2024 flag” that was projected onto Hanson’s water tower for weeks became a red Punisher skull with an apparent Trump haircut, according to multiple social media posts.
The Town of Hanson said they had no further comment on the water tower Wednesday night.
The Punisher skull is from the Marvel Comics, a story about a vigilante and war veteran. But, the skull has taken on a troubling life of its own, its creator Gerry Conway told the Guardian. It’s been used by Navy SEALs and law enforcement and by groups like far-right militias and neo-Nazis, the Guardian reported.
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Previously, Hanson issued a cease and desist order to the resident projecting the logo and fined them the maximum of $100 per day, Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green said last month.
“This misleads the public into believing that this activity is sanctioned by or condoned by the Town,” Green said in a statement. “As a governmental entity, the Town of Hanson does not endorse candidates for any office from any political party, nor does the Town allow political signs to be displayed on municipal property.”
The political projection violates Hanson’s Sign Regulations, which completely bar political messages on municipal property. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, municipalities are allowed to prohibit signs on public property as long as the regulations are content-neutral.
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Since the order, Hanson had been using three spotlights in an effort to dim the image on the water tower.
The projection has been on the water tower for at least 25 days, meaning fines are racking up to more than $2,500. Supporters of Trump also rallied in the town to defend the resident, known as Mr. X, and to raise money to cover the fine.
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