City bus driver defends nude decals
EDMONDS, Wash. - A Metro bus driver refuses to budge in what he calls a fight for his right to free speech.
Before Ron Dunn hits his bus route, he parks his own car at the North Base off of Interstate 5.
But the man who shuttles dozens of people to and from work every day may no longer be able to drive himself to work.
The reason: his truck features artwork his boss finds offensive. The artwork in question are three decals of nude women. The stickers, Dunn's boss told him, violate King County's sexual harassment policy.
But Dunn is not satisfied by the explanation.
"I see artwork. I see freedom of expression," he said. "The body is the way we were born, naked."
Dunn received a warning letter, which stated his failure to remove the stickers or to keep his truck at home could be considered insubordination. Metro officials said the county's policy bans sexually-related material at county workplaces.
"They have said that yes, when I signed up for work, I give up my rights as an American citizen," said Dunn. "We give up our first amendment rights of free speech, and we give up our second amendment rights."
Dunn plans to keep the stickers covered up until he hears from his union's lawyer, but said he's not about to give up.
"All the way. Let's take it all the way to the Supreme Court," Dunn said.
It appears the flap over stickers will likely get stickier.
Before Ron Dunn hits his bus route, he parks his own car at the North Base off of Interstate 5.
But the man who shuttles dozens of people to and from work every day may no longer be able to drive himself to work.
The reason: his truck features artwork his boss finds offensive. The artwork in question are three decals of nude women. The stickers, Dunn's boss told him, violate King County's sexual harassment policy.
But Dunn is not satisfied by the explanation.
"I see artwork. I see freedom of expression," he said. "The body is the way we were born, naked."
Dunn received a warning letter, which stated his failure to remove the stickers or to keep his truck at home could be considered insubordination. Metro officials said the county's policy bans sexually-related material at county workplaces.
"They have said that yes, when I signed up for work, I give up my rights as an American citizen," said Dunn. "We give up our first amendment rights of free speech, and we give up our second amendment rights."
Dunn plans to keep the stickers covered up until he hears from his union's lawyer, but said he's not about to give up.
"All the way. Let's take it all the way to the Supreme Court," Dunn said.
It appears the flap over stickers will likely get stickier.
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