Labor unions around the country have used inflatable rats similar to this one to protest unfair labor practices. (CONTRIBUTED BY JSMJR UNDER CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE )
A local union has sued Miami University President David Hodge and Police Chief John McCandless for violating free speech rights. Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 534 had a peaceful labor demonstration starting August 18 where they inflated a giant rat balloon in the right-of-way in Patterson Avenue, according to legal documents.
Both Oxford police and campus police surrounded the group and eventually threatened to prosecute members for criminal trespass and destroy the rat balloon.
A union spokesman declined to comment during ongoing litigation. Miami's News and Information Director, Claire Wagner, also declined to comment.
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